Collections Specialist

Description We are looking for a Collections Specialist to join a wholesale distribution organization in Oak Brook, Illinois. This Long-term Contract position focuses on improving account accuracy, reducing aged receivables, and supporting timely financial operations across collections, cash posting, credits, and returns. The role is well suited for someone who can manage detailed transactional work, investigate discrepancies, and communicate effectively with both customers and internal partners.

Responsibilities:

• Investigate unpaid balances, short payments, and deduction issues to identify causes, determine resolution steps, and drive accounts toward closure.
• Manage a high volume of deduction activity by maintaining organized tracking records and updating status details in Excel.
• Support daily cash posting by manually applying payments that are not successfully matched through standard banking files.
• Review payment exceptions, complete manual account applications, and coordinate file handling with technical teams when uploads are required.
• Enter customer credit requests into SharePoint, move items through the approval process, and provide return-related documentation to customers as needed.
• Issue approved credits, help reduce open request volume, and assist with credit and rebill transactions when necessary.
• Record customer returns in Infor through manual entry and ensure related account activity is reflected accurately.
• Work closely with internal departments and external business contacts to resolve questions related to deductions, returns, credits, and customer balances.
• Contribute to month-end close activities by ensuring cash applications, credits, deductions, and returns are completed accurately and on schedule.

The salary range for this position is $26.50 to $33.65/hour, plus bonus. Benefits are available including medical, vision, and dental, and life and disability insurance. Employees hired for our FTEP Program are also eligible to enroll in our company's 401(k) or deferred compensation plan (if eligible). FTEP employees also earn paid time off for vacation, personal needs, and sick time and paid holidays. Learn more at roberthalfbenefits.com/resources. Our specialized recruiting professionals apply their expertise and utilize our proprietary AI to find you great job matches faster. Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in collections, accounts receivable, cash application, or credit and returns support.
• Demonstrated ability to research deduction claims, short pays, and customer account discrepancies in a commercial environment.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including the ability to track account activity, organize data, and work with formulas.
• Experience handling high-volume transactional workloads while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.
• Familiarity with SharePoint for data entry and workflow coordination is preferred.
• Experience using Infor or a comparable ERP platform is preferred.
• Solid problem-solving, customer service, and cross-functional communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with finance, IT, customer service, and management teams.

Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles. Robert Half works to put you in the best position to succeed. We provide access to top jobs, competitive compensation and benefits, and free online training. Stay on top of every opportunity - whenever you choose - even on the go. Download the Robert Half app (https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/mobile-app) and get 1-tap apply, notifications of AI-matched jobs, and much more. Our specialized recruiting professionals apply their expertise and utilize our proprietary AI to find you great job matches faster. All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available including medical, vision, dental, life and disability insurance. Employees hired for our FTEP Program are also eligible to enroll in our company's 401(k) or deferred compensation plan (if eligible). FTEP employees also earn paid time off for vacation, personal needs, and sick time and paid holidays. The amount of Choice Time Off (CTO) received varies based on years of service and is pro-rated based on the hours worked per week. A new FTEP employee earns up to 13 days of CTO and up to 10 paid holidays per calendar year. Learn more at roberthalfbenefits.com/Resources. © 2025 Robert Half. An Equal Opportunity Employer. M/F/Disability/Veterans. By clicking "Apply Now," you're agreeing to Robert Half's Terms of Use (https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/terms) and Privacy Notice (https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/privacy) .