Collections Specialist & Assistant Accountant, EMEA

Crosslake Technologies LLC; Manchester; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial consultancy in Manchester is seeking a Collections Specialist & Assistant Accountant to handle cash collection, manage accounts receivables, and provide support for the accounting function. The ideal candidate has at least 3 years of finance experience, strong credit control skills, and a focus on customer service. Proficiency in financial software and attention to detail are essential. This role offers opportunities to contribute to the finance team's optimization efforts.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in a finance function with credit control skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage long-term client relationships.
• Proven customer service and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead all external credit control activities to drive timely cash collection.
• Manage aged accounts receivables reporting and collections monitoring tools.
• Ensure the ledgers for payables and receivables are up to date.

Skills

Credit control skills

Ledger maintenance

Customer service

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

AAT qualification or similar

Tools

NetSuite

Excel

Job description

What we believe

In the past few years, private equity investors have invested more than a trillion dollars in software and tech-enabled companies. And in many cases, the underlying tech is the greatest enabler to the business strategy. But has the approach to govern technology value creation caught up to the magnitude of the risk?

We believe a better way is possible – a more programmatic, proactive approach to actively manage technology throughout the investment lifecycle – and that’s what we do.

Our role

We know that technology can create truly transformative change, and its role in business is only growing. Crosslake is here to support the changemakers and help them buy, build and run better technology.

What we value

You could be a good fit for Crosslake if you see yourself reflected in our guiding values:

Service. We effect change by empowering others.

Curiosity. We believe great advice starts with deep understanding.

Credibility. Our expertise is earned and proven.

Commitment. It’s our privilege to serve clients in their critical moments.

Creativity. We are inspired by the constant pursuit of better.

Overview

The Collections Specialist & Assistant Accountant will report to the Financial Controller and will work closely with the Management Accountant, other managers within the organization, plus the Finance team at the parent company in the USA. Your time will be shared across being the key contributor to Crosslake EMEA’s accounts receivable and cash collection needs, plus playing a crucial role in supporting the accounting function with generating timely and accurate management accounts and maintaining robust ledgers.

The Collections Specialist activities require high quality support to Crosslake’s investor client base, understanding the commercial circumstances of each project and what is required in relation to billings and collecting cash receivables, whilst being responsible within Finance for client invoice generation and account reconciliation. The role requires a confident communicator who can handle difficult conversations with professionalism and empathy, ensuring clients feel supported while upholding the company’s financial goals and ultimately driving timely cash collection.

The Assistant Accountant activities encompass a variety of responsibilities within the accounting function, including managing accurate general ledger postings, supporting the Management Accountant with month end processes and lead schedules, plus contributing to broader Finance processes such as cashflow management and client project setup. The work would be attractive to someone looking to build their technical financial and accounting skillset.

The role is a crucial part of the effective running and ongoing improvement of the Finance function. The individual will have a strong pro active mindset and uphold Crosslake’s standards of excellence in client service. They will be committed to paying attention to detail.

Responsibilities

Collections Specialist

• Lead all external credit control activities to drive timely cash collection
• Manage the aged accounts receivables reporting and ongoing collections monitoring tools
• Timely and accurate co-ordination and production of client invoicing: in collaboration with client-facing colleagues, driving the conversation and through reviewing the CRM, time-keeping tool and underlying contracts

• Lead all internal conversations in relation to credit control
• Support the Financial Controller in the auditing processes to check for missing or inaccurate invoices
• Perform the Finance function input in the client setup process, including reviewing work prepared by the Project Setup team
• Demonstrate strong business acumen around Crosslake’s work for its clients and a willingness to continually learn and improve

Assistant Accountant

• Ensure the ledgers are up to date for payables, receivables and cash
• Provide a key contribution to the maintenance of the long-term asset registers and the accruals and prepayments monthly lead schedules
• Support the accounting function with input into revenue analysis files
• Prepare the bank reconciliation and other balance sheet reconciliations for review
• Monitor the Finance email inboxes and take the lead on responding within function SLAs
• Ensure e-document filing is up to date and pro-actively seek process improvement suggestions for the Financial Controller
• Propose and prepare supplier payment batches for approval, ensuring all invoices are approved
• Support the team in the accurate and timely payment of Crosslake’s practitioners and purchases to other group companies
• Ensure that expense receipts are fully accounted for and that the business has reclaimed all VAT
• Support the weekly cash forecasting through updating the latest ledger data and reviewing the forecast collections outlook
• Provide accurate information to the auditors, including monthly lead schedules and invoice support
• Be flexible and able to address the many ad-hoc and “new” initiatives and be able to both respond, and complete work related to such tasks

Qualifications & Expierence

• At least 3 years’ experience in a finance function with strong credit control and ledger maintenance skills, ideally within a services business
• A keen interest in, or currently pursuing, AAT qualification or similar
• Demonstrated ability to manage long term client relationships, preferably within a professional services or private equity environment
• Exceptional customer service and communication skills, exemplifying Crosslake’s dedication to high quality service
• Strong knowledge of purchase and sales ledger processes, reconciliations, and expense handling.
• Proficiency in financial software (preferably NetSuite) and Excel.
• High attention to detail and spotting opportunity for process improvement