Order to Cash Lead

Rhenus Logistics; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Rhenus Logistics is seeking an Accounts Receivable Lead to oversee the AR Team within our Shared Services Organisation in the UK. You will conduct regular 1:1s, performance reviews and develop best practices to improve AR results, efficiency and service quality.

The role requires strong leadership, stakeholder engagement and hands-on delivery. You will drive collections across UK & Ireland, manage data integrity and controls, and report on trends with actionable recommendations.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership of an Order-to-Cash/Accounts Receivable team.
• Strong knowledge of collections, disputes, and insolvency processes.
• Experience in cash allocation and master data controls.
• Hands-on leader who can deliver operational support.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication.
• Experience in a high-volume Shared Services environment desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach a hybrid team across UK and Ireland collections, cash allocation and master data.
• Provide operational cover during peak periods to ensure service continuity.
• Manage workload, wellbeing and hybrid working to maintain performance and service levels.
• Lead collections to meet cash, overdue debt and DSO targets.
• Escalate and resolve complex disputes, payment issues and high-risk accounts.
• Oversee legal recovery, insolvency activities and relationship with agencies.

Skills

People leadership

OTC/AR expertise

Stakeholder management

Excel

ERP systems

Data analysis

Education

CICM qualification or equivalent

Tools

SAP

Excel

Job description

What You Can Expect

At Rhenus, we believe everyone plays a crucial role and our people are the cornerstone of our success. By contributing your unique strengths and your dedication, you help shape our collective impact on the global stage.

We value practical solutions and quick decisions, empowering you to take ownership and make a difference. By turning fresh ideas into reality we embrace change and provide you the opportunity to unleash your entrepreneurial spirit.

Recognised as a top employer, and united by a common goal, we are committed to fostering a workplace culture that embraces diverse perspectives and fosters collaboration. We empower each other to drive growth and success.

The future isn't just built by the company - it's shaped by each of us, working together. Join our Rhenus community to make an impact, and grow alongside a team of passionate people who are dedicated to making a difference. #empoweredbyyou

We're looking for an Accounts Receivable lead who will be responsible for overseeing the Accounts Receivable Team within our Shared Services Organisation.

The AR Lead will conduct regular 121s, performance reviews, and other associated people processes, providing leadership and guidance as well as developing and implementing best practices to improve results, efficiency, and effectiveness within the AR process.

Relationships will be key in this role and there will be an expectation to attend stakeholder meetings and work with the various Business units to ensure that a high level of service is provided to our clients.

Main Duties:

• Lead, coach and develop a hybrid team comprising three UK Market Collectors, one Ireland Market Collector, one Cash Allocation Clerk and one Customer and Vendor Master Data Clerk, conducting regular 1:1s, performance reviews, objective setting, development discussions and team meetings.
• Act as a hands-on leader, providing operational support and cover during annual leave, absence and peak workload periods to ensure service continuity across Collections, Cash Allocation and Master Data activities.
• Manage team resources, workload allocation, wellbeing and hybrid working arrangements to maintain high levels of performance, engagement and customer service.
• Lead collection activities across the UK and Ireland customer portfolios, ensuring cash collection, overdue debt and DSO targets are achieved.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex disputes, payment issues, high-risk accounts, payment plans and customer negotiations, working closely with Sales, Commercial, Operations and Customer Service teams to resolve issues and improve customer outcomes.
• Own legal recovery and insolvency activities, including management of debt collection agencies, solicitors and insolvency practitioners, whilst overseeing claims, proof of debt submissions, recoveries, bad debt exposure and write-off recommendations.
• Oversee the timely and accurate allocation of customer receipts, ensuring unapplied cash is minimised and allocation controls are maintained.
• Oversee customer and vendor master data processes, ensuring data integrity, appropriate approvals, compliance with internal controls and segregation of duties.
• Own the weekly, monthly and ad hoc OTC reporting cycle, ensuring all reports are accurate, quality checked, distributed on time and accompanied by meaningful commentary, analysis, risks and recommended actions.
• Present performance trends, risks, opportunities and corrective actions to the Transactional Finance Manager and other key stakeholders.
• Maintain effective financial controls, documented procedures and audit readiness across the OTC function.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement by identifying opportunities for standardisation, automation, process simplification and operational efficiency.
• Support wider Shared Services, Finance transformation and business change initiatives, together with any other duties appropriate to the role.

What You Bring:

Key Competencies and Skills:

• Proven leadership experience within Order-to-Cash, Credit Control or Accounts Receivable.
• Strong knowledge of collections, aged debt management, dispute resolution, legal recovery and insolvency processes.
• Working knowledge of cash allocation and customer and vendor master data controls.
• Hands-on and adaptable approach, with the ability to move between leadership responsibilities and operational delivery.
• Strong people management, coaching, objective setting and performance management capability.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to provide concise, meaningful commentary and meet reporting deadlines.
• Excellent planning, prioritisation, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• High level of accuracy, integrity and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience of ERP systems; SAP knowledge is preferred.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities and maintain service levels in a hybrid working environment.

Education and Experience:

• Minimum three years of experience managing a team within Order-to-Cash, Credit Control, Accounts Receivable or a comparable transactional finance environment.
• Demonstrable experience of operational collections, complex debt recovery and stakeholder escalation.
• Experience of legal recovery, insolvency case management, cash allocation, master data or closely related OTC processes.
• Experience producing management information and performance reports with clear commentary to agreed deadlines.
• Experience in a high-volume or Shared Services environment is desirable.
• CICM qualification or equivalent credit management accreditation is desirable.
• Experience of process automation, transformation or continuous improvement is desirable.

Key Attributes

• Hands-on, visible and willing to support the team directly when operational cover is required.
• Accountable and dependable, with a strong focus on accuracy, timeliness and follow-through.
• Proactive, self-motivated and comfortable taking ownership of complex issues.
• Collaborative and able to build effective relationships across Finance and the wider business.
• Resilient, commercially aware and confident in challenging constructively.
• People-focused leader who coaches, develops and motivates others.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a practical approach to change.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise effectively.