Accounts Receivable / Credit Officer - Australia

Position: Accounts Receivable / Credit Officer - Australia

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: $76,220 plus superannuation per annum

Location: Sydney NSW 2000

Our client Sealord Australia Pty Ltd / Petuna Aquaculture Pty Ltd is one of the largest seafood companies in the Southern Hemisphere. And with more than 60 years of fishing experience, farming, processing, and marketing operations, their business consistently delivers quality seafood to customers around the world.

Established in 1961, in Nelson Sealord is half owned by the Maori people of New Zealand, through Moana New Zealand (Aotearoa Fisheries Ltd), and half owned by global seafood company Nippon Suisan Kaisha, Ltd (Nissui). Sealord is one of the largest quota holders in New Zealand with partners and subsidiaries around the world though Nissui’s global links. Sealord Group has fishing and aquaculture farming operations, which includes deep-water fishing and aquaculture farming activities in New Zealand and Australia as well as international and joint venture deepwater fishing activities in other waters.

In order to achieve their purpose and deliver on Group Strategy, they have aligned their structure into Operations, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources and Aquaculture.

Sealord has primarily deep-sea fishing operations throughout New Zealand and Australia and aquaculture farm operations in Australia through its subsidiaries Petuna (salmon and ocean trout) and King Reef (barramundi).

The Accounts Receivable / Credit Officer - Australia has a key role in ensuring all Sealord financial records are maintained professionally and efficiently, as well as ensuring all compliances are adhered to for the Australian company. Operating alongside the sales and customer service teams, this role is pivotal to ensuring Sealord’s records are up to date and KPI’s are met. This role reports to the Commercial Lead in Australia and the job’s location is in Sydney, New South Wales.

Key Accountabilities:

Health and Safety

1. Provide strong leadership around Health & Safety to make Sealord Australia a zero-injury workplace
2. Abide by and administer company safety policies as contained in the Health and Safety Manual and related documentation
3. Comply with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act NSW 2000.
4. Participate in the drive for continuous improvement in the H&S programme by:
5. Active involvement in the company’s “Stay Safe” programme:
6. assist in the management of hazards (all hazards reported, all corrective actions from hazard reports followed)
7. participate in TALK meetings
8. abide by safety rules and requirements
9. encourage others to act safely
10. participate in WALK behavioural observation programme
11. accurately report, record and assist in the investigation of safety incidents

Operational Excellence

1. Supervise and manage accounts receivable, ensuring timely collection of payments, minimizing overdue balances, and maintaining strong credit control practices
2. Build and maintain strong relationships with Business Development Managers and Sales teams, ensuring alignment between finance and customer service functions
3. Ensure compliance with the Credit Management Policy, including a) Reducing debtor balances and resolving outstanding issues before exceeding 22 days. b) Enforcing company credit terms to mitigate financial risks
4. Prepare accurate and timely financial reports, including monthly SG&A cost analysis and for sales and marketing, providing strategic insights and recommendations
5. Monitor and analyze financial performance, ensuring adherence to company policies, banking covenants, and maintaining provisions below AUD 150,000
6. Review and approve customer credit applications and credit limit adjustments, ensuring compliance with internal policies and processing requests within one week
7. Ensure acc racy in debtor allocations and financial records, maintaining mis- allocations below AUD 5,000 annually.
8. Actively participate in internal and external audits, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and company regulations
9. Respond promptly to customer credit claims and inquiries, ensuring timely resolution and maintaining strong business relationships
10. Oversee trade spend and rebate approvals, ensuring accurate entry and reporting to align with financial objectives
11. Work closely with Finance, S&OP, sales and Marketing teams, ensuring financial data integrity, forecasting accuracy and continuous process improvements

People

1. Collaboration with Sales team to achieve improvement in Accounts Receivable and maintain acceptable levels of days overdue. Be a supportive Team player for Sales and the wider Australian office team
2. Support customer services including leave cover where required, troubleshooting system issues and providing customers with information required in full on time and in a professional manner to promptly resolve any queries or disputes.

Requirements:

1. Bachelor Degree in Accounting
2. Minimum of three (3) years’ experience working in credit control or equivalent role
3. Transactional experience with AP/AR including account reconciliations
4. Understanding of the order to cash cycle.
5. Team player; as an employee of Sealord, it is expected that you know, understand and consistently apply the company values to your role and day-to-day tasks
6. Ability to multitask, prioritise and manage expectations.
7. Ability to ensure all company processes are followed.
8. Strong administration skills – organised, thorough, able to multitask, systems orientated with meticulous attention to detail.
9. Ability to build relationships with Business Development Managers and Customers/ Ability to communicate at all levels. Willingness to work closely with the Sales & Account Support role and provide assistance when required.
10. A high customer focus and commitment to customer satisfaction
11. Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills or willingness to upskill from beginner to intermediate level.
12. An ability to work under pressure and limited supervision.
13. Proactive, punctual and reliable.

Desirable:

1. Knowledge of M3, NAV, SAP or other ERP software
2. Experience in a food service / FMCG environment is an advantage
3. Experience with large retailers and trade spend/rebates is preferred.
4. Interest in systems and how financial and other information flows across different systems and companies to get the right stock to the right customer with the right information for payment.