Laura Ruiz Salazar

Cell: 323-***-****

E-mail: ad1r09@r.postjobfree.com

Motivated self-driven, bilingual (English/Spanish), AP/AR Credit and Collections Specialist. Energetic team player who is committed to providing outstanding support while maximizing revenue.

Professional Experience

Calavo/Renaissance Food Group 8/22 - Current

Accounts Receivable Specialist (Remote)

Cash applications for 2 companies of up to $10M a day for customers such as Kroger, Walmart, Costco, Target, Albertson’s and other various large customers.

Responsible for downloading Bank Activity Reports and Lockboxes and all remittance details from customer emails and portals.

In charge of deductions, pre-credits, transfers, adjustments and write offs.

Responsible for AR email inboxes and maintenance of AR files.

Billing

Assist with month end closing.

Catholic Charities – Chicago 3/22 – 6/22

Collections Specialist (Remote – Contract)

Responsible for billing clients in English and Spanish.

Maintained and organized financial client records ensuring accuracy and compliance.

Contacted customers via email and telephone with past due balances to collect payments and/or negotiate payment plans.

Maintained records of communications and payment submissions.

Resolved customer issues and complaints concerning court case process, billing and accounting issues.

Processed and applied customer payments onto system.

Submitted refund requests and check requests for customers.

Mezzetta 9/21 – 3/22

Collections Specialist (Remote - Contract)

Collected over $8M in 3 months.

Responsible for portals for customers such as Albertsons, Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger and other various large customers.

Worked closely with the EDI team ensuring successful electronic invoice submissions onto customer portals.

Monitored accounts daily, identifying outstanding balances, investigating & resolving customer issues by communicating effectively via email and telephone.

Identified root causes of collection issues for process improvements ensuring prompt payments in order to maximize revenue.

Distributed monthly statements, aging reports and invoices to customers.

Maintained and updated customer contact information in database as needed.

Converted customers to electronic payments (i.e., wire, ACH, and credit cards).

Provide weekly reports to management informing of account status and collection progress.

Communicated, coordinated, and followed up effectively with management, customer service, sales department regarding customer accounts on a timely basis and to create collection strategies and payment arrangements as needed.

Adstream North America Inc. 9/20 – 8/21

Collections Specialist (Remote - Contract)

Monitored 350 accounts ensuring customers stay within payment terms.

Monitored 100 accounts for Spanish speaking clients from Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico and Venezuela.

Responsible for reducing delinquency of accounts by contacting Spanish and English-speaking customers via email and telephone.

Resolved customer issues; process refund request, vendor application completion, reviewed and processed account adjustments, discrepancies, account reconciliations, credit memos and write offs.

Maintained accurate collection records, tracking progress and account status.

Conducted bi-weekly meetings with sales managers and financial team to report collections efforts and account status.

Recommended and assisted with implementing new processes and procedures to improve collections efforts and reduce past due balances.

Created statements and aging reports as requested by customers and sales department.

Responsible for reporting Cash Forecast to Finance Director and Controller.

Allied Sales and Distribution 3/19 – 7/20

Accounts Receivable, Collections and Credit Administrator

Sorted, coded and posted customer payments by recording cash, checks, ACH payments, wire payments and credit card transactions. In charge of daily bank deposits and petty cash.

Responsible for 200 accounts ensuring accuracy of invoicing/billing, payment reminders, collection of payments, monthly statement email distribution and resolution of account issues or concerns.

Communicated between sales department, customer services and other appropriate departments to resolve customer issues; chargebacks, payment issues, price discrepancies, credits, or any problems associated with the client’s account.

Processed credit applications for potential clients; background verification of bank and business references, verification of business licenses, and in charge of creating an account in the system with specific net terms.

Reviewed and analyzed weekly aging report evaluating status of accounts, making changes in credit terms, placing on credit hold as needed and approving of removal of credit holds.

Provided weekly reports to management informing of account status and collection progress.

San Antonio Winery 9/18 – 3/19

Accounts Receivable and Collections Specialist (Contract)

Sorted, coded and posted customer payments by recording cash, checks, ACH payments and credit card transactions.

Responsible for daily bank deposits and bank reconciliation.

Reviewed and audited data entry batches for accuracy and completeness.

Reviewed and managed aging report for discrepancies by investigating and resolving problems associated with processing of invoices and purchase orders.

Responded to customers and vendor inquiries by researching and following up on pending payment issues.

Responsible for managing and distributing detailed aging reports for local and national sales representatives.

Helped in managing credit-hold accounts and assisting customers with payment arrangements.

Collected $30k for past due wholesale accounts for 2016 and 2017.

Performed special projects as assigned.

Internet Brands, Inc. 4/18 – 8/18

Accounts Receivable and Collections Specialist (Contract)

Provided efficient and effective client services while performing day-to-day functions and management of payment activities.

Responsible for collections of 250 accounts for services provided by 3 companies.

Demonstrated effective and professional communication with external and internal vendors and clients.

Managed and checked account details and balances for missing payments, late payments, and other balances.

Preformed required billing and collections reports.

Research invoices overages and compared to contract bids.

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services 1/13 – 3/18

Billing, Collections and AP/AR Clerk

Processed an average of 800 invoices per month for 7 lines of business.

Calculated figures such as discounts, percentage allocations and credits.

Researched and resolved billing and invoice issues.

Responsible for processing all billing transactions and updating various reporting systems with job sales order details.

Sorted, coded and posted customer payments by recording cash, checks, ACH, wire and credit card payments.

Responsible for bank deposits and petty cash.

Contacted customers with past due accounts, creating payment plans, negotiations and restructuring options.

Compiled data and prepared monthly statements.

Sorted and coded incoming mail for 7 lines of business.

Reviewed and confirmed prices working closely with purchasing department provided pricing reports to avoid price discrepancies.

Created vendor accounts maintaining and updating as needed.

Software Skills

Microsoft Word, Excel, SAP, Sage 100, Sage 300, Outlook, Salesforce, ADP, Oracle NetSuite, Great Plains, People Soft, Macola, Group Wise, MAS500, MAS90, QuickBooks, Ceridian, Paychex, Timeforce, Virtual Edge, Encompass, High Radius and Produce Pro.

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