Position Overview
Optimize the accounts receivable function for a fast-moving wholesale food products distribution business. Establish robust systems, processes, and team capabilities to ensure timely collections, accurate reporting, and strong cash flow management across a diverse customer base. Working hours 8am - 530pm.
Key Responsibilities
1. Process & Systems Leadership
- Design and implement comprehensive AR standard operating procedures (SOPs) aligned with FMCG industry best practices
- Establish credit policies, payment terms structures, and collection escalation protocols
- Develop automated reporting dashboards showing aging analysis, collection effectiveness, DSO trends, and cash flow forecasting
- Create standardized templates for customer communications, dispute resolution, and payment arrangements
- Implement data quality controls and audit procedures across all customer account systems
2. Team Management & Development
- Guide and mentor officers who handle debt collection as part of their broader responsibilities
- Conduct regular training on professional collection techniques, negotiation skills, and customer relationship management
- Set clear performance metrics (collection rates, dispute resolution time, customer satisfaction) and conduct regular reviews
- Foster collaboration between AR, sales, logistics, and customer service teams
3. Collections & Customer Management
- Oversee the end-to-end collections process from invoice issuance through payment reconciliation
- Review high-value or problematic accounts and intervene in complex negotiations
- Establish proactive customer communication protocols to prevent delinquencies
- Coordinate with delivery teams on cash collection processes and daily reconciliation
- Coordinate with sales team on escalated debt collection requests & tracking their success rates
- Manage escalation procedures for legal action or write-offs when necessary
4. Reporting & Analysis
- Provide management with weekly/monthly AR position reports including outstanding balances by aging bucket, collection forecasts, and risk assessments
- Track key metrics: Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), collection effectiveness index, bad debt percentage, dispute resolution time
- Identify trends in payment behaviours across customer segments and recommend credit limit adjustments
- Present cash flow implications and working capital impacts to senior leadership
Qualifications
Required
- 5+ years experience in accounts receivable or credit management, preferably in FMCG distribution, food wholesale, or related industries
- Proven track record establishing AR processes and leading collection teams
- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, dashboard creation) and experience with ERP/accounting systems
- Strong understanding of credit risk assessment and working capital management
- Excellent leadership, coaching, and stakeholder management abilities
- Proficiency in Mandarin and English (spoken and written) for effective internal & client communication
Preferred
- Experience with similar FMCG distributors
- Familiarity with Singapore wholesale/distribution business practices
- Experience formalising and motivating existing staff to adopt updated AR SOP
- Professional certification (CPA, CA, or credit management credentials)
Personal Attributes
- Systematic thinker who can build processes from scratch while maintaining operational flexibility
- Diplomatic communicator who balances firmness in collections with customer relationship preservation
- Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities
- Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced wholesale environment
- Ability to influence and align stakeholders without direct reporting authority