Accounts Receivable Lead Specialist

Job summary

The Accounts Receivable Lead Specialist will manage a diverse portfolio to mitigate risk and optimize cash flow through effective collections and reconciliations. They will also lead process improvement initiatives and collaborate cross-functionally to resolve payment discrepancies and enhance operational efficiency.

Job details

Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives. We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. We focus on customer outcomes and drive growth and productivity to increase market share and deliver superior returns. We look to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals. Acuity Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at www.acuityinc.com. Job Summary Acuity Inc. is a dynamic and fast-paced organization dedicated to excellence in financial management. We are seeking a talented Accounts Receivable Lead Specialist to join our Accounts Receivable team. In this role, you will be a core member responsible for managing risk and increasing cash flow.Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions) Accounts Receivable Management Analyze and Manage Complex Accounts: Oversee a diverse Accounts Receivable portfolio across multiple Acuity ERPs and sales channels. Leverage work-queue strategies to perform customer outreach, issue delinquent notices, complete reconciliations, process account adjustments, and prepare monthly reporting. Monitor Aged Receivables: Track trends in unpaid and short-paid balances; collaborate with internal partners and customers to resolve root causes and recommend effective solutions. Issue Resolution & Process Improvement Resolve Account Discrepancies: Investigate and resolve issues including pricing discrepancies, deductions, misapplied or unapplied payments, credit memos, and other payment variances to ensure accurate account status. Evaluate and Optimize Processes: Continuously assess workflows to identify improvement opportunities that enhance operational efficiency, customer experience, and collection effectiveness. Drive Continuous Improvement: Recommend and lead initiatives that strengthen collections, streamline processes, and improve customer service, with a focus on operational excellence. Strategic Thinking & Risk Management Strategize and Manage Risk: Apply strategic judgment to support credit and collections objectives, proactively manage risk, and align actions with organizational priorities and future direction. Systems & Cross-Functional Collaboration Support System Enhancements: Participate in system improvement projects to optimize AR processes, including opportunities for automation and workflow streamlining. Collaborate Across Functions: Partner with cross-functional teams to identify issues, address process gaps, and develop creative, efficient solutions that drive better business outcomes. Skills and Minimum Experience Required 5+ years of experience in Credit & Collections and/or Deductions Management, with a strong track record of improving AR performance. 5+ years of experience leading process improvements and driving positive operational change. Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to dive deep into data, identify root causes, assess risk, and deliver actionable solutions. Strong technical proficiency, including Outlook, Excel (pivot tables, lookups, data manipulation), and Power BI or similar analytics tools. Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, influence outcomes, and build productive working relationships across the business. Demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer service, with a strong focus on responsiveness, professionalism, and effective issue resolution. Preferred Skills and Experience Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field. Experience with Sage, Microsoft Dynamics, and Oracle ERP platforms. Bilingual French and English: To serve clients and external service providers across Canada and USA. We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regards to race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, covered veteran status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. Accommodation for Applicants with Disabilities: As an equal opportunity employer, Acuity Brands is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need an accommodation, you may contact us at (770) 922-9000, select option 4. Please clearly indicate what type of accommodation you are requesting and for what requisition. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Acuity Inc. from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to an Acuity Inc. mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Acuity Inc. employees, or to Acuity Inc. resume database will be considered Acuity Inc. property. Acuity Inc. will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Knowledge of French is required for positions permanently located in Quebec so incumbents can communicate with their colleagues and suppliers in Quebec as necessary. French-language training is offered to all incumbents in permanent positions in Quebec who do not have a good knowledge of French. Acuity Inc. will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.

What you’ll do

The Accounts Receivable Lead Specialist will manage a diverse portfolio to mitigate risk and optimize cash flow through effective collections and reconciliations. They will also lead process improvement initiatives and collaborate cross-functionally to resolve payment discrepancies and enhance operational efficiency.

Requirements

Candidates must have at least 5 years of experience in Credit and Collections or Deductions Management with a proven track record of operational improvement. Proficiency in data analysis tools like Excel and Power BI is required, along with strong communication skills and the ability to work with various ERP platforms.

Listed skills

• Accounts receivable · Preferred
• Financial analysis · Preferred
• Data analysis · Preferred
• Process Improvement · Preferred
• Risk Management · Preferred
• Microsoft Excel · Preferred
• Power BI · Preferred
• Customer service · Preferred
• Problem solving · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Accounts Receivable
• Credit & Collections
• Deductions Management
• Financial Analysis
• Reconciliation
• Data Analysis
• Process Improvement
• Risk Management
• Excel
• Power BI
• Sage
• Microsoft Dynamics
• Oracle ERP
• Customer Service
• Problem Solving
• Strategic Planning
• Influencing Skills
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Microsoft Dynamics 365
• Operational Efficiency
• Accounts Receivable Management
• Professionalism
• Workflow Management
• Account Adjustments
• Advanced Analytics
• Bilingual (French/English)
• Accounting
• Automation
• Building Management
• Management
• Continuous Improvement Process
• Data Manipulation
• Enterprise Resource Planning
• Finance
• Pivot Tables And Charts
• Sales
• Financial Management
• French Language
• Innovation
• Market Share
• Memos
• Microsoft Outlook
• Operational Excellence
• Operations
• Strategic Thinking
• Collaboration
• Streamlining
• Collections

Job areas

• Finance & Accounting
• Management & Leadership
• Customer Service & Support
• Administrative
• Accounts Receivable Lead
• Accounts Payable / Receivable Clerk
• Accounting Associate Professionals
• Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks

More jobs from Acuity