Cash Application Associate

Role Summary

The Cash Application Specialist is responsible for the accurate, timely posting and allocation of customer payments, conducting bank and account reconciliations, and resolving cash application exceptions. This role directly supports efficient cash flow operations, reduces unapplied cash balances, and safeguards ledger integrity within an enterprise Order-to-Cash (O2C) shared services framework.

Key Responsibilities

1. Payment Processing & Cash Allocation

Process, match, and post incoming customer remittances received through varied channels, including ACH, Wire transfers, Lockbox, credit cards, and checks.

Review remittance advices against open invoices to ensure precise, line-item matching and application in the ERP system.

Maintain daily receipt logs and ensure all incoming funds are cleared according to agreed-upon daily processing deadlines.

2. Exception Handling & Unapplied Cash Research

Conduct root-cause investigations for unidentified, unapplied, or misplaced receipts.

Research and record payment variances, including short payments, overpayments, deductions, and withholding taxes.

Collaborate cross-functionally with Credit, Collections, Billing, Dispute Resolution, and external clients to resolve open items and payment discrepancies.

3. Reconciliations & Month-End Close

Perform regular bank-to-ledger reconciliations and balance customer accounts receivable subledgers against general ledger entries.

Support month-end closing activities by providing clean audit trails, accrual details, and documentation for unapplied cash balances.

Generate and distribute weekly and monthly reporting schedules on open items, posting metrics, and cash flow trends.

4. Compliance & Operational Excellence

Maintain strict adherence to internal controls, SOX compliance guidelines, and organizational accounting policies.

Consistently meet or exceed established Service Level Agreements (SLAs), turnaround times, and quality benchmark metrics.

Required Skills & Qualifications

Technical Competencies

• Domain Knowledge: Strong practical understanding of Accounts Receivable (AR), Order-to-Cash (O2C) workflows, and end-to-end B2B cash allocation principles.
• ERP Experience: Proven hands-on experience using tier-1 ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle ERP Cloud, NetSuite, or equivalent financial systems; familiarity with specialized cash application automation tools (e.g., HighRadius, BlackLine) is an advantage.
• Analytical & Spreadsheet Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly MS Excel (lookups, pivot tables, sumifs, and data reconciliation techniques).
• Exception Management: Proven track record in bank reconciliations, remittance parsing, and clearing aged unapplied cash.

Core Competencies & Professional Requirements

Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal English communication skills for collaborating with US stakeholders, onshore partners, and corporate clients.

Detail Orientation: High level of numerical accuracy, speed, and analytical rigor in high-volume transaction environments.

Shift Flexibility: Must be willing and fully available to work fixed US business hours / night shifts.

Experience Level: 1–4 years of relevant experience in Accounts Receivable, Cash Applications, or Shared Services Finance operations.