AR Manager
IT
Position Title: AR Manager
Location: Milan
Reports to: CFO
Direct Reports: 0
Experience Required: Minimum 8/10 Years
ABOUT THE WELLA COMPANY
Together, WE enable individuals to look, feel, and be their true selves.
Wella Company is one of the world’s leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders.
For additional information about the Wella Company please visit www.wellacompany.com.
THE ROLE
The Accounts Receivable (AR) Manager in a beauty hair care company oversees and manages all aspects of the company's receivables, ensuring timely collection of payments, maintaining accurate financial records, and mitigating financial risks. This role is crucial for maintaining the company's cash flow and financial health, especially in the fast-paced and competitive beauty and hair care industry. The AR Manager will work closely with other departments, including Sales, Customer Service, and Finance, to ensure smooth financial operations and maintain positive customer relationships.
Key Responsibilities:
Accounts Receivable Management:
Oversee and manage all accounts receivable functions, ensuring accurate and timely processing of customer invoices and receipts.
Monitor aging reports and ensure timely collection of outstanding balances from customers.
Manage the AR team and ensure that all customer payments are processed efficiently.
Maintain accurate records of all transactions, including sales, payments, credits, and adjustments.
Customer Account Management:
Work directly with customers to resolve payment issues, disputes, and billing inquiries in a professional and timely manner.
Collaborate with the Sales and Customer Service teams to ensure customer credit limits are appropriate and communicated clearly.
Perform credit checks and establish credit terms based on company guidelines to minimize bad debts.
Review customer accounts to ensure they are up-to-date and escalate any concerns regarding overdue balances to management as needed.
Cash Flow Management:
Ensure the timely posting of all cash receipts and properly apply payments to customer accounts.
Reconcile cash receipts to ensure they align with customer payments and bank deposits.
Assist in forecasting cash flow based on customer payment patterns and the company’s financial needs.
Reporting & Analysis:
Prepare and present weekly, monthly, and quarterly AR aging reports, highlighting trends and issues related to collections and outstanding balances.
Analyze customer payment behavior, identifying potential risks and suggesting strategies to reduce aging receivables.
Provide regular updates to senior management on AR status, including any problematic accounts or collections delays.
Process Improvement:
Develop and implement efficient AR processes and systems to improve cash flow, reduce collection cycles, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Recommend improvements to existing credit policies and collections procedures to optimize the company's AR operations.
Stay updated with industry best practices, trends, and regulatory requirements to ensure compliance.
Team Leadership & Development:
Lead, mentor, and train the accounts receivable team, ensuring they are equipped with the tools and knowledge to perform their duties effectively.
Set performance goals for the AR team, conduct regular performance reviews, and provide constructive feedback and coaching.
Foster a collaborative, team-oriented environment while ensuring that deadlines and targets are met.
Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams:
Partner with Sales and Marketing teams to monitor the impact of promotions or discount policies on AR.
Partner with SSC (Shared Service Center) in Poland for all the decentralized activities (i.e cash collection for BTBTC clients, Master data clients)
Work with the Finance team to reconcile AR with the general ledger and ensure accurate financial reporting.
Liaise with Legal or Collections departments when escalations or legal action for overdue payments are required.
Skills and Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
Professional certifications (e.g., CPA, CMA) are a plus.
Experience:
5+ years of experience in accounts receivable, finance, or accounting, preferably within the beauty, hair care, or consumer goods industry.
2+ years of managerial experience leading and developing a team.
Technical Skills:
Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks, NetSuite) and MS Excel (advanced level).
EEO OPPORTUNITIES
We offer equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Wella Company with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at: https://www.wellacompany.com/consumer-affairs
We strongly believe that cultivating a diverse workplace gives a company strength. The combination of unique skills, abilities, experiences and backgrounds creates an environment that produces extraordinary results. EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled.
English - Please click on this link to review the Notification of Equal Opportunity Rights poster
Español - Por favor, haga un clic en el enlace para revisar el poster de la Ley de los Derechos de Igualdad de Empleo