Service. We effect change by empowering others.Curiosity. We believe great advice starts with deep understanding.Credibility. Our expertise is earned and proven. Commitment. It’s our privilege to serve clients in their critical moments. Creativity. We are inspired by the constant pursuit of better. Overview The Collections Specialist & Assistant Accountant will report to the Financial Controller and will work closely with the Management Accountant, other managers within the organization, plus the Finance team at the parent company in the USA. Your time will be shared across being the key contributor to Crosslake EMEA’s accounts receivable and cash collection needs, plus playing a crucial role in supporting the accounting function with generating timely and accurate management accounts and maintaining robust ledgers. The Collections Specialist activities require high quality support to Crosslake’s investor client base, understanding the commercial circumstances of each project and what is required in relation to billings and collecting cash receivables, whilst being responsible within Finance for client invoice generation and account reconciliation. The role requires a confident communicator who can handle difficult conversations with professionalism and empathy, ensuring clients feel supported while upholding the company’s financial goals and ultimately driving timely cash collection. The Assistant Accountant activities encompass a variety of responsibilities within the accounting function, including managing accurate general ledger postings, supporting the Management Accountant with month end processes and lead schedules, plus contributing to broader Finance processes such as cashflow management and client project setup. The work would be attractive to someone looking to build their technical financial and accounting skillset. The role is a crucial part of the effective running and ongoing improvement of the Finance function. The individual will have a strong pro active mindset and uphold Crosslake’s standards of excellence in client service. They will be committed to paying attention to detail. Responsibilities
Collections Specialist
- Lead all external credit control activities to drive timely cash collection
- Manage the aged accounts receivables reporting and ongoing collections monitoring tools
- Timely and accurate co-ordination and production of client invoicing: in collaboration with client-facing colleagues, driving the conversation and through reviewing the CRM, time-keeping tool and underlying contracts
- Lead all internal conversations in relation to credit control
- Support the Financial Controller in the auditing processes to check for missing or inaccurate invoices
- Perform the Finance function input in the client setup process, including reviewing work prepared by the Project Setup team
- Demonstrate strong business acumen around Crosslake’s work for its clients and a willingness to continually learn and improve
Assistant Accountant
- Ensure the ledgers are up to date for payables, receivables and cash
- Provide a key contribution to the maintenance of the long-term asset registers and the accruals and prepayments monthly lead schedules
- Support the accounting function with input into revenue analysis files
- Prepare the bank reconciliation and other balance sheet reconciliations for review
- Monitor the Finance email inboxes and take the lead on responding within function SLAs
- Ensure e-document filing is up to date and pro-actively seek process improvement suggestions for the Financial Controller
- Propose and prepare supplier payment batches for approval, ensuring all invoices are approved
- Support the team in the accurate and timely payment of Crosslake’s practitioners and purchases to other group companies
- Ensure that expense receipts are fully accounted for and that the business has reclaimed all VAT
- Support the weekly cash forecasting through updating the latest ledger data and reviewing the forecast collections outlook
- Provide accurate information to the auditors, including monthly lead schedules and invoice support
- Be flexible and able to address the many ad-hoc and “new” initiatives and be able to both respond, and complete work related to such tasks
Qualifications & Expierence
- At least 3 years’ experience in a finance function with strong credit control and ledger maintenance skills, ideally within a services business
- A keen interest in, or currently pursuing, AAT qualification or similar
- Demonstrated ability to manage long term client relationships, preferably within a professional services or private equity environment
- Exceptional customer service and communication skills, exemplifying Crosslake’s dedication to high quality service
- Strong knowledge of purchase and sales ledger processes, reconciliations, and expense handling.
- Proficiency in financial software (preferably NetSuite) and Excel.
- High attention to detail and spotting opportunity for process improvement