A company's finance function is akin to a well-orchestrated symphony, with each department playing a crucial part in the harmony of the whole operation. Key amongst these departments is Accounts Receivable (AR), acting as a financial maestro, guiding the cash inflows and influencing the liquidity of a company.

The AR department typically handles invoicing, payment collections, cash applications, deductions, and credit risk management— this means ensuring that your company's sales performance results in real cash landing in your bank account.

In this article, we intend to unpack the intricacies of a modern AR department, discussing its structure, the roles within it, and highlighting best practices for hiring and managing them.

Understanding the Finance Function and Different Departments in a Company

Each department within a company, be it Marketing, Sales, HR, or Finance, serves a specific purpose and contributes to the overall operational efficiency of the organization.

The finance function within a business is the nerve center that oversees and manages the company's financial resources. It's an ecosystem of interconnected departments, including:

• Treasury (manages the organization's liquidity, investments, and risk exposure)

• Accounting (records and reports financial transactions, prepares financial statements, ensures compliance with financial regulations)

• Accounts Payable (manages the company's outgoing payments to suppliers), and notably

• Accounts Receivable (responsible for managing incoming payments from customers).

The role of the finance function extends beyond mere numbers; it steers strategic decisions, ensures fiscal compliance, and drives overall business sustainability.

AR specifically is the department that keeps track of money owed to the company by its customers and ensures these funds are collected in a timely and efficient manner.

Understanding the Key Roles and Goals of the Accounts Receivable Department

Your company's Accounts Receivable represents the amount due from customers for goods or services delivered on credit. Total Sales doesn’t automatically mean money in the bank.

An effective A/R department guarantees positive cash flow and fortifies the economic success of your business by ensuring that these payments are received on time and processed promptly. In doing so, it performs several crucial functions:

• Invoice Generation: The department is responsible for creating and sending invoices to customers, recording the sales revenue, cash, or accounts receivable on the balance sheet.

• Cash Collection: The A/R department tracks overdue payments and minimizes bad debt by optimizing credit risk and promptly collecting outstanding invoices.

• Customer Account Reconciliation: They also reconcile customer accounts and prepare aging reports to identify customers lagging in their payments. This data helps predict potential defaulters and is instrumental in building cash flow forecast models.

• Financial Reporting: The team builds monthly financial statements, verifying receipts, reconciling bank accounts, and providing a clear view of the business's cash flow.

The primary goal of the A/R department is to recover payments for goods and services while maintaining a positive relationship with the customers. They aim to reduce the average collection period, increase on-time payments, lower the number of overdue accounts, and improve the accuracy of billing and collection data.

The performance of the Accounts Receivable department directly impacts several key financial ratios. For example, the Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) measures the average number of days it takes for a company to collect payment after a sale is made. A high DSO can indicate problems with the credit policy or collection process. Another important indicator is The Accounts Receivable Turnover Ratio, which measures how efficiently a company uses its assets, is also influenced by the effectiveness of the A/R department. Further reading on these Key Indicators here.

Roles & Functions of the A/R Department

We already covered how the A/R department fits into the larger finance function in a section above. Now, let’s zoom into the different roles and responsibilities within the Accounts Receivable (AR) department. Keep in mind that in smaller organizations, a single person might undertake all AR roles, while larger companies typically follow a structured hierarchy, including the following key roles:

Chief Financial Officer (CFO): The CFO is the high-ranking executive who oversees all financial operations, including the AR department. This role involves strategic financial planning, maintaining records, and communicating financial reports to stakeholders.

Controller or Chief Accountant: The Controller manages the overall accounting operations, including the AR department. They are responsible for the accuracy of financial statements, compliance with accounting principles, and the efficiency of the accounting team.

Accounts Receivable Manager: The AR Manager coordinates the AR team. They oversee the AR operations, which includes invoice processing, tracking outstanding debts, and ensuring accurate record-keeping.

Billing Analyst: The Billing Analyst liaises with the organization’s sales teams to ensure timely customer invoicing. They handle the generation and dispatch of invoices and work closely with the AR Manager to make sure the billing process goes smoothly. Note: In smaller companies, the tasks of a Billing Analyst might be combined with other roles, such as the AR Clerk or even the AR Manager, due to fewer invoices needing to be managed.

Cash Applications Analyst: The Cash Applications Analyst ensures that every invoice payment is correctly applied to the relevant accounts. Note: In a smaller business environment, the Cash Applications Analyst's duties might be taken on by an AR Clerk or the AR Manager because there are fewer payments to process and allocate.

Collections & Disputes Analyst: This role involves the recovery of overdue payments and the resolution of payment discrepancies. They communicate with customers about unpaid invoices, arrange for payment, and handle any issues that arise during the collection process. Note: role may be part of the AR Manager's or AR Clerk's responsibilities in smaller companies.

Credit Control Analyst: The Credit Control Analyst is responsible for managing credit risk. They carry out routine credit management activities, ensure that credit information is up-to-date, and work closely with the AR Manager to make informed credit decisions. Note: in smaller firms, credit control tasks are often overseen directly by the AR Manager or the Controller.

AR Clerk or Assistant Accountant: Often an entry-level position in the AR department, the AR Clerk supports all functions within the AR process. They assist in preparing and sending invoices, posting payments to customer accounts, and handling basic customer inquiries.

Every role in this hierarchy plays an important part in maintaining the financial health of the organization. Each function complements the others, creating a robust system that converts the company's sales revenue into actual cash in the bank. While these roles might not be separately staffed in smaller companies, the responsibilities still need to be fulfilled by the existing team. As a company grows, these roles can be separated out to specialized staff members.

Best Practices for Designing and Streamlining Your Accounts Receivable Department

Once we understand the integral role of the A/R department, the following best practices can set up your accounts receivable department for success and help to streamline its operations:

• Developing Coherent AR Policies: The first step in establishing a successful AR department is formulating accounts receivable and collections policies. These policies provide a framework for consistency and reliability in your AR operations.

• Leveraging AR Automation Software: Investing in automation software such as Tesorio can greatly simplify invoicing, reporting, and cash flow forecasting. With the assistance of AI, financial trends are more easily identifiable, and data is securely stored. Moreover, such software solutions are typically cloud-based, providing real-time access to your finances from anywhere.

• Designing A/R Job Descriptions: Identifying the right people for your AR department is vital. While AR may be a part of the broader accounting department, defining AR-specific roles contributes significantly to efficiency. These roles include: Accounts Receivable Manager Accounts Receivable Specialist Accounts Receivable Clerk Credit Manager or Credit Analyst Collections Specialist

• Offer Multiple Payment Options: To expedite payments and offer a superior customer experience, consider providing multiple payment options. In addition to traditional checks, consider accepting online payments like ACH, wire transfers, and debit and credit cards.

• Incentivize On-time Payments: Encourage timely payments by offering discounts for early settlement or levying late fees for overdue payments. Make sure to mention these terms and conditions in the payment guidelines and on the invoice.

• Monitor your Invoices: Assign an accounts receivable representative to track all payments and notify customers that their payments have been received. Automation can further simplify this process by providing real-time tracking of all billing and invoicing activities.

• Document Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Having well-documented SOPs for your A/R department ensures consistency and reduces errors. SOPs also make onboarding new employees easier and more efficient.

Conclusion

Many companies face challenges in managing their A/R department effectively. Some common challenges include a lack of clarity in role descriptions and understaffing.

To overcome these challenges, it's essential to invest in the right tools and technology, train staff effectively, and continuously review and improve processes.

Remember, every dollar in your receivables is a dollar not in your bank account. The success of your business largely depends on the effectiveness of your A/R department. So, make sure to invest time and resources into making it as efficient and effective as possible.

Looking to transform your AR operations? Consider Tesorio's automated AR software that brings efficiency, accuracy, and predictive insights into your AR processes. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a demo.