Accounts Receivable & Collection lead

I.          PURPOSE        

The Accounts Receivable & Collection lead is responsible for driving timely collection of outstanding receivables, improving cash conversion and reducing past dues in Angola. The role requires a strong ownership of a customer portfolio, close follow up of disputed and overdue balances, and a proactive coordination with commercial, operational and finance teams. The position is well suited to a hands-on senior profile able to combine collection activity, reporting, escalation and process improvement in a challenging environment.

III.        AUTHORITIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage and actively follow up a portfolio of customer accounts to ensure timely collection of overdue and current balances.
• Lead collection efforts on high-value, overdue, and sensitive accounts.
• Build action plans by customer and by ageing category to accelerate cash recovery.
• Conduct regular follow-up with customers by phone, email, and meetings where required.
• Investigate and resolve reasons for non-payment, including disputes, missing documentation, billing issues, and internal process delays.
• Reconcile customer accounts and ensure allocation issues are identified and resolved quickly.
• Prepare and maintain accurate ageing analysis, collection forecasts, and status reports.
• Escalate problematic accounts internally and recommend appropriate action plans.
• Work closely with sales, operations, legal, and finance teams to remove barriers to collection.
• Identify high-risk accounts and propose mitigation measures.
• Ensure collection activity is properly documented and aligned with internal controls and company policy.
• Monitor trends in overdue debt and recommend improvements to collection processes, billing discipline, and customer onboarding practices.
• Contribute to cash flow forecasting and provide visibility on expected receipts.
• Support management with ad hoc analysis on receivables, customer exposure, and collection performance.

This role is ideal for a senior doer: someone hands-on, firm, credible, and able to improve cash collection performance directly without needing a team under them.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Support the Finance team in achieving department goals
• Contribute to team meetings and share insights on collection trends
• Assist in training or onboarding new team members on collection procedures
• Collaborate with Sales and Operations on customer credit issues

Compliance and Regulatory Management:

• Follow Bureau Veritas Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct
• Comply with anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies
• Report any compliance violations or irregularities
• Maintain complete and accurate collection records
• Support internal and external audits with required documentation
• Preserve records according to retention policies

QHSSE 

• Comply with workplace health and safety policies
• Report any workplace hazards or incidents
• Maintain a safe and secure working environment

IV. KPI’S 

• DSO and CIDS improvement
• Past due reduction
• Cash collected vs forecast
• Ageing Balance evolution

V. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field or High School Diploma/equivalent +5 years of relevant collections/financial experience

Professional Experience

• 5+ years in credit management, cash collection
• Background in credit management.
• Advanced Excel
• Experience with a multinational company

VI. TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced: pivot tables, data analysis)
• Experience with accounting systems
• Knowledge of credit laws, regulations and best practices in Angola.

Soft Skills:

• Strong ability to challenge stakeholders and push for resolution.
• Comfortable dealing with customers directly and handling escalations
• Senior, autonomous, and action-oriented profile.
• Persistent, comfortable calling people
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Time management and organizational skills
• Professional demeanor and ethical conduct
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Attention to detail and accuracy

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English and Portuguese (written and verbal)