An accounts receivable supervisor oversees the collection of funds owed to a business, with responsibilities including issuing invoices, payment processing, and managing a team. Requirements vary, but experience or training in accounting is often preferred. Advancement can come from working up the ranks or obtaining relevant education and experience.
An accounts receivable supervisor is a finance professional who oversees an accounts receivable department, where funds owed to a business, organization, or person are collected from payees. In some companies, accounts receivable are grouped with accounts payable, the department that handles outgoing expenses. In this case, the combined department supervisor may be known as the accounts receivable/payable supervisor. Job openings for accounts receivable supervisors tend to open up relatively regularly, especially in urban areas.
The job responsibilities of an accounts receivable supervisor vary, depending on the size of the company. The supervisor can handle multiple employees or run the department independently. Examples of types of tasks that fall under accounts receivable include: issuing invoices; payment processing; prepare payment plans; issuing reminders or invoices; revoke lines of credit for customers who are late; participate in collection activities; and referring radically overdue bills to collections.
This type of work requires flexibility and adaptability. The accounts receivable supervisor may need to manage information from several people at once and process a large amount of paperwork on any given day. A good eye for organization is also important, for tracking accounts, identifying when an account is falling behind, and so on. When overseeing a team, the accounts receivable supervisor must also be good with people and able to work with people from different backgrounds.
Different companies have different expectations of an accounts receivable supervisor in terms of training and work experience. Some expect people to have five years or more of accounts receivable experience. Others may expect degrees in accounting or accounting training, while others may accept people with basic office experience, experience in other areas of accounting, and so on. Sometimes it can be useful to be bilingual, in areas where a company may work with people who speak different languages.
There are several ways to become an accounts receivable supervisor. One way is to work your way up the ranks of the company, starting in accounts receivable or another accounting department to gain experience, skills and training relevant to the company. Over time, someone can apply for higher positions and eventually become a supervisor. Another option is to get school training and apply to start as a supervisor, or get varied work experience as a mid-level employee in a large department and apply to a different company as a supervisor.
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