Cash Collections: At one company I found the collections team preferring to adopt the role of 'account managers' and focus on resolving disputes. Cash targets were ignored. The lifeblood of the business dwindled. This was resolved within the hour at a group ‘realignment’ meeting. I learnt early in my career that by chasing the cash, all issues relating to late or non-payment are made known by the customer’s payables department. And from this, the dispute or query process can be managed to resolution appropriately. Focus must be on converting bills to cash on due date. Always. No other daily activity by the collections department should be allowed to take precedence over this singularly vital process to keep the business alive.

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