Sr. Collections Specialist

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.

Position Summary

The Senior Collections Specialist is responsible for managing a portfolio of complex accounts receivable and driving the resolution of outstanding balances through strategic, analytical, and customer-focused collection practices. This role goes beyond traditional collections by requiring critical evaluation of account history, dispute dynamics, and customer behavior to develop tailored collection strategies that reduce Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and optimize cash flow. 
 

The Senior Collections Specialist serves as a key partner to Sales and cross-functional teams, ensuring timely resolution of disputes—including rejected and unresolved claims—by securing required documentation, driving accountability, and escalating for commercial settlement when necessary. This position requires a high level of professional judgment, negotiation skill, and the ability to balance risk mitigation with customer relationship management.

Functions & Duties
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Own and manage a portfolio of customer accounts, developing and executing strategic collection plans to drive timely payment and minimize risk exposure.  

Conduct proactive and targeted collection campaigns through professional communication (phone and email), applying negotiation techniques to secure payment commitments.  

Analyze account status, payment trends, and dispute history to determine optimal collection approach and identify potential risks or escalation needs.  

Lead the resolution of short payments and discrepancies by validating supporting documentation and clearly communicating findings to customers.  

Drive closure of all reviewed and rejected disputes by:  
   • Following up with customers for missing or additional documentation  

   • Collaborating with internal stakeholders to validate claims  

   • Escalating to Sales for commercial settlements when appropriate 

Act as a central liaison across departments (Customer Service, Documentation, Cash Applications, Operations, etc.) to remove barriers to payment and ensure a seamless customer experience.  

Prepare, analyze, and present account and portfolio-level reporting to Senior Management, highlighting trends, risks, and recommended actions.  

Manage customer account reconciliations, including remittance application issues, overpayments, duplicate payments, offsets, and small balance write-offs.  

Identify process improvement opportunities and contribute to initiatives that enhance collection efficiency and dispute resolution effectiveness.  

Support special projects and ad hoc analyses as required. 

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities 
•    Knowledge of collections processes and procedures.
•    Exceptional skills in MS Excel: including pivot tables and v-lookups
•    Exceptional interpersonal & communication skills (written & verbal).
•    Strong organizational, time management, priority setting & high level of analytical & problem-solving abilities.
•    Ability to coordinate information from various sources.
•    Familiarity with functions of different internal departments such as Finance, Imports, Exports, Rates & Detention & Demurrage
•    Possess a mindset with strong customer service skills that clearly recognizes the importance & sensitivity of our customers.
•    Conflict resolution skills
•    Proficiency in computer skills to include Microsoft applications (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint),
•    Creative, self-disciplined and capable of identifying and completing critical tasks independently and with a sense of urgency.
•    Must have attention to detail with an eye for accuracy.
•    Ability to gain clear understanding of other departments process

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of collections strategies, dispute resolution processes, and accounts receivable management.  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to interpret complex account scenarios and make sound decisions.  
• Demonstrated negotiation skills with the ability to influence outcomes while preserving customer relationships.  
• High proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and data analysis).  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and professionally.  
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple accounts and deadlines effectively.  
• Ability to synthesize information from multiple systems and departments to form actionable insights.  
• Working knowledge of cross-functional processes (Finance, Imports/Exports, Rates, Detention & Demurrage, etc.).  
• Strong conflict resolution skills and the ability to navigate sensitive customer interactions.  
• Detail-oriented with a high degree of accuracy and accountability.  
• Self-motivated, proactive, and capable of working independently with a sense of urgency.  
• Customer-centric mindset with an understanding of the balance between collections enforcement and relationship management. 

Qualifications 

Education
Required/Preferred    Education Level   
Required                    High School Diploma or GED    
Preferred                    Bachelor’s Degree    

Work Experience
Experience    Years of Experience 
General Experience    3-5 years  

 Minimum of 3 years corporate collections experience including interaction with a large customer base.
 Knowledge of the ocean container shipping industry a plus but not required.

At CMA CGM, we are committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The expected salary range for this position is $62,000 - $69,000 per year. The actual salary offered will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s qualifications, skills, experience, and location.
In addition to base salary, this position may be eligible for:
Performance-based bonuses
Comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, tuition repayment and paid time off
Professional development opportunities
We believe in transparency and equity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

Come along on CMA CGM’s adventure! The Company is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.  Discrimination or harassment based upon any protected characteristics as defined by state or federal law is wholly inconsistent with our company values and will not be tolerated. Alternative application methods are available for individuals who are unable to use or access our online application system. For assistance, please contact us at orf.pse_recruiting@cma-cgm.com