Accounts Executive

Job description / Role

Overview of the role

The accounts executive - receivable is responsible for managing and optimizing the collections process to ensure robust cash flow, minimizing overdue payments and fostering strong customer relationships. Emphasizing efficiency in receivables management, the role plays a pivotal part in achieving financial targets by reducing days sales outstanding (DSO) and resolving disputes promptly. Operating in a dynamic and customer-centric environment, this position demands adept communication, negotiation, and analytical skills to reduce financial risks, enhance cash flow, and support overall business objectives.

What you will do

• Proactively manage the end-to-end collections process, ensuring timely recovery of outstanding payments from customers.
• Monitor accounts receivable ageing and prioritize actions for accounts exceeding 30, 60, and 90+ days overdue.
• Implement structured follow-up processes through calls, emails, and meetings to address overdue accounts.
• Collaborate with the sales and project teams to resolve customer disputes and discrepancies impacting collections.
• Improve cash flow and reduce days sales outstanding (DSO), especially focusing on achieving 90+ days overdue reductions to zero.

• Build and maintain professional relationships with customers to ensure open communication regarding payment terms and timelines.
• Conduct regular account reviews with customers to address payment delays and negotiate repayment plans when necessary.
• Provide outstanding customer service by promptly addressing and resolving collection-related inquiries.
• Ensure adherence to strategic goals in customer relationship management protocols.

• Prepare and present detailed collection reports to senior management, including ageing analysis, DSO metrics, and recovery performance.
• Analyze collection trends and provide actionable insights to improve collection efficiency and reduce overdue accounts.
• Maintain accurate records of customer interactions and payment commitments in the company's ERP system.
• Report number of successful tenders and efficiency in cost management.

• Ensure adherence to credit policies, payment terms, and collection guidelines in all customer dealings.
• Identify gaps in the collection process and recommend enhancements to improve efficiency and compliance.
• Assist in revising credit policies based on business requirements and customer behavior.
• Prepare audit reports and comply with audit standards.

• Work closely with the finance team to forecast cash inflows based on expected collections.
• Identify high-risk accounts and escalate unresolved issues to senior management with proposed solutions.
• Support initiatives to streamline the invoicing process and reduce payment delays caused by administrative errors.
• Meet cash flow targets through optimized collection processes.

• Provide necessary documentation and reports during internal and external audits related to collections.
• Ensure all collection processes comply with financial audit standards and company policies.
• Implement audit recommendations to enhance collection processes.

Required skills to be successful

• Proficiency in ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle, and strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Excel.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for professional customer management.
• Strong negotiation and problem-solving capabilities.
• Attention to detail and a proactive approach to managing tasks and responsibilities.

What qualifies you for the role

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or related field.
• Minimum of 1-3 years of experience in accounts receivable or collections management, preferably within the technology or service-driven industry.
• Proficiency in ERP systems like SAP or Oracle and advanced skills in Microsoft Office, especially Excel for financial reporting and analysis.
• Strong understanding of financial principles relevant to receivables and credit management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to manage customer interactions effectively.
• Competent in negotiation and problem-solving, with a detail-oriented, proactive approach to responsibilities.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines consistently.
• Experience with reducing overdue payments and improving cash flow metrics.

About Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies

Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies offers customers complete engineering and systems integration solutions. The engineering arm operates in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt providing a wide variety of products and services from air conditioning, scaffolding and access solutions, elevators and escalators, control and life safety, facilities management, building products, MEP, energy management, technology infrastructure and digital transformation. The technologies division provides complete business solutions to large, medium and small customers that include contact centre solutions, business applications, business intelligence, data management, advanced analytics amongst others. The IT infrastructure portfolio comprises IP telephony, ELV systems, networking solutions, professional audio-visual solutions and managed services. These solutions are further complemented by services that include project management, installation, testing, commissioning and after-sales maintenance contracts.

About the Company

Established in the 1930's, the Al-Futtaim Group initially operated as a trading enterprise. Rapid development throughout the 1940's and 50's saw it establish itself regionally as an integrated commercial, industrial and services organisation, positioning itself one of the leading business houses in the lower Gulf region. Today, it operates collectively over 40 companies bearing the Al-Futtaim name, dominates many market segments in the UAE, and has expanded its sphere of operation to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.

The Group comprises a diverse range of strategically positioned operating subsidiaries and associate companies, structured to give the Al-Futtaim Group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition while keeping pace with the ever-evolving global business scenario. The Groups continued investment in world-class systems technology is clear evidence of its commitment to maintain leading edge performance and service delivery.

The success of the Al-Futtaim Group can be attributed to a business approach that combines the ability to change with the traditional values of integrity, service and social responsibility that define its core business philosophy. This, linked with the Groups belief in decentralisation, gives the heads of the operating companies a high degree of functional autonomy and authority, providing the Group with essential flexibility, and individual employees a clearly defined work culture and sense of responsibility.