Accounts Receivable Specialist

Endemic Environmental Services, Inc; Fullerton (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

PTO and paid holidays

Sick leave

FSA and/or HSA options

Company-sponsored events

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Endemic Environmental Services, Inc. is seeking an Accounts Receivable and Collections Specialist in Fullerton, CA. This full-time, on-site role focuses on getting invoices paid while maintaining positive client relationships and professional communication.

The position reports to the Controller and involves collaboration with Accounting Lead and project managers. The role is approximately 60% collections, 25% project billing, and 15% accounting support and improvement, requiring strong

Qualifications

• Two years of accounts receivable or commercial collections experience.
• Strong knowledge of receivables, reconciliations, Excel, and accounting software.
• Ability to interpret contract payment terms and maintain complete records.

Responsibilities

• Review aging, plan follow-up, and prioritize overdue invoices.
• Build relationships with client billing contacts and gather required information.
• Coordinate with project managers and accounting to resolve issues.
• Maintain clear contact records, reconcile balances, and report receipts.
• Assist with project invoices, milestones, and unbilled work.

Skills

Accounts receivable

Client relationship management

Excel (formulas, sorting, filtering)

Education

Associate’s degree in accounting or finance

Tools

QuickBooks

Project management software

Excel lookups / pivot tables

Job description

Accounts Receivable and Collections Specialist

Location: Fullerton, CA | On-site

Schedule: Full-time; Monday–Friday

Compensation: $27–$34 per hour, depending on relevant experience and qualifications

Classification: Nonexempt; eligible for overtime pay

ABOUT ENDEMIC:

Founded in 2009, Endemic Environmental Services is a growing California environmental consulting firm providing biological resources, habitat restoration, environmental compliance, permitting, construction monitoring, and water-resource services. Our teams work alongside public agencies, contractors, utilities, and private clients to help projects move forward while protecting species, habitats, and natural systems.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

We are seeking an Accounts Receivable and Collections Specialist who knows how to get invoices paid while maintaining the confidence and goodwill of clients we want to work with again. You will learn how each client approves and processes payment, understand what is holding an invoice up, and use tactful, persistent follow-through to reach a resolution. This role requires someone who can read the situation, ask clear questions, and move a payment conversation forward with professionalism and sound judgment.

Reporting to the Controller, you will partner with our Accounting Lead and project managers to resolve account issues and reduce overdue receivables. You will combine strong client relationship skills with the accounting knowledge to reconcile balances, interpret contract terms, and provide reliable information for cash planning. The approximate focus is 60% collections, 25% project billing, and 15% accounting support and improvement.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

Receivables and Collections

• Review aging, account history, payment commitments, and project context to prioritize overdue invoices and plan appropriate follow-up.
• Build productive relationships with client billing contacts. Learn their approval steps, documentation needs, and payment schedules; ask for clear next steps and follow through on commitments.
• Adapt the tone, timing, and approach to each situation. Listen to concerns, distinguish processing delays from disputed charges, and coordinate with project managers and accounting to resolve the underlying issue.
• Maintain clear contact records and reconcile balances, receipts, unapplied cash, short payments, and retainage so client conversations are informed and accurate.
• Keep follow-up coordinated across the team and involve the Controller or project manager when an account needs additional judgment or authority. Report expected receipts and unresolved issues for cash planning.

Project Billing and Accounting Support

• Assist with preparation, review, and submission of assigned project invoices and supporting documents, including public‑agency and prime‑contractor portals.
• Verify milestones, approved time and expenses, change orders, and contract billing requirements. Track unbilled work and flag delays.
• Research differences among contract values, invoices, payments, and project accounting records.

Accounting Controls and Process Improvement

• Support month‑end receivables reconciliation, cash application review, account cleanup, and audit documentation.
• Identify recurring payment obstacles and recommend improvements to billing, tracking, and approved automation; follow established controls and approval limits.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

Required

• At least two years of accounts receivable or commercial collections experience, including direct responsibility for overdue business invoices and resolving payment issues within ongoing client relationships.
• Working knowledge of receivables, account reconciliation, accounting software, and Excel, including formulas, sorting, and filtering.
• Ability to interpret contract payment terms and invoice requirements, investigate discrepancies, and maintain complete supporting records.
• Demonstrated ability to balance persistence with diplomacy: listen carefully, handle objections calmly, adapt to different client processes, and secure clear payment commitments while maintaining trust.
• Sound judgment about when to follow up, investigate further, or involve a project manager or the Controller; strong organization, discretion, and dependable follow-through.
• Ability to work regularly at our Fullerton office.

Preferred

• Associate’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field preferred. Relevant coursework and directly related professional experience will also be considered; the two‑year experience minimum applies to all candidates.
• Experience in environmental consulting, engineering, construction, professional services, public contracting, or another project‑based business.
• Familiarity with billing portals, progress billing, retainage, QuickBooks, project‑management systems, Excel lookups, or pivot tables.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE:

Clients receive informed, coordinated communication and clear help resolving invoice issues. Payment commitments are tracked, obstacles are resolved or escalated promptly, and overdue balances improve against an established baseline. The quality of the client interaction matters alongside accurate records and reliable collection results.

BENEFITS:

• Tenure‑based Health Benefits, with employer‑paid employee medical premiums increasing from 50% to 100% by year five.
• Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance.
• 401(k) with up to a 4% company match.
• Scaling paid time off, paid sick leave, and paid holidays.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options.
• Company‑sponsored events.
• Employee Assistance Program.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS:

Our client relationships support both today’s projects and future work. This role helps ensure Endemic is paid for its services while keeping those relationships constructive and productive. If you take pride in resolving difficult account issues with sound accounting skills, diplomacy, and follow‑through, we encourage you to apply!

Endemic Environmental Services, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available during hiring and in performing essential job functions.