Salli Karst
Hanover,PA
Summary
Credit & Collections Manager with extensive experience in credit evaluation and process automation. Successfully reduced aging accounts while improving team performance through targeted training and mentoring. Expertise in collections negotiation and relationship building, resulting in enhanced cash flow management.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Credit & Collections Manager
NEWWAVE TECHNOLOGIES
Frederick, MD
12.2023 - Current
- Supervising contributor with a team of two, responsible for evaluating new and existing customers’ creditworthiness and collection of past due balances.
- Process improvements ongoing to improve DSO and training to increase team knowledge.
- Reduced > 60-day aging from 5% to
- Negotiated with customers on payment of past due balances.
- Determined if customers orders required non-standard payment terms (cash in advance or credit card).
- Placed stale accounts for 3rd party collections to resolve.
- Increased automation of month end Accounts Receivable reporting to reduce manual errors.
- Developed reporting to analyze credit position of pending sales.
- Trained team on use of Dun & Bradstreet reports and bank/trade references to determine customer credit line.
- Resolved aged credit balances from 2016-2021.
Accounts Receivable Manager
SINCLAIR BROADCASTING GROUP
Cockeysville, MD
05.2020 - 10.2023
- Supervising contributor with a team of five responsible for timely collections of past due balances, resolution of payment differences due to rate and subscriber issues, and daily cash posting.
- Extensive reporting and process improvements to maximize results.
- Reduced >60-day aging to less than 4% of total portfolio.
- Extensive efforts to resolve all balances > 365 days.
- Coordinates collections efforts with Sales and Legal teams.
- Developed Days Sales Outstanding and Average Days to Pay metrics by division and individual analyst to accurately measure progress.
- Development of procedural documents for all processes.
- Training of new hires and team on system upgrades or process changes.
Credit/Collections Specialist
FLAGGER FORCE TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES
Hummelstown, PA
08.2018 - 05.2020
- Individual contributor charged with credit evaluation of new customers, timely collection of past due balances, managing 3rd party collections process, and accounts receivable reporting.
- Extensive customer interaction and research to resolve complex billing issues and navigation of customer processes to achieve payment.
- Streamlined collections process by reducing time to place for third party by 30 days.
- Reduced > 60 aging by 30%.
- Complex account reconciliations.
- Negotiating payment plans and terms of sale.
- Ownership of 3rd party placement and legal activity.
- Created and documented new credit and collections procedures to mitigate risk to company.
- Accurate reporting of accounts receivable activity within deadlines.
- Averaging 50 customer contacts per day.
Credit Systems Analyst (Contractor)
ACCOUNTEMPS
Towson, MD
01.2018 - 03.2018
- Individual contributor specializing in development, testing, and integration of system and application changes for the credit and collections team.
- Process improvements and automation to reduce time and/or cost of operations.
- Monthly reporting and analysts as well as special projects as assigned.
- Participating in 3 major projects and 7 system enhancements, meeting all deliverables and UAT deadlines.
- Department IT resource for training, access requests, and first level issue resolution.
- Reviewing current credit, collections, and cash application processes for automation and cost savings.
- Accurate completion of month end reporting within first three days of close.
Manager Credit Risk
EXELON CORP.
Baltimore, MD
01.2014 - 06.2017
- Supervised 4 team members in department reporting and analytics; development and enhancement of collections applications; and special projects.
- Provided coaching and motivation through recognition, advancement opportunities, and participation in special projects.
- Recruited and interviewed qualified candidates.
- Reduced manual processes and increased automation, supporting reduction of department by 50% with no loss of productivity.
- Compiled and reported monthly/yearly metrics including Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), Collections Effectiveness Index (CEI), Bad Debt Expense, and other ad hoc measurements at analyst and department levels.
- Represented business in system migrations and enhancements through development and testing.
- Participated as Project Owner in both Agile and Waterfall methodology, completing 1 major migration and numerous enhancements.
- Spearheaded efforts to create, implement, and complete formal escheatment process for ~10K accounts.
- Led team in fully documenting collections process, procedures, and job aids within allotted timeframe.
Senior Credit Analyst
EXELON CORP.
Baltimore, MD
01.2010 - 01.2014
- Supervised 2 team members in collections portfolio management; developed and enhanced collections applications; special projects; and ad hoc reporting.
- Regarded as department Subject Matter Expert (SME) and team lead in training and developing new processes.
- Developed process for resolving and metrics for Early Termination Charges (ETPs).
- Reviewed collections portfolios and assigned new accounts, assuring equal distribution of workload.
- Acted as collateral account management, resolving high profile accounts with 95% effectiveness.
- Represented business in system migration and enhancements through development and testing, as well as sales or operational changes impacting group.
Credit Analyst
EXELON CORP.
Baltimore, MD
05.2006 - 01.2010
- Completed account management of credit and receivables portfolio valued at $50M, including credit evaluation of customers and collection of past due amounts.
- Represented collections in system and process consolidation.
- Oversaw account management of Mid-Atlantic portfolio to include cash posting, reconciling lockbox activity, credit review, and collection of outstanding balances at 94% effective rate.
- Led efforts to consolidate 5 regional collections processes into corporate level, including data clean-up and analysis; streamlining processes; and training team on new applications.
- Represented Credit Risk throughout organization in process / procedure initiatives, ensuring changes will not negatively impact department.
Education
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Business Administration
Stevenson University
Stevenson, MDSkills
- Leadership and team management
- Credit evaluation and reporting
- Collections negotiation and debt recovery
- Accounts receivable management
- Process automation and improvement
- Cash flow management
- Data analysis and risk assessment
- Effective communication skills
- Training and mentoring programs
- Time management strategies
- Performance metrics monitoring
- Goal setting and achievement
- Account reconciliation expertise
- Financial statement analysis
- Administrative operations
- Analytical thinking skills
- Delinquency prevention techniques
- Payment plan coordination strategies
- Active listening and empathy
- Billing practices and resolution strategies
Certification
Credit Business Fellow, National Association of Credit Managers
Timeline
Credit & Collections Manager
NEWWAVE TECHNOLOGIES
12.2023 - Current
Accounts Receivable Manager
SINCLAIR BROADCASTING GROUP
05.2020 - 10.2023
Credit/Collections Specialist
FLAGGER FORCE TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES
08.2018 - 05.2020
Credit Systems Analyst (Contractor)
ACCOUNTEMPS
01.2018 - 03.2018
Manager Credit Risk
EXELON CORP.
01.2014 - 06.2017
Senior Credit Analyst
EXELON CORP.
01.2010 - 01.2014
Credit Analyst
EXELON CORP.
05.2006 - 01.2010
Bachelor of Science (BS) - Business Administration
Stevenson University