Specialist Collections

Lakeshore Recycling Systems; Rosemont (IL); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Lakeshore Recycling Systems is seeking a Collections Specialist to optimize cash flow across a diverse portfolio of accounts. You will lead proactive outreach, resolve disputes, and secure timely payments while maintaining exceptional customer service.

This role emphasizes data accuracy, ERP and reporting usage (Power BI), and collaboration with a supervisor and team to reduce bad debt and DSO across B2B and B2C portfolios. Some regional travel may be required; Spanish is a plus.

Qualifications

• Requires high school diploma or equivalent; associate/bachelor in finance/accounting preferred.
• 2+ years in B2B collections; B2C a plus.
• Experience in waste management and/or construction collections preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Certification in NACM or similar preferred.
• Strong time-management, communication, analytical, negotiation, and customer service skills.
• Familiarity with ERP systems, order-to-cash tools, and reporting tools (Power BI).
• Ability to work in a team and independently.
• Spanish language proficiency is a plus.
• Some regional travel may be required.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of accounts to reduce past-due balances, bad debt, and DSO.
• Proactive outreach to resolve outstanding invoices and secure payment commitments.
• Handle payments, reconcile accounts, disputes, chargebacks, and lien waiver coordination.
• Negotiate mutually beneficial payment arrangements with customers.
• Respond to questions on service and billing, and take payments as needed.
• Handle residential calls via the Robocaller program and department coverage.
• Provide regular reporting on collection activities and AR aging.
• Maintain accurate records in company systems and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Time management

Communication

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Spanish (optional)

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate or bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

ERP systems

Power BI

Order-to-Cash tools

Job description

The Collections Specialist is a vital member of a collaborative team, responsible for optimizing cash flow, reducing bad debt, and dedicated to managing and reducing outstanding balances. This role emphasizes customer-centric service, fostering relationships to support timely payments while ensuring a positive customer experience. You will work with a diverse portfolio of clients, including commercial, residential, and specialized accounts, utilizing innovative tools and collections strategies.

Reports To

Supervisor Collections

• Manage a portfolio of accounts to achieve key metrics, including reducing past-due balances, bad debt, and DSO through proactive communication and resolution strategies.
• Conduct proactive customer outreach to resolve outstanding invoices, address disputes, and secure payment commitments.
• Manage payments, reconcile accounts, resolve disputes, assist with credit card chargebacks and returned payments, and coordinate lien waiver requests to facilitate payments.
• Negotiate effective and mutually beneficial payment arrangements with customers, focusing on retention and satisfaction.
• Respond to customers regarding questions on service, billing, taking payments as well as fielding questions beyond scope of collections and billing to the best of ability.
• Responsible for inbound calls for residential customers through the Robocaller program as well as assigned department phone coverage.
• Provide reporting, updates, and progress on collection activities, performance metrics, and accounts receivable aging.
• Utilize and maintain records within the company’s systems and tools, ensuring timeliness, data accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years in Business-to-Business (B2B) collections, with Business-to-Consumer (B2C) experience as a plus.
• Waste management and/or construction collections experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) required.
• Licenses/Certificates/Designations – National Association of Credit Management (NACM) or similar is preferred.
• Excellent time-management, effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, problem-solving, and customer service skills.
• Familiarity with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, order to cash tools, and reporting tools (e.g. Power BI).
• Must be able to work in a team environment as well as independently.
• Fluent in Spanish is a plus.
• Some regional travel may be required.

Physical Demands / Environmental Factors

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to stand and walk.
• Must frequently lift and/or move up to ten pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.