AR Operations Team Leader (Japanese Speaking)

We are partnering with a Global MNC hiring for an Operations team leader . As you will need to liaise directly with stakeholders and counterparts based in Japan, proficiency in JAPANESE (min. JLPT N1 or equivalent) is required.

Responsibilities

Operational & Delivery Excellence

• Lead and manage end-to-end Customer Financial Services operations, including Credit & Collections, Disputes, Cash Application, Billing, and Accounts Receivable processes
• Ensure all AR activities are executed accurately, timely, and in compliance with company policies, SLAs, and internal controls
• Track and analyse key operational KPIs such as aging, overdue balances, dispute resolution turnaround, cash application accuracy, and team productivity
• Identify operational risks, inefficiencies, and process gaps, and implement effective corrective actions
• Serve as the escalation point for complex customer issues, high-risk accounts, and sensitive cases

Leadership & Accountability

• Take full ownership of team performance, service delivery, and customer outcomes
• Provide ongoing coaching, guidance, and constructive feedback to enhance team capability and performance
• Cultivate a high-performance, results-oriented, and accountable team culture
• Support onboarding, training, and continuous development of team members
• Optimise resource allocation and ensure effective workload distribution

Negotiation & Stakeholder Management

• Lead and support negotiations on credit, collections, and disputes, including complex or high-impact cases
• Build and maintain partnerships with Sales, Customer Service, Finance, and other internal stakeholders
• Influence stakeholders to drive alignment on payment strategies, risk mitigation, and process improvements
• Communicate effectively and professionally with customers across various levels
• Represent the team confidently in cross-functional discussions and initiatives

Continuous Improvement & Change Leadership

• Drive process improvement, standardisation, and automation initiatives across finance operations
• Utilise data and insights to identify and implement continuous improvement opportunities
• Foster a growth mindset within the team, encouraging innovation and ongoing upskilling
• Adapt proactively to organisational, system, and process changes with agility
• Lead or contribute to cross-functional and regional projects focused on operational excellence

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related discipline
• As you will need to liaise directly with stakeholders and counterparts based in Japan for all of the following responsibilities, proficiency in Japanese (min. JLPT N1 or equivalent) is required.
• 5+ years of experience in Customer Finance / Accounts Receivable / Credit & Collections, with prior team lead or senior specialist experience preferred