Lead Collections Specialist

Brady Corporation; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

401(k) match

Paid time off & holidays

Incentive programs for full-time

Job summary

Brady Corporation in Milwaukee seeks a Collections Lead to drive day-to-day collections, manage a high-risk portfolio, and mentor the team. You will monitor KPIs, resolve disputes, and collaborate with Sales, Customer Service, and Finance to optimize working capital.

The role reports to the Collections Supervisor and will lead onboarding of new staff while promoting best practices and process improvements. A strong Excel and ERP background is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field or equivalent relevant experience.
• 3+ years of experience in Collections, Accounts Receivable, Credit, or related financial function.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor peers and provide leadership/training.

Responsibilities

• Maintains ownership of a portfolio of complex, high-risk or strategic customer accounts, ensuring timely collection and issue resolution.
• Monitors collection performance metrics (past-due %, current %, DSO) and follow-up on promises.
• Assist with workload prioritization and ensure coverage of customer portfolios.
• Support team check-ins, knowledge sharing, and follow-up on collections priorities.
• Serve as the first escalation point for complex collection issues and high-risk balances.
• Lead onboarding and training of new collection team members; report progress to supervisor.
• Identify root causes of payment delays and drive timely resolutions with customers.
• Promote effective use of GetPaid and SAP systems and adherence to collections practices.
• Identify process improvements and assist in SOP development and updates.
• Mentor peers and provide knowledge transfer for team members.

Skills

Communication

Excel

SAP

GetPaid

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/related field

Tools

SAP

GetPaid

Job description

What We Need

This position is responsible for leading day-to-day collection and resolution activities while serving as a senior resource to the Collections team. The Collections Lead drives timely collection of outstanding receivables, supports working capital objectives, monitors collections performance, and ensures consistent execution of Collections processes. This role partners closely with Customer Service, Sales, Operations, Channel, Cash Application, and Credit and Disputes. This position reports to the Collections Supervisor and serves as the senior individual contributor beneath the supervisor.

What We Need

This position is responsible for leading day-to-day collection and resolution activities while serving as a senior resource to the Collections team. The Collections Lead drives timely collection of outstanding receivables, supports working capital objectives, monitors collections performance, and ensures consistent execution of Collections processes. This role partners closely with Customer Service, Sales, Operations, Channel, Cash Application, and Credit and Disputes. This position reports to the Collections Supervisor and serves as the senior individual contributor beneath the supervisor.

What You'll Be Doing

• Maintains ownership of a portfolio consisting of the department's most complex, high-risk, or strategically important customer accounts, ensuring timely collection, and issue resolution, and escalation when necessary.
• Monitors collection performance, including past-due percentage, percentage current, DSO, and collection activity, and promise-to-pay follow up.
• Assists with workload prioritization and ensures appropriate coverage of customer portfolios.
• Support regular team check-ins, knowledge sharing, and follow-up on collections priorities.
• Serves as the first point of escalation for complex collection issues, high-risk balances, and customer concerns.
• Lead the day-to-day onboarding and training new Collection's team members providing communication progress or support needs to the Collections Supervisor
• Partners with customer to identify root causes and barriers to payment and drives timely resolution.
• Promotes effective utilization of GetPaid and SAP systems and adherence to established collections practices.
• Identifies process improvement and training opportunities and supports development and maintenance of SOP's.
• Supports peer training, and knowledge transfer for existing team members.
• Maintains responsibility for complex or strategic customer accounts as assigned.
• Provides observations and performance-related data to the Collections Supervisor but does not conduct formal performance reviews or corrective action.
• Leads assigned collection projects and provides status updates, risks, and recommendations to manager.

What You Will Need To Be Successful

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related business field or equivalent relevant experience
• 3+ years of experience in Collections, Accounts Receivable, Credit, or related financial function.
• Previous experience providing peer leadership, training, or subject-matter-guidance preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor peers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to manage customer and internal escalations.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills preferred.
• SAP and/or GetPaid experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally and drive process improvement.

About Us

Who we are:

Brady Corporation is a global industrial technology leader dedicated to making workplaces safer, more productive, and more connected. Backed by a 110+ year legacy of reliability and innovation, we have entered an exciting era of transformation and growth, powered by more than 10,000 team members serving customers across 40+ countries. Following our acquisition of Honeywell's Productivity Solutions and Services business in August 2026, Brady brings together trusted leadership in safety, materials science, and identification with advanced mobile computing, scanning, and automation.

• Identification Solutions: High-performance labels, safety signs, engineered materials, and rugged industrial printing systems.
• Intelligent Productivity Solutions: Industry-leading mobile computers, barcode/RFID scanners, specialized software, voice automation, and workflow services.

From aerospace, healthcare, and laboratories to manufacturing plants, retail, data centers, and global transportation and logistics hubs, we empower customers to identify, protect, track, and optimize the people, assets, and processes that keep the world running.

Why Work At Brady

A career at Brady means working for a global company that has thrived for over 100 years, and whose innovative spirit drives our future growth.

Brady offers competitive pay and great benefits, supported by a culture that encourages collaboration and innovation. We strive to foster an inclusive workplace where diverse talent can learn, grow, and succeed. And with deeply rooted values, no matter where you work at Brady, you'll feel connected to the community through our charitable contributions and opportunities to give back.

Our headquarters are in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but we have more than 70 locations globally, giving our employees the opportunity to work with colleagues around the world.

Our Benefits

• Comprehensive insurance coverage starting on your first day of employment, including medical, dental, and vision
• Generous 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Opportunity to participate in incentive programs for all full-time employees
• Family planning benefits including paid parental leave, fertility coverage, adoption and surrogacy assistance
• Education reimbursement opportunities
• Scholarship program for children of Brady employees
• A variety of Employee Resource Groups to provide you with unique networking, development, and volunteer opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program and related wellness programs (mental and behavioral health, family counseling, financial management)
• Dress-for-your-day dress code
• Charitable contributions matched through Brady's Matching Gift program