Senior Manager, Cash Collection

INSEAD is seeking a Manager, Cash Collection, to join our Finance and Administration department. This is a full-time, permanent contract position based at our Europe Campus in Fontainebleau. A hybrid working model is in place – 3 days on campus, 2 days from home. The Finance and Administration Department at INSEAD encompasses a diverse range of critical functions, including Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), Finance, Legal, Procurement, Risk, and Audit. This department plays a pivotal role in ensuring the institution's financial health, compliance, and operational efficiency, supporting INSEAD's mission to deliver world-class education and research. About the job Reporting to the Associate Director, Accounts Receivable, he job holder is responsible for driving timely and sustainable cash collection while leading and developing a team of cash collectors. This role combines hands‑on ownership of complex or strategic accounts with accountability for team performance, process improvement, and cross‑functional collaboration. The position plays a critical role in cash flow optimization, customer risk management, and customer relationship management. Your role within the team Cash Collection & Credit Management
• Own end‑to‑end collection activities for a portfolio of high‑value, complex, and strategic customers.
• Proactively follow up on overdue balances, resolve disputes, and negotiate payment plans where required.
• Monitor customer credit risk, escalating concerns and recommending actions in line with policy.
• Ensure accurate cash forecasting inputs and commentary for management reporting.
• Support month‑end and quarter‑end close activities related to Accounts Receivable (cash application and receipts) and annual audit. Team Leadership & Management
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of cash collectors, setting clear objectives and performance expectations.
• Allocate portfolios and workload effectively to optimize coverage, efficiency, and risk management.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, one‑to‑ones, and provide structured feedback and development plans.
• Act as an escalation point for complex customer cases and internal stakeholder issues.
• Support onboarding and training of new team members and foster best‑practice sharing across the team. Process, Controls & Continuous Improvement
• Drive continuous improvement in collection strategies, tools, KPIs, and ways of working.
• Ensure adherence to internal controls, policies, and compliance requirements.
• Contribute to automation, system enhancements, and process standardization initiatives.
• Prepare and analyze KPIs (aged balance analysis, overdue %, collection effectiveness) and present insights to management. Stakeholder Management
• Partner closely with Sales, Admissions, Financial Aid, and Finance to resolve disputes and improve cash outcomes.
• Build strong, professional relationships with customers while maintaining appropriate financial rigor.
• Provide clear, insightful communication to senior finance leadership on risks, trends, and action plans. The ideal candidate profile
• 7–10+ years of experience in Cash Collection
• Proven experience managing or supervising a team in a finance operations environment.
• Strong track record of improving cash flow, reducing overdue balances, and managing credit risk.
• Strong working knowledge of ERP systems
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with AR reporting tools and dashboards.
• Strong negotiation and conflict‑resolution skills with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to balance customer relationships with firm financial discipline.
• Analytical mindset with strong reporting and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Confident decision‑maker with the ability to prioritize and manage competing deadlines. Responsibilities -