Senior Accounts Receivable Analyst (Consumer Goods Manufacturing)

IFG US; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

IFG US is seeking a Senior Accounts Receivable Analyst to support AR operations in a fast-paced consumer goods manufacturing environment. The role focuses on payments, deductions analysis, and collaboration with Sales, Customer Service, and Supply Chain to ensure accurate cash flow.

The ideal candidate has CPG/manufacturing experience, strong Excel skills, and familiarity with retailer deductions and chargebacks. This hybrid Chicago-based position offers growth and cross-functional exposure.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• 4–7+ years of accounts receivable or credit & collections experience in consumer goods, food & beverage, or manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of retailer deductions, chargebacks, promotional programs, and dispute management.
• Experience with high-volume national retail accounts.
• Proficiency with ERP systems such as Sage, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, or similar platforms.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with EDI transactions and customer portals is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end accounts receivable processes for assigned customer accounts, including invoicing, cash application, collections, deductions, and dispute resolution.
• Analyze and reconcile customer accounts to ensure timely and accurate payment activity while adhering to agreed-upon credit limits.
• Investigate and resolve pricing discrepancies, shortages, returns, promotional deductions, and chargebacks.
• Monitor aging reports and proactively follow up on past-due balances to minimize bad debt exposure.
• Partner with Sales and Customer Service teams to resolve customer payment issues and improve collection cycles
• Prepare weekly and monthly AR reporting, KPIs (DSO), aging analysis, and cash forecasting updates.
• Manage bi-weekly meetings and review sessions of aged trial balances with Sales, Finance, and select Executive Leadership Team members.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities related to receivables and revenue reconciliation
• Maintain compliance with company policies, customer agreements, and internal controls.
• Assist with process improvement initiatives to streamline AR operations and enhance reporting accuracy.
• Collaborate with external auditors and internal finance leadership during audits and reviews.
• Utilize ERP systems and reporting tools to analyze financial data and identify trends or risks.
• Mentor cross-functional staff and provide guidance on deduction resolution and account management best practices.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Time management

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Sage

SAP

Oracle

Microsoft Dynamics

NetSuite

Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP)

EDI platforms

Job description

Position: Senior Accounts Receivable Analyst — Consumer Goods Manufacturing

Department: Accounting & Finance

Industry: Consumer Goods Manufacturing / Food & Beverage

Reports To: Cash Manager and/or Corporate Controller

Location: Downtown Chicago, IL

Schedule: Hybrid (Tues, Wed, Thu in-office); Walking distance to train station

Compensation

• Contract Pay Rate: $30/hour - $50/hour
• Direct Hire: $80,000 - $100,000 base salary

Position Overview: IFG-US is partnering with a client to identify a detail-oriented and analytical Senior Accounts Receivable Analyst to support the financial operations of a fast-paced food and beverage manufacturing company. This role is responsible for managing complex accounts receivable activities, overseeing collections, reconciling customer accounts, analyzing deductions and chargebacks (including tracking customer‑level deductions for budgeting), and partnering cross‑functionally with Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, and major retail customers – both direct and indirect revenue streams.

The ideal candidate has strong experience in consumer‑packaged goods (CPG) or manufacturing environments, understands retailer compliance programs, multi‑level distribution channels, and various routes to market, and deduction management, and thrives in a high‑volume transactional setting.

Intake Call Notes

• Consumer Goods Manufacturing industry experience required
• Processing customer payments is primary scope of this role
• • Low daily volume (6 – 10 payments received daily, mostly electronic, a few checks go to lockbox)
  • • Complex payments (each payment could be 5 or more invoices with 30 or more different deductions)
  • 80% of the work is related to deductions analysis
  • Wholesale, Retail (volume‑based [e.g., BOGO], promotions, damaged goods, late delivery, etc.)
  • • Big Box (Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Publix, Safeway); 50 smaller chains
  • Distributors: Dot’s, KeHE
• Excel: Pivot tables, vLookups, sumifs (all required)
• ERP: X3 Sage preferred (other large ERP also okay: SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, etc.)
• EDI: True Commerce (manage customer comments in their individual portals)

Key Responsibilities

• Manage end‑to‑end accounts receivable processes for assigned customer accounts, including invoicing, cash application, collections, deductions, and dispute resolution.
• Analyze and reconcile customer accounts to ensure timely and accurate payment activity while adhering to agreed‑upon credit limits.
• Investigate and resolve pricing discrepancies, shortages, returns, promotional deductions, and chargebacks.
• Monitor aging reports and proactively follow up on past‑due balances to minimize bad debt exposure.
• Partner with Sales and Customer Service teams to resolve customer payment issues and improve collection cycles
• Prepare weekly and monthly AR reporting, KPIs (DSO), aging analysis, and cash forecasting updates.
• Manage bi‑weekly meetings and review sessions of aged trial balances with Sales, Finance, and select Executive Leadership Team members.
• Support month‑end and year‑end close activities related to receivables and revenue reconciliation
• Maintain compliance with company policies, customer agreements, and internal controls.
• Assist with process improvement initiatives to streamline AR operations and enhance reporting accuracy.
• Collaborate with external auditors and internal finance leadership during audits and reviews.
• Utilize ERP systems and reporting tools to analyze financial data and identify trends or risks.
• Mentor cross‑functional staff and provide guidance on deduction resolution and account management best practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field
• 4–7+ years of accounts receivable or credit & collections experience in consumer goods, food & beverage, or manufacturing industries
• Strong understanding of retailer deductions, chargebacks, promotional programs, and dispute management
• Experience working with high‑volume national retail accounts preferred
• Proficiency with ERP systems such as Sage, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, or similar platforms
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data analysis
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving abilities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to prioritize multiple deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Experience with EDI transactions and customer portals is a plus.

Preferred Experience

• Background in food and beverage manufacturing or CPG environments
• Experience supporting major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Costco, Kroger, or regional grocery chains
• Familiarity with trade promotions and deduction management platforms
• Continuous improvement or process optimization experience

Key Competencies

• Financial analysis
• Deduction management
• Customer relationship management
• Attention to detail
• Cross‑functional collaboration
• Time management
• Critical thinking
• Process improvement mindset