AR Service Delivery Lead

Role Purpose Statement 
The AR service Delivery Lead is a collection manager role responsible for direct supervision and management of the Cash Application, Dispute Management and Collection staff.  This Lead will monitor the company's overall AR risk position and collaborate directly with the Bunge Business Services leadership team and Enterprise Risk Management team to provide financial analysis in support of overall company objectives. The position is accountable for all Cash Application and Collections management, including the consistent application of an AR policy, periodic control reviews, and the assessment of the health of the process metrics, as well as working with the local and back-office teams to manage all cash and collections with the goal of minimizing unapplied cash and bad debt losses while facilitating commercial activity. The ability to build strong internal relationships with business unit commercial teams and management is critical to success in this role. A collaborative approach is essential. 

Key responsibilities include managing Accounts receivable process, overseeing timely payment application, customer account reconciliation, and minimizing the number of past-due payments and unpaid debt that the company incurs. Additionally, this position will oversee negotiating debt write-offs or client extensions to reduce the potential revenue loss for the business. Additionally, this position will strong analytical and interpersonal reporting skills. AR Lead should be well-versed in collections processes and laws associated with it and constantly look for ways to improve the company's debt recovery. Will support credit, and other finance operations of the company by owning all activities associated with daily posting of cash receipts and collections. In Addition to managing overall cash application process and collections activities, this role will also be responsible to manage dispute management and resolution for specific business units and will also maintain and improve sustained cash flow through diligent and aggressive monitoring of our customer accounts. This role will direct initiatives to improve working capital, including account monitoring, aligning AR DSO, and ensuring effective and efficient processing of AR functions.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure effective, timely, thorough, and accurate remittance processing, resolution of unapplied funds, and reporting to meet customer service and business needs.
• Overseeing Collections staff and ensuring timely and maximum accounts receivable collection
• Setting collections goals and targets for the team.
• Creating and implementing a strategy to improve the collection of outstanding credit.
• Ownership and implementation of collection policies and procedures to avoid excessive outstanding credit.
• Ensuring that the company policy on recoveries is followed and that it is in line with state and federal regulations.
• Communicate regularly to global, regional and value chain management the necessary reporting requirements: high risk customers, top exposures by counterparty and commodity, aged receivables schedule, financial losses from defaults
• Engage in the analysis of both routine and complex transactions and have the ability to determine where the risks lie and collectability at each stage of the transaction flow. 
• Provide technical assistance and work in close partnership with the commercial teams to minimize transaction risk while maximizing business opportunities
• Implementing deadlines for invoicing and payment collection.
• Negotiating with customers in cases when non-payment occurs.
• Preparing monthly feedback reports on payment collections.
• Staying up to date on any legislative procedural debt collection training.
• Ensure daily administration of various tasks to meet/exceed service level agreement
• Oversee lockbox bank relationships to ensure that company needs are met in the most cost-effective way possible.
• Oversee the process of refunds being generated timely and accurately for applicable overpayments on customer accounts within policy
• Maintain daily management of CTC's varied tasks to meet or exceed service level agreements. Report and analyze metrics, KPIs, month-end, and other recurring reconciliations. Regularly examine Key Performance Indicators with the aim of identifying root causes and preventing recurrences. Use the data specifics to initiate extensive process assessments with internal and external customers.
• Coordination with the CTC Global Process Owner is required to support the implementation of BBS-led Transformation initiatives. Ensure that ERP/enabling technologies supporting the CTC process area are used and adapted optimally. Develop a culture of continuous improvement among Service Line direct reports and their teams. Be a leader who promotes continuous improvement.
• Support all internal and external audits, as needed.
• Lead and manage relationship with various business stakeholders.
• Update the Finance Service delivery lead any issues that pose a risk of loss
• Work closely with the sales teams to get issues resolved as quickly as possible.
• Participate in monthly governance meetings to report on the OTC performance metrics and discuss recurring issues with particular business units and customers.
• Ensure a high-quality compliance and control environment through effective review, monitoring, and control of all AR processing activities
• Ensure all staffing and HR-related requirements are met, including annual goal setting and performance reviews. Establish ongoing training plans to maintain/improve department skills

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) (Measurable outcomes that the position contributes to):

• Efficient and Accurate Cash Application
• Timely Cash Application
• Unapplied Cash value and volume under control
• AR Aged past due percentages
• Bad debt reserves as a percentage of sales
• Cash flow management
• CTC Global KPIs set by BBS 
• Net Promoter Score (NPS)
• Business and Stakeholder feedback/ satisfaction (processes, policy and tools)

Major Opportunities and Decisions 

• Write and amend Global and Regional Policies 
• Identify and create solutions for the business to improve user experience and minimize nonvalue added efforts 
• Balance user and stakeholder needs while driving process and system standardization
• Design and implement CTC tools, process, and procedures
• Identify and execute cost savings and working capital initiatives 
• Identifying and developing plans which strengthen process adoption and value realization.
• Be able to identify and facilitate process change by highlighting the needs and benefits to all key stakeholders in a cooperative manner.
• Monitor, evaluate, and report performance KPIs to the leadership team against agreed performance targets, annual budget, and staffing levels as well as corrective actions to be taken to optimize business performance.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with all the key stakeholders across the organizations and external service providers. Maintain regular, clear, and concise communication within area of responsibility.
• Collaborate with an IT and RPA teams to ensure that the most recent developments in the CTC field are incorporated into the available digital and technology solutions.
• Participate in the new technology due diligence, solutioning, transition and stabilization. Should be able to work with the customer independently and carve out the desired scope / solution.

Management/Leadership

• An enthusiastic leader who can inspire employees to perform at their best.
• A strong internal customer service approach, as well as the ability to own and deliver results. Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to communicate with people at all levels of an organization
• Focused on achieving goals, primarily through the efforts of others on the team.
• Set up appropriate mechanisms for identifying, understanding, and highlighting performance gaps and/or performance breakthroughs. Create and carry out improvement plans to close performance gaps.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently or in a team environment with limited supervision.
• Understanding of plant-level and corporate requirements.
• Excellent analytical and interpersonal abilities. Capability to serve as a project manager and drive change management initiatives.
• Proven management, organizational, and planning skills. The ability to manage multiple, concurrent projects that necessitate frequent communication, organization/time management, and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to drive organizational change
• Own the implementation of new technologies in operations and project a strong executive presence
• Take the lead in collaborating with digital teams to implement cutting-edge technology solutions, particularly RPA, into operations.

Key Relationships, Stakeholders & Interfaces (External & Internal):

• This role is the lead for North America, Bunge Limited’s Global Headquarters, and subsequently is the process owner and point of contact for a broad range of users. 

Key relationships:

• Bunge Commercial / Finance Value Chain Partners
• Sales, Customer Service and Billing Leads
• BBS Leadership
• Senior Director Finance
• Master data and Risk Management Teams
• Senior Director IT
• Director of GIA
• Lockbox Banking Relationship
• Customer relationship management when required

Skills/Education/Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in business or accounting with 8+ years of AR experience with managerial / supervisory oversight
• Prior experience in F&I and Agri businesses is preferred
• Experience managing people and leading a team to achieve key objectives
• Self-starter who requires minimal guidance who can portray a personal commitment to Bunge core values while advancing Bunge key capabilities
• Experience with SAP modules, FSCM preferred
• Strong problem solving, prioritization and organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment 
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Technical Skills:  Maintains the highest level of knowledge of SAP modules within SAP including FSCM
• Communication and Relationship Management:  Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills to effectively interact with all stakeholders across finance functions, management, commercial, and operations and the external customer. Remains positive and focuses on problem solution without alienating others.
• Business Acumen:  Working knowledge of F&I and Agri businesses including operations, sales & marketing, supply chain, and supporting functions.
• Talent Management:  Active application of talent management processes including hiring, onboarding, training and development, coaching, and performance management systems.
• Continuous Improvement: Recognition of opportunities, benefits, prioritization, and facilitation of process improvement combining people, process, and technology.

Bunge (NYSE: BG) is a world leader in sourcing, processing and supplying oilseed and grain products and ingredients. Founded in 1818, Bunge’s expansive network feeds and fuels a growing world, creating sustainable products and opportunities for more than 70,000 farmers and the consumers they serve across the globe. The company is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri and has 25,000 employees worldwide who stand behind more than 350 port terminals, oilseed processing plants, grain facilities, and food and ingredient production and packaging facilities around the world.

Bunge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or military or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.  Bunge is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled