Accounting Specialist - Collections & AR

Job Purpose

As the Accounting Specialist – Collections & AR at Arabic.AI, you will own end-to-end collections and accounts receivable across assigned group entities, turning billed revenue into cash on time and keeping overdue risk visible to management. Around 50–60% of the role is dedicated to collections and AR: managing the cycle from invoice issue to cash applied, monitoring aging, forecasting collections, resolving billing disputes with commercial and project teams, and supporting credit control and doubtful-debt provisioning under IFRS 9. The remainder covers the full accounting cycle and month-end close, including journal entries, bank and balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany balances, payroll, accounts payable and tax, based on the Finance Department’s operational needs.

Duties & Responsibilities

Collections & Accounts Receivable

- Own the full collections cycle for assigned entities, from invoice issue to cash applied.

- Monitor AR aging weekly and follow up on overdue invoices by email, phone and statements.

- Keep collection trackers current, recording payment commitments, promised dates and follow-up actions.

- Prepare weekly and monthly collection forecasts and compare them with actual cash received.

- Escalate overdue balances, disputes and collection risks to management with clear recommendations.

- Work with commercial and project teams to resolve billing disputes, credit notes and invoicing delays.

- Ensure timely, accurate customer invoicing against contracts, POs and project milestones.

- Apply customer receipts and allocate unapplied cash promptly.

- Reconcile customer accounts, issue statements of account and run balance confirmations.

- Support credit control, including credit limits, customer onboarding checks and payment-term compliance.

- Calculate and propose the provision for doubtful debts (ECL under IFRS 9) and write-off cases.

- Handle withholding tax deducted by customers and collect the related certificates.

Full Accounting Cycle

- Record journal entries, accruals, prepayments and reclassifications.

- Perform daily and monthly bank reconciliations across all entity bank accounts.

- Reconcile balance sheet accounts: AR, AP, accruals, prepayments, intercompany and suspense.

- Maintain the general ledger and ensure accurate, timely posting in the ERP.

- Support fixed asset register updates and depreciation postings.

- Reconcile intercompany balances between group entities.

Month-End Closing

- Run assigned month-end tasks in line with the close calendar and deadlines.

- Prepare or review payroll journals, reconcile payroll to the GL, and record Social Security and income tax deductions.

- Review supplier invoices, reconcile supplier statements, prepare payment runs and book AP accruals.

- Prepare supporting schedules for the trial balance and management accounts.

Reporting & Compliance

- Prepare regular collection reports: aging, DSO, overdue analysis, and forecast vs. actual.

- Support monthly management reporting, budgets and cash flow forecasts.

- Prepare schedules and support for external auditors.

- Suggest process and ERP improvements to speed up collections and the month-end close.

Education, Experience & Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance (required).

- 4-6 years of experience in accounting, with hands-on collections and AR management.

- Full accounting cycle experience, from transaction entry to trial balance.

- Month-end close experience covering payroll, AP and tax.

- Hands-on ERP experience is a must, preferably SAP (FI module: AR, AP and GL).

- Multi-entity or group company experience.

- Strong knowledge of receivables management, credit control and bank reconciliations.

- Advanced Excel: pivot tables, lookups, aging and forecast models.

- Fluent in English and Arabic, both written and spoken.

Behavioral Competencies

- Initiative

- Problem Solving

- Team Oriented

- Adaptability

- Ability to Work Under Pressure

Technical Competencies

- Collections & Receivables Management

- Credit Control

- Full-Cycle Accounting & Month-End Close

- Reconciliations (Bank, Balance Sheet, Intercompany)

- SAP FI (AR, AP, GL)

- Advanced Excel