Junior Accounts Receivable Cluster South Africa

Led by Rodolphe Saadé, the CMA CGM Group, a global leader in shipping and logistics, serves more than 420 ports around the world on five continents. With its subsidiary CEVA Logistics, a world leader in logistics, and its air freight division CMA CGM AIR CARGO, the CMA CGM Group is continually innovating to offer its customers a complete and increasingly efficient range of new shipping, land, air and logistics solutions.

Committed to the energy transition in shipping, and a pioneer in the use of alternative fuels, the CMA CGM Group has set a target to become Net Zero Carbon by 2050.
Through the CMA CGM Foundation, the Group acts in humanitarian crises that require an emergency response by mobilizing the Group’s shipping and logistics expertise to bring humanitarian supplies around the world.

Present in 160 countries through its network of more than 400 offices and 750 warehouses, the Group employs more than 155,000 people worldwide, including 4,000 in Marseilles where its head office is located.

Role 

The Junior Accounts Receivable is responsible for supporting the accounts receivable function by ensuring timely invoicing, collection of payments, reconciliation of customer accounts, and maintenance of accurate financial records. The role assists in managing outstanding debts, resolving customer account queries, and supporting the finance team in maintaining healthy cash flow.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with the Shared Service Centre (SSC), which performs the daily collection activities, by providing account reconciliations, resolving customer queries, driving dispute closure, validating ageing accuracy and ensuring overdue accounts are actively progressed to collection and escalation.
• Escalate unresolved payment and recurrent issues to senior finance personnel when necessary.
• Prepare accounts receivable reports and aging analyses.
• Assist with month-end and year-end financial processes.
• Support audits by providing required documentation and information.
• Respond professionally to customer queries regarding invoices and payments.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with customers and internal stakeholders.

• Work closely with sales and finance teams to resolve account issues.
• Investigate invoice disputes, short payments, unapplied cash, billing discrepancies and missing supporting documents; 
• Review aged balances and identify items requiring reconciliation, internal follow-up or escalation; 
• Prepare customer account reconciliations and investigate historical, unusual or unreconciled balances; 
• Coordinate with GBS, Operations, Customer Service and Commercial teams to obtain information and progress resolution; 
• Maintain dispute and aged-balance trackers, follow up agreed actions and escalate overdue or blocked items to the AR Manager; 
• Support month-end AR reviews, audit requests and focused AR clean-up initiatives; 
• Prepare concise updates on aged items, open disputes, reconciliation differences, blockers and required escalations; 

Requirements and specific skills

• Diploma or Degree in Finance or a related field preferred
• 2 years' experience in accounts receivable, finance,
• Experience using accounting software and Microsoft Office applications is advantageous
• Problem-solving and customer service orientation.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Customer-centric mindset with a focus on service excellence and issue resolution.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage professionally across all levels of the organisation.
• High level of accountability and ownership.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.  
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work closely with Finance, Customer Care, Commercial, Operations and the Shared Service Centre.
• Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced environment.
• Professional integrity and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.

Come along on CMA CGM’s adventure !