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