A/R Specialist

Hometown Food Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Hometown Food Company is seeking an experienced A/R Specialist to manage the full accounts receivable process in a fast-paced consumer-packaged goods environment. You will handle cash applications, reconciliations, deductions, and collections while working with internal teams to resolve customer discrepancies.

The role requires strong analytical abilities, attention to detail, and advanced Excel skills. On-site five days a week, with opportunities to improve cash flow and customer relationships

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; Associate's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in accounts receivable or credit and collections.
• Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong understanding of basic accounting principles and accounts receivable processes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with customers and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage full accounts receivable process including cash application, reconciliation, deduction analysis, and collections.
• Research shortages and overages; resolve payment discrepancies and customer account issues.
• Collaborate with Customer Service, Sales, Logistics and other departments to identify root causes of discrepancies.
• Analyze customer payment patterns and aging reports to optimize receivables management.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical

Communication skills

Education

Associate's degree in Accounting/Finance

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

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A/R Specialist

101 Corporate / 3217 Cred Full Time Chicago, IL, US

Salary Range: $60,000.00 To $75,000.00 Annually

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced, highly hands-on Accounts Receivable Specialist with a strong background in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. This position is responsible for managing the full accounts receivable process, including cash application, account reconciliation, deduction analysis, shortage and overage research, payment discrepancies, collections, and customer account resolution.

The ideal candidate is highly analytical, detail-oriented, comfortable researching complex account issues from beginning to end, and possesses advanced Excel skills. This individual must be comfortable working directly with customers as well as partnering internally with Customer Service, Sales, Logistics, and other departments to identify root causes and resolve discrepancies.

This is a hands-on role requiring someone who takes ownership of their accounts and follows issues through to resolution.

By analyzing customer payment patterns and aging reports, the A/R Specialist helps identify risks and opportunities to optimize receivables management. Ultimately, this role contributes to sustaining strong customer relationships while safeguarding the company’s revenue streams through effective credit and collections management.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent; Associate's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in accounts receivable or credit and collections, preferably within the manufacturing industry.
• Proficiency in accounting software and Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel.
• Strong understanding of basic accounting principles and accounts receivable processes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to interact effectively with customers and internal teams.
• This position is on-site 5 days a week

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with ERP systems commonly used in manufacturing, such as SAP or Oracle.
• Knowledge of manufacturing industry billing cycles and customer contract terms.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze financial data and generate actionable insights.

Skills:

The A/R Specialist utilizes strong organizational and analytical skills daily to manage and reconcile numerous customer accounts accurately. Effective communication skills are essential for negotiating payment plans and resolving disputes with customers while maintaining positive relationships. Proficiency in accounting software and Excel enables the specialist to generate detailed reports and track payment trends efficiently. Problem-solving skills are applied to investigate discrepancies and implement process improvements that enhance collection effectiveness. Additionally, knowledge of manufacturing industry practices helps tailor credit and collection strategies to meet the unique needs of the business.