Collections and Lien Compliance Specialist (AR)

Houston, Texas, About the role As a specialty contractor working across several US states, we need a collections specialist who understands construction payment processes and keeps cash moving, from progress payments through final retainage. You will own collection follow-up, lien waiver coordination, notice and deadline tracking, and receivables reporting, including collecting required vendor and subcontractor waivers before payment. You will work closely with project managers, accounting, customers, and vendors, resolve payment barriers, and escalate unresolved disputes, at-risk accounts, and any legal matters to our Director of Finance. Success means meeting weekly collection forecasts, recovering retainage promptly, and protecting our right to payment through accurate documentation and timely action. This is a hands-on, in-office role at our Houston headquarters. Key Responsibilities Collections

Own collections on construction receivables from owners, general contractors, and customers, from invoices to final retainage Follow up on past-due pay applications and invoices by phone and email; escalate in a timely, documented way Identify and work through pay-when-paid and pay-if-paid situations, short pays, back charges, and disputed amounts with project managers Track retainage by project and pursue release at substantial and final completion, including required close-out documents Maintain clear notes on every account in Sage Intacct and keep promise-to-pay dates current

Lien waivers and payment documents

Prepare, issue, and track our outgoing lien waivers — conditional and unconditional, progress (partial) and final — using the correct state-required forms Exchange conditional waivers for payment, and issue unconditional waivers only after funds have cleared Prepare and track sworn statements, affidavits of payment, and other owner/GC payment documentation Support assembly and submission of payment applications (e.g., schedule of values and backup) with project managers to ensure accuracy Collect lien waivers from our vendors and subcontractors before we release payment to them, and coordinate with AP so no payment goes out without the required waiver

Lien and notice compliance

Maintain a state-by-state lien and notice calendar covering every state we work in Prepare and track preliminary notices / notices to owner and other statutory notices on new projects, within each state's required deadlines Flag approaching lien-filing and enforcement deadlines early to the Director of Finance and, when needed, to outside counsel Gather project information (owner, legal description, GC, bonding/surety details, first and last furnishing dates) at project setup

Forecasting, reporting and coordination

Produce a weekly collections forecast by customer and project, based on approved billings, documented payment commitments, customer pay history, and open payment requirements. Also track actual versus forecast and explain the difference Produce weekly AR aging reports by customer and project, with commentary on risk and next actions Report on retainage outstanding, waiver status, and upcoming notice/lien deadline Reconcile customer accounts and resolve billing discrepancies with accounting and project managers Support month-end close with AR schedules and cash forecasts Qualifications

3+ years of accounts receivable or collections experience in construction (subcontractor, specialty contractor, or GC preferred) Working knowledge of lien waivers: conditional vs. unconditional, progress vs. final, and when each is used Hands-on experience with pay applications, retainage, and close-out documentation Experience tracking preliminary notices / notices to owner and lien deadlines Confidence on the phone with owners, GCs, and vendors, including difficult conversations about late payment Strong Excel skills (filters, pivot tables, lookups) and accurate data entry High level of organization: you can manage dozens of projects and deadlines without missing one Clear, professional written and verbal English

Preferred Qualifications

Sage Intacct experience (AR, contracts, or construction modules) Experience with multi-state lien compliance, including Texas and Florida Experience with lien/notice management software or services Familiarity with payment bonds and bond claims on public projects Experience in electrical, power, or utility construction Bilingual English/Spanish Construction credit or collections certification (e.g., NACM credentials)

What We Offer

Salary is commensurate with experience DSO (days sales outstanding) bonus available which is equivalent to 5% of base salary, earned when company-wide DSO (days sales outstanding) is 60 days or less A clear, high-impact role: your work directly affects our cash flow Direct access to the Director of Finance, other executives, and project leadership Training on our systems, processes, and state-specific requirements A comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support the well-being and success of our team members along with a 401(k) plan through Fidelity with company match

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, citizenship, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, disability status, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Commensurate with experience