Accounts Receivable Manager
Grow your career as Accounts Receivable Manager.
Driving financial health by managing receivables, ensuring timely and accurate payments
Build an expert view of theAccounts Receivable Manager role
Drives financial health by managing receivables Ensures timely, accurate customer payments Oversees invoicing, collections, and reporting processes Collaborates with sales and finance teams
Overview
Finance Careers
Driving financial health by managing receivables, ensuring timely and accurate payments
Success indicators
What employers expect
- Monitors accounts receivable aging reports daily
- Resolves billing disputes with clients efficiently
- Implements credit policies to minimize bad debt
- Generates cash flow forecasts based on collections
- Trains staff on invoicing best practices
- Audits receivable balances for accuracy quarterly
A step-by-step journey to becominga standout Accounts Receivable Manager
Gain Foundational Accounting Experience
Start in accounts receivable clerk roles to build hands-on invoicing and collections skills, typically 2-3 years required.
Pursue Relevant Education
Earn a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance, focusing on courses in financial reporting and business law.
Develop Leadership Skills
Lead small teams in entry-level supervisory roles to demonstrate management potential in financial operations.
Obtain Certifications
Complete credentials like Certified Accounts Receivable Manager to validate expertise in collections strategies.
Build Industry Network
Join professional groups like IMA to connect with finance leaders and uncover advancement opportunities.
Skills that make recruiters say “yes”
Layer these strengths in your resume, portfolio, and interviews to signal readiness.
Build your learning stack
Learning pathways
A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or business administration forms the core foundation, with advanced roles favoring MBAs or specialized finance coursework.
- Bachelor's in Accounting from accredited university
- Associate's in Business with finance electives
- MBA in Finance for leadership tracks
- Online certifications in financial management
- Apprenticeships in corporate accounting departments
- Continuing education in revenue cycle management
Certifications that stand out
Tools recruiters expect
Tell your story confidently online and in person
Use these prompts to polish your positioning and stay composed under interview pressure.
LinkedIn headline ideas
Seasoned Accounts Receivable Manager optimizing cash flow and reducing DSO by 20% through strategic collections and process automation.
LinkedIn About summary
With 10+ years in finance, I lead AR teams to ensure accurate invoicing, swift collections, and robust cash flow management. Proven track record in reducing bad debt by 15% and implementing ERP systems for scalability. Passionate about mentoring emerging finance professionals and fostering cross-departmental collaboration.
Tips to optimize LinkedIn
- Highlight DSO reductions and cash flow impacts in experience sections
- Use keywords like 'collections strategy' and 'AR automation' in summaries
- Showcase certifications prominently in the licenses section
- Network with finance recruiters via targeted connection requests
- Share articles on AR best practices to build thought leadership
- Quantify achievements with metrics like 'improved collections by 25%'
Keywords to feature
Master your interview responses
Prepare concise, impact-driven stories that spotlight your wins and decision-making.
Describe how you reduced DSO in a previous role, including metrics achieved.
How do you handle a high-volume of overdue accounts while maintaining client relationships?
Walk us through your process for implementing an AR automation tool.
Explain a time you collaborated with sales to resolve billing discrepancies.
What strategies do you use to forecast cash inflows from receivables?
How do you ensure compliance with financial regulations in AR processes?
Describe your approach to training a new collections team member.
What key performance indicators do you track for AR team success?
Design the day-to-day you want
Involves overseeing a team of 5-10 in a dynamic office or hybrid environment, focusing on deadline-driven tasks like month-end closings, with occasional travel for client meetings; balances analytical work with interpersonal collections efforts.
Prioritize high-risk accounts early in the day for focus
Use automation tools to streamline routine invoicing tasks
Schedule regular check-ins with sales for alignment
Maintain work-life balance by setting clear team boundaries
Leverage analytics software to reduce manual reporting time
Build resilience through ongoing professional development
Map short- and long-term wins
Aim to enhance organizational liquidity by minimizing receivables delays and maximizing recovery rates, progressing from operational efficiency to strategic financial leadership.
- Reduce average DSO by 10% within first year
- Implement AR dashboard for real-time metrics tracking
- Train team on new collections software proficiently
- Achieve 95% on-time invoicing accuracy rate
- Collaborate on cross-departmental process improvements
- Certify in advanced AR management tools
- Advance to Director of Finance role overseeing broader operations
- Lead enterprise-wide revenue optimization initiatives
- Mentor junior staff toward their certifications and promotions
- Contribute to industry standards in AR best practices
- Expand expertise into international collections management
- Achieve sustained 20% improvement in cash flow metrics