Credit/Collections Specialist

About the Role
Colonial Group, Inc. is looking for a Credit & Collection Specialist who wants to own results, not just work a list. You will manage a portfolio of customer accounts across several Colonial companies, collect past-due balances, and resolve disputes before they grow. You will also help us find better ways to work.
You will work closely with our Credit team, Sales, Billing, and Customer Service.
What You'll Do
Collections and account management

Own a portfolio of customer accounts and work past-due balances to resolution
Use aging reports and dashboards to decide which accounts to work first, based on dollars at risk and how long they've been past due
Contact customers by phone and email to find out why a payment is late, agree on a payment commitment, and follow up until it is paid
Call new customers early in the relationship to confirm they received their first invoice and to head off problems
Research short pays, skipped invoices, and disputes, then work with Sales, Customer Service, and Operations to fix the root cause
Provide invoice copies, statements, and delivery documents to customers when they ask
Document every contact and commitment in the customer record so anyone on the team can pick up the account
Escalate accounts to Sales and Credit leadership when payment commitments are missed
Recommend order releases, holds, and next steps to the Credit team
Flag changes in a customer's financial condition or payment behavior to Credit
Support credit insurance reporting, collection agency placements, and payment tracking on placed accounts

Cash application and reconciliation

Apply customer payments (checks, ACH, wires, EFT drafts) to the correct accounts and invoices
Reconcile receivable postings with daily bank activity
Prepare deposits and process remote deposits as needed

Process improvement and technology

Find repetitive or manual steps in collections and cash application, and suggest or build better ways to do them
Use Excel, Power BI, Microsoft 365, and AI tools to analyze accounts, draft customer communications, and track follow-ups
Help test new tools and workflows, and give honest feedback on what works and what doesn't
Share what you learn so the whole team benefits

What We're Looking For
Required

Comfort picking up the phone and having direct, professional conversations about money
Strong Excel skills (filters, pivot tables, lookups)
Strong organization and follow-through across a large number of accounts
Clear written and verbal communication
Curiosity about how technology can make the work faster and better

Preferred

Experience in collections, accounts receivable, or a customer-facing finance role
B2B experience, especially in fuel, energy, chemicals, transportation, or distribution
Experience with JD Edwards E1, PDI Enterprise, or a similar ERP
Experience with Power BI, automation tools, or AI assistants
An example of a process you improved, at work or in school, and what it changed
Associate or bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field
Recent graduates are encouraged to apply. If you are early in your career but sharp, driven, and comfortable with data and technology, we will teach you the collections side.

Who Does Well Here

You check the aging without being asked and know your top accounts before your manager does
You get curious about why something takes so long, then you fix it
You pick up new software quickly and like trying new tools
You can be firm with a customer and still keep the relationship

Physical Demands

Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk throughout the workday
May occasionally lift and/or move materials weighing up to 20 pounds
Must be able to perform the physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation