Sotheby's Accounts Receivable Coordinator

About Sotheby's

Sotheby’s is an auction house founded in London in 1744. Its specialists work across fine art and collecting categories including jewelry, watches, handbags, wine, design, and classic cars. The house connects collectors through live and online auctions, private sales, and fixed-price purchases. Its work spans specialist research and cataloging, client services, marketing, technology, finance, and operations, supporting the preparation, sale, and movement of objects across its international network.

Role & Responsibilities

• Oversee client billing and issue financial documents, including invoices, statements and terms letters, coordinating with Client Experience coordinators and shipping leads through Freshdesk to provide a streamlined client experience.
• Manage no-bid clients and escalate requests as appropriate to support swift decisions and client communication.
• Work with the bids office to reconcile information required to invoice sales and prevent post-sale reinvoicing requests.
• Escalate requests for extended payment terms in accordance with corporate governance thresholds, and ensure required documentation is obtained before a sale in coordination with the business manager or director.
• Close sales financially by collecting and managing outstanding client debt, and collaborate with client service operations to facilitate collection or shipment once payment is complete.
• Work with expert departments and relationship managers on property release, anti-money laundering (AML) regulations and debt collection.
• Manage chargebacks in the auto-charge process and monitor Adyen and Stripe.
• Reconcile all payment activity, including wire and credit card payment reports.
• Support compliance activities, including collecting client due diligence forms when required.
• Contribute to delivery of a positive, client-first experience from end to end.
• Support the compilation and maintenance of current process documentation.
• Maintain service-level agreements (SLAs) for client communications by phone, email and Freshdesk, and serve as an escalation point for third parties such as call centres.
• Support applicable client account activity regionally and globally.
• Stay current with AML and other company policies and procedures.
• Contribute to management reporting on debtors and provisions.
• Collaborate with technical experts across payments, legal, compliance, tax and finance, and own escalated issues related to buyer payments.
• Work with all areas of client service operations to maintain high service standards, support continuous improvement and take accountability for buyer NPS feedback.
• Provide ad hoc support to Client Accounts Receivable Managers.

Qualifications

• A degree in business administration or an equivalent field is preferred.
• At least 1 year of related work experience.
• Previous financial experience in a professional or financial services setting, or debt collection experience in an international luxury business, is preferred.
• Excellent client service skills, with demonstrated active listening, empathy, service orientation and patience.
• Exemplary written and verbal communication skills, with a high level of attention to detail.
• Flexible and pragmatic approach, with the ability to take ownership of situations and processes and manage them through to completion.
• Understanding of how to escalate matters to management appropriately to ensure a smooth client experience.
• High standards of confidentiality, discretion and work ethic.
• Organised, methodical and collaborative, with a strong team spirit.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, reactive environment and able to remain calm under pressure.
• Able to work independently and in partnership with colleagues.
• Able to work in the office, particularly on live sale days, to support bidder vetting.
• Able to work evenings and weekends when required.

Skills

Experience

At least 1 year of related work experience; previous financial experience in a professional or financial services setting, or debt collection experience in an international luxury business, is preferred.

Education

A degree in business administration or an equivalent field is preferred.

Culture

Sotheby’s describes its culture in terms of client service, specialist knowledge, curiosity, collaboration, and ethical conduct. Its careers materials emphasize working across disciplines and encouraging employees to explore internal opportunities.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.