Credit & Collections Analyst
Illinois Tool Works · Houston, Texas ·
Job Description:
Company Summary
ITW Global Brands (ITWGB) specializes in servicing the Auto Aftermarket, selling car care products under the Black Magic®, Blue Coral®, Fast Orange®, Fix-A-Flat®, Genuine Innovations®, Gumout®, No Touch®, Permatex®, Rain-X®, Slime®, and Spray Nine® brands. These brands compete in the wiper blade, engine repair, hand cleaner, appearance, cleaners & degreasers, tire repair and performance products segments of the Automotive Aftermarket. Many of our brands are #1 in their respective categories.
Position Summary
The Credit & Collections Analyst is responsible for accurate and timely cash application, collections management, billing adjustment and customer account maintenance. This role partners closely with Customer Service, Sales and Finance to ensure clean receivables, minimize bad debt exposure and support monthly accounting close activities. The position delivers consistent, high quality financial execution that enables the business to maintain strong cash flow and customer relationships.
This position is based in our Houston, TX office.
Key Responsibilities
Cash Application & Billing (Daily Execution)
Accurately apply customer payments (cash, checks, ACH, wire, credit card) to accounts within daily operational standards including wires towards Accounts Receivable lockbox and accrual.
Process invoices, credit memos, debit memos and adjustments.
Maintain complete documentation for all transactions and account actions.
Collections & Customer Account Management
Manage the end‑to‑end collections process to recover past due balances.
Maintain weekly/monthly Accounts Receivable aging reports and proactively reduce overdue accounts and bad debt risk.
Partner with Sales and Customer Service to resolve disputes, short‑pays, payment discrepancies and invoice issues.
Manage customer credit holds and support customer communication around past due exposure.
Credit, Compliance & Reconciliations
Recommend customer credit limits through review of payment history, exposure and credit risk guidelines.
Reconcile customer accounts, research variances and resolve unapplied cash or unidentified payments.
Month End Close & Operational Support
Support monthly closing activities including journal entries and balance sheet reconciliations.
Prepare standardized reports and metrics to support Finance leadership and AR performance tracking.
Assist with documentation, process optimization and continuous improvement initiatives.
Cross‑Functional Partnership
Work closely with Customer Service on order release, payment issues and account holds.
Partner with Sales Account Managers on dispute resolution, credit reviews and customer escalations.
Collaborate with Accounting, Finance and other internal teams as needed.
Provide professional, prompt customer support via email and phone.
Other Duties
Contribute to efficiency, accuracy and workflow improvements across Accounts Receivable operations.
Support other projects and initiatives as assigned.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
Associate’s degree preferred; equivalent combination of training and relevant work experience will be considered.
3+ years of experience in Accounts Receivable or related accounting role.
Experience with ERP systems and Business Intelligence tools preferred.
Advanced Excel and MS Office applications.
Skills & Abilities
Core Competencies
Strong communication skills (clear, professional, customer focused).
High attention to detail, accuracy and follow through.
Advanced Excel (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables).
Ability to analyze account discrepancies, identify root causes and recommend solutions.
Strong organizational skills; ability to manage high volume activity, multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
Comfort working cross functionally with Sales, Customer Service and Finance.
Ability to identify process improvements and support standardization.
Must be able to work independently and obtain results with minimal supervision.
Compensation Information:
We believe our people are our greatest asset. That’s why we invest in creating an environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally. For more details, visit our Benefits page.
In addition, our benefits include paid vacation, sick, holiday and parental leave. Company considers various factors when extending an offer including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education and training, key skills, as well as market and business considerations.
ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.
As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.