At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage customer billing, cash collection, and dispute resolution in a dynamic finance role.
- Company: Join Bakkavor, a leading name in fresh prepared food with a global presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, 25 days holiday, and a range of employee perks.
- Why this job: This role offers growth opportunities and a chance to make a real impact in a supportive team.
- Qualifications: Ideal candidates have experience in credit control and are pursuing accounting qualifications.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant culture that values innovation and teamwork.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
We thrive on challenge and change. We rise to challenges together.
Location: Newark (Hybrid Working 3 days in the office 2 days at home)
Business Area: Finance
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract (6 months)
Working Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Salary: Competitive plus pension, life assurance
Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays
We make innovative fresh products, with around 18,500 colleagues working across the UK, US and China. We are the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry supplying meals, salads, desserts, pizza and bread to leading grocery retailers (including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's and Waitrose).
The Role
In this busy and exciting role, you will be responsible for the day-to-day processing of customer billing, cash collection, cash application, performing reconciliation, and managing disputes.
The role involves transactional processing based on the allocation of tasks by OTC Team Leader / Manager and requires following Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to execute the tasks within agreed SLAs and KPIs.
Accountabilities
- Account Receivables and Revenue Reconciliations
- Reconciliation of Customer supply chain financing (SCF) portals to ERP systems to ensure all invoices are available for draw down
- Investigate any missing invoices with customer to ensure resolve in a timely manner and escalate to manager unresolved
- Review AR ledger and complete appropriate collection of account receivables and debt chasing activities as per agreed debt collection strategy
- Accurately record all 'promise to pay' and outcomes of debt chasing activities in a timely manner
- Escalate to Team Leader persistent overdue invoices and customer accounts
- Debit Note Resolution and Cash Application
- Undertake reconciliation of cash received against customer invoices to enable application of cash received to customer accounts. Where required, generate debit notes for customer deductions. Gather appropriate evidence and approval as per documented procedures
- Engage with stakeholders as needed to ensure payment is made within the agreed upon terms
- Identify unallocated cash and track source of it through reviewing payment records, bank statements, and any available communication with customers
- Generate credit notes as per documented procedures and seek appropriate approvals
- Raise customer account write offs to OTC Team Leader as needed
- Dispute Management
- Create dispute case records with appropriate classification based on nature of disputes
- Undertake research on dispute cases; attaches and updates case documentation as appropriate
- Contact customer and resolves disputes or escalates as appropriate
- Notify appropriate internal stakeholders and updates case status
- Liaise closely with Business and Site Finance teams as appropriate
- Query Resolution
- Lead on resolving any queries or discrepancies related to sales orders, such as pricing discrepancies, quantity changes, or late deliveries
- Lead on resolving queries and issues related to the settlement of invoices in line with payment terms, or contractual obligations
- Resolve escalations from internal customers and respond to customer enquiries, ensuring issue and error resolution in line with agreed SLAs
- Correspond with Team Leaders if further escalation on queries is required
- Audit and Internal Controls
- Support internal and external audits as required
- Adhere to all documented procedures, internal controls, governance and policy requirements at all times
- Prepare reports on Accounts Receivables data, KPIs, aged receivables, and cash flow projections and share with the OTC Team Leader
About you
Ideally, you will have previous experience within a similar role and a sound understanding of the credit control / reconciliation process - a history of working with ERP systems, specifically with SAP S/4 HANA would be highly desirable.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, an excellent service delivery attitude, attention to detail, proficiency of the use of Microsoft Office products and the ability to manage time effectively to meet tight deadlines whilst managing multiple tasks - will all be key.
If you have a strong understanding of accounting concepts and/or are currently undergoing professional accounting qualification (e.g., AAT/ACA/ACCA/CIMA) this could be the perfect role for you.
Come and join our fast paced and dynamic work environment and positively contribute to the growth and transformation of our shared services team.
What you'll receive
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to providing a safe and rewarding environment for you to thrive in. This is why we work hard to deliver benefits, rewards and wellbeing offerings that are important to you.
- A stakeholder pension scheme
- Personal accident Insurance
- Free independent mortgage advice
- Employee assistance programme
- A range of voluntary benefits
- Holiday purchase scheme
- Additional life assurance
- Dental & hospital cash plans
- Discounted tutoring for children
- Access to financial learning tools
- Affordable loans via your salary
- Proud to be and loyal service awards.
Plus, a commitment to your wellbeing that includes emotional, physical and financial support services delivered by our fantastic team of wellbeing champions.
Proud to be Bakkavor. We are the biggest name you’ve never heard of. You’ve probably eaten our food. You just didn’t realise it. Because as global leaders in the fresh prepared food industry, we create innovative products, including meals, soups, dips, salads, desserts, pizzas and breads for our customers in the UK, US and China. We’re ambitious. We’re full of ideas and we’re ready for more people to join us who share our passion for quality - come and join our dedicated Bakkavor team!
Order to Cash Associate / Credit Controller employer: Bakkavor Group
Contact Detail:
Bakkavor Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Order to Cash Associate / Credit Controller
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific ERP systems mentioned in the job description, particularly SAP S/4 HANA. Having a solid understanding of how these systems work will give you an edge during interviews and demonstrate your readiness for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Brush up on your knowledge of credit control processes and reconciliation techniques. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you have the relevant experience and can hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed disputes or resolved queries. This will help you illustrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle challenging situations effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Network with current or former employees in similar roles within the company. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be beneficial during your interview.
We think you need these skills to ace Order to Cash Associate / Credit Controller
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in credit control and accounts receivable. Use keywords from the job description, such as 'reconciliation', 'cash application', and 'dispute management' to catch the employer's attention.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your enthusiasm for the role and the company. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your skills in managing accounts receivables and resolving disputes, and explain how you align with their values and passion for quality.
Showcase Relevant Skills: Highlight your proficiency in ERP systems, particularly SAP S/4 HANA if applicable. Emphasise your strong communication skills and attention to detail, as these are crucial for the role of an Order to Cash Associate.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your CV and cover letter for any spelling or grammatical errors. A polished application reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, which is essential for a finance role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bakkavor Group
✨Know Your Numbers
As an Order to Cash Associate, you'll be dealing with financial data daily. Brush up on your understanding of accounts receivable, cash application, and reconciliation processes. Be prepared to discuss your experience with these concepts and any relevant software, especially ERP systems like SAP S/4 HANA.
✨Demonstrate Attention to Detail
In this role, accuracy is key. During the interview, highlight instances where your attention to detail made a difference in your previous roles. You might want to share specific examples of how you managed discrepancies or resolved disputes effectively.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for this position. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully communicated with stakeholders in the past, particularly when resolving queries or disputes. Consider sharing a story that illustrates your ability to convey complex information clearly.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving abilities. Think about common challenges in credit control and how you would handle them. Practising responses to questions about managing overdue invoices or handling customer disputes will help you feel more confident during the interview.