Department
 

Press Distribution Business Office

About the Department
 

Since its origins in 1890 as one of the three main divisions of the University of Chicago, the University of Chicago Press has embraced as its mission the obligation to disseminate scholarship of the highest standard and to publish serious works that promote education, foster public understanding, and enrich cultural life. Through our books and journals, we seek not only to advance scholarly conversation within and across traditional disciplines but, in keeping with the University of Chicago's experimental tradition, to help define new areas of knowledge and intellectual endeavor.

Job Summary
 

The Chicago Distribution Center (CDC) currently provides account collection, customer service, order entry, fulfillment, and other warehousing and distribution services for over 150 academic and scholarly presses. These combined services generate annual sales of approximately $75 million, making timely and effective collection of the monies from these sales a top priority for both the Press and the University.

The Accounts Receivable Manager establishes and makes all credit decisions and monitors all sales and credit issues for more than 225,000 established businesses and individual accounts. In addition, contacts past due accounts with past due balances regarding prompt remittance. The Accounts Receivable Manager is a part of the CDC Management Team and reports jointly to the Press CFO and CDC Executive Director and General Manager.

Responsibilities

Management of accounts receivable activities which include, collecting and posting of cash receipts, reconciling outstanding balances, and preparation and review of periodic reports (i.e., DSO, return deductions, chargebacks, ageing etc.).

Management of the credit and collection activities, including sending follow-up inquiries, negotiating with past due accounts on payment terms, and decisions on referring accounts to collection agencies, and/or writing off accounts receivable balances.

Supervision and training of all department personnel (currently a professional staff of three full-time employees).

Overall responsibility for any decisions regarding the transfer of delinquent accounts to authorized collection services and negotiating settlements with disputed accounts.

Responsible for bad debt write off decisions in conjunction with the staff and Press CFO.

Prime liaison between the Chicago Distribution Center and the business offices of the distributed presses.

Daily application and deposit of receipts, decisions on customer refunds and credits, and working closely with CDC's Returns Department to effectively and properly adjust and reconcile accounts.

Manages accounts receivable portfolio maintaining current balances, minimizing ageing receivables.

Supervises the day-to-day payments and receipts of bills, as well as the maintenance of accounts payable and receivable ledgers.

Supervises accounts payable processes and reviews work related to verifying invoices, computing discounts, coding expenses, preparing vouchers, and issuing checks for payment.

Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree.

Experience:

Minimum of 7 years relevant work experience.

Preferred Competencies

Highly developed organizational skills.

Ability to work well under time constraints.

Attention to detail.

Communicate account information clearly and concisely.

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Analytical and problem-solving skills.

Work independently and to make well-reasoned decisions.

Application Documents

Resume (required)

Cover Letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Financial Management

Role Impact
 

People Manager

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.