Hybrid Credit & Collections Team Lead

at John Brooks Company Limited

• Job title: Credit & Collections Team Lead
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: CA$72,000 - CA$82,000 per year
• Degree requirement: High School Diploma
• Tech skills: ERP
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Mississauga, Canada

About the role

• Credit professional leading day-to-day operations of Credit & Collections team for John Brooks Company. Focusing on collections, internal training, and team activities in a hybrid work environment.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily A/R transactional and collection activities, ensuring workload is balanced and targets are met.
• Act as first point of escalation for billing disputes, collections inquiries, and credit application questions.
• Provide coaching, onboarding, and training support to A/R team members.
• Monitor team KPIs including DSO, aging, call volumes, promise-to-pay rates, and dispute timelines.
• Maintain SOPs and ensure adherence to policies and procedures.
• Ensure collection activities are properly documented for follow-up.
• Foster a collaborative, continuous improvement environment.
• Review and process credit applications, including bank and trade references and D&B checks.
• Recommend credit limits, payment terms, and credit hold decisions in line with company policy and approval matrix.
• Apply knowledge of construction credit environments including holdbacks and prompt payment obligations.
• Identify and escalate high-risk accounts, including credit holds and legal referrals.
• Maintain accurate credit files and documentation in ERP systems such as P21.
• Manage a portfolio of accounts, including collection calls, follow-ups, and dispute resolution.
• Support team members with collection strategies for complex or high-value accounts.
• Partner with sales to resolve invoice disputes while maintaining customer relationships.
• Maintain detailed collection notes and account documentation.
• Oversee accuracy and timing of deferred and progress billings, including holdbacks and retention.
• Work with Service, Operations, and Sales to resolve pre-invoice issues.
• Maintain AFDA tracking and support reserve recommendations.
• Oversee cash application to ensure payments are matched accurately.
• Follow up on unapplied cash balances.
• Investigate and resolve short payments, deductions, and discrepancies with customers and internal teams.
• Prepare weekly and monthly A/R aging and collection reports.
• Identify inefficiencies and recommend process improvements.
• Participate in ERP and process improvement initiatives.

Requirements

• High school diploma required.
• Minimum 4–6 years of progressive experience in credit, collections, or accounts receivable within a B2B or industrial environment.
• Solid understanding of Canadian trade credit practices and credit risk assessment principles.
• Strong working knowledge of the order-to-cash cycle including credit adjudication, billing, collections, and cash application.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, support or mentor A/R team members.
• Proficiency with an ERP system.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with customers, sales reps, and internal leadership.
• High proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, XLOOKUP, SUMIF) and Microsoft Word.
• Demonstrated understanding of A/R collection strategies, credit management, and clear account documentation.
• Experience with Prophet 21 (P21).
• Bilingual in English and French, written and spoken.
• Experience in construction credit, including familiarity with the Ontario Construction Act, statutory holdbacks, and prompt payment provisions.
• Knowledge of provincial lien legislation across Canada including Ontario, Alberta, BC, and Quebec.
• Familiarity with credit bureau tools and online invoicing portals.
• Credit Institute of Canada (CIC) CCP designation or working toward it, or similar qualifications

Benefits

• Competitive remuneration including base salary ($72,000 - $82,000)
• Hybrid work schedule.
• A leadership role within a well-established, growing Canadian industrial distribution company.
• Exposure to a broad, complex customer portfolio spanning municipal, oil & gas, construction, and manufacturing sectors.
• Opportunity to contribute to and shape the modernization of AR operations including ERP optimization
• Competitive vacation
• Paid personal day program
• Generous benefits package that includes coverage for things like medical, dental, paramedical, and vision
• Company Group RRSP with employer matching
• Annual health & wellness subsidy