Senior Accounting Associate, Accounts Receivable (Hybrid)

POSITION TITLE:  Senior Accounting Associate, Accounts Receivable (Hybrid)

DEPARTMENT:  Accounting and Finance

LOCATION:  Arlington, VA 

STATUS:  Full-time, Exempt 

SUPERVISOR:  Accounts Receivable Manager

PBS Distribution (PBSd)* is a leading distributor of public media content around the world, entertaining audiences across platforms and formats. The company, a joint venture of PBS and GBH Boston, provides premium content through multiple digital channels and video services.  PBS Distribution operates six subscription streaming channels — PBS Masterpiece (US and CA), PBS KIDS, PBS Living, PBS Documentaries and PBS America (U.K.)  as well as numerous Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) Channels in the U.S and U.K.  In addition, the company reaches viewers through transactional video-on-demand (TVOD), subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) licensing, Advertising-based Video on Demand (AVOD), DVD and Blu-ray, theatrical releasing, educational platforms, non-theatrical and inflight sales, and serves broadcasters and producers providing program sales and co-production financing.

At PBS Distribution, we want to best represent the communities that we serve. The global community is diverse, and we are our best when we have a team that reflects that.  PBS Distribution is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, celebrating, supporting, and thriving when our team is able to show up fully and authentically.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Accounting Associate, Accounts Receivable is responsible for ensuring that PBS Distribution records customer transactions timely and accurately and ensuring that customer accounts are updated and in good standing.  This position verifies and posts receipts, settles open invoices, and resolves discrepancies.  The role is customer service driven and works closely with internal management and external vendors and customers. The role is also responsible for applicable month end closing tasks such as review of aging schedules and prepares proposal adjustment of bad debt allowance, customer account reconciliation and maintains related balance sheet accounts.

RESPONSIBILTIES:

• Own the management and maintenance of assigned customer accounts by performing the following:
  • Proactively reconcile key accounts, reviewing transactions and addressing discrepancies
  • Enhance account reconciliation process by identifying gaps, proposing improvements, and implementing corrective actions
  • Ensure that documentation of account maintenance is thorough and complete; as process improvements occur, update files and notes
  • Effectively communicate with customers and internal team members in a professional, accurate, and timely manner, as well as maintain a positive customer service attitude
  • Initiate collections efforts as necessary via phone and email following the company’s collection policy
  • Investigate and resolve customer invoice disputes
  • Ensure all customer contact records are correct and updated in Microsoft Dynamics AX
• Coordinate with third party warehouses to resolve issues with invoices, credits, and other chargebacks; share customer aging schedule and payment activities to in-house management through conference calls or emails
• Work with operations and technology departments and warehouses to investigate and resolve invoice files and return issues
• Clear out accounts receivable suspense and unapplied items
• Create and maintain both customer and vendor accounts and complete any set ups in customer and/or vendor portals
• Create and map customers’ accounts to distributors, and process invoices on hold
• Reconcile International Cash Receipts spreadsheet daily and sign off at each month end
• Manage the international withholding tax process, including ensuring each country has the correct documentation completed in a timely manner, preparing required documents, ensuring execution of the documents, maintaining all documents electronically, and updating the process documentation as needed
• Send necessary withholding tax forms to customers; ensure correct forms are included with initial delivery of customer invoice
• Work with Contract Manager on any outstanding issues of domestic or international contracts
• Request backup from customers for chargebacks and approval from sales for credits
• Create various invoice types, rebates, credit memos and debit memos in Microsoft Dynamics AX
• Maintain customer files by saving all accounts receivable documents and correspondences on customers’ accounts in AX or on the shared drive, per document retention policies
• Process manual check deposits
• Gather information for annual audit
• Process and submit customer refunds, customer/vendor transfers, and propose customer write-off journals
• Review special orders for key customers and update invoice payment terms
• Track and settle customer prepayments with review of receipts, invoices, and credit memos
• Maintain check logs, record daily cash receipts, and settle customer invoices efficiently within a deadline driven environment
• Special projects as assigned

WORK EXPERIENCE: 

• 3+ years of accounting and/or collections experience

EDUCATION/TRAINING:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or similar field strongly preferred, or equivalent experience

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, advanced experience a plus
• Proficient using ERP/large data systems
• Microsoft Dynamics AX or Dynamics 365 experience a plus

OTHER SKILLS: 

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Exceptional attention to detail and follow-through skills
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and respond to rapidly changing priorities in a multi-tasked environment
• Ability to prioritize and organize work
• Exceptional time management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

PBS Distribution (PBSd) is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. 

*PBS Distribution is a for-profit organization with a mission to drive profitable growth by building key partnerships and distributing inspiring content.  PBS Distribution is headquartered in Arlington, VA with an additional office In Boston, MA.