Accounts Receivable Accountant I

At Challenge Unlimited, our vision is to become a national leader in providing employment services to people with disabilities that empower them to reach their full potential. We intentionally provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities which will assist them to live, work, and participate in the community.

Challenge Unlimited is driven by its core values: community, helpfulness, abilities, leadership, learning, ethics, innovation, growth, and effective outcomes. It is these values that have powered Challenge Unlimited to its success and has helped over 600 disabled individuals find meaningful work across all of our locations.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the AR Supervisor, the Accounts Receivable Accountant I is responsible for providing accounting services which further our mission to help people who have different abilities to receive work support and development as needed—achieving the highest level of independence possible.
Operationally, this position is responsible for keeping up-to-date contract pricing files, creating service invoices, preparing deposits, matching customer payments to invoices, coding miscellaneous receipts and reconciling customer A/R accounts. Enters data into web-based billing programs and maintains billing spreadsheets for external and internal customers, funding agencies including Medicaid reimbursement and various grants. Follows-up on delinquent accounts and resolves billing discrepancies. Processes audits for specific Residential checking, savings, and petty cash accounts.

• ​​​​​​Pay Rate: $23.50 per hour+ Benefits!
• Schedule: Full-Time, Monday - Friday, 8am-4:30pm. Schedule can be changed after training. 
• Location: Alton, Illinois 

1. Process Accounts Receivable: Support the Company’s mission by providing accounting services needed for business operations. Create monthly service-related invoices. Match deposits to invoices, reconcile and code the deposit entries. Generate billing information from Case Management System, summarize and enter revenue into accounting system. Enter required data for customer invoicing into customer’s website / billing systems e.g., WAWF, ROCS, etc. Maintain spreadsheet tracking reports for ICF Residents’ cost of care, bed holds, work credits and day service billing to process invoicing and payments between funding agencies and internal and external service providers. Maintain data needed for CILA (Community Integrated Living Arrangement), CMHC (Community Mental Health Center), DD (Developmental Disabilities) billing and transmission to DHS. Maintain reports for MI (Mental Illness) CILA 3^rd party billing and MI (Mental Illness) grants. Enter MRO (Medicaid Rehabilitation Option) billing summary for each resident in the accounting system and apply payments when received. Generate billing information from Case Management System, summarize and enter revenue into accounting system. Enter required data for customer invoicing into customers’ website / billing systems e.g., Medi System, etc.
2. Medicaid Reimbursement Billing: Ensure that all CMHC MI client registrations are current and re-registrations are completed and that any registration errors are communicated to the RO Clinical Directors for resolution. Transmit MRO claims monthly to HFS & MCO providers and send denied claims remittances to RO Clinical Directors for resolution.
3. Customer Relations: Answer accounting and financial questions in a timely, accurate manner by researching and interpreting data. Maintain good rapport with internal customers, vendors, and external auditors. Help build an effective Company culture that embodies our Company values to achieve optimum performance levels and achieve goals and objectives.
4. Reporting and Recordkeeping: Follow-up on overdue accounts and send past-due reminders to customers for payment. Research and resolve discrepancies on billing and entries. Update records when contracts are renewed or modified for service-related work and production related work. Ensure that updated information is used for billing customers.
5. Residential Home Audits: Audit the checking accounts, saving accounts and cash on hand for applicable Residents along with Residential Options’ petty cash balances for 3-5 group homes quarterly. Revenue reconcile balances and make appropriate corrections where necessary.

• Education: Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting Preferred
• Experience: 
  • 1+ years of bookkeeping and accounting software preferred. 
  • Will accept an equivalent combination of High School Diploma or G.E.D with 5 years’ experience. 
  • Problem solving skills and attention to detail are required.
  •  Federal / Government billing experience a plus. State of IL DHS billing experience a plus.
• Computer Skills: Proficient with MS Excel and Outlook.
• Background Checks: 
  • Must pass criminal background check. 
  • Must pass various State and Federal registry checks.
  • Must pass credit history check.
  • Must pass DCFS Abuse and Neglect Tracking System check.
  • Must pass driving history check and Company policy criteria, maintain valid driver’s license, and be 21 or older to drive.
• Driving: Company travel using a personal insured vehicle is required. Occasionally drives personal vehicle between work sites.

• Sitting: Continuously sitting in the normal course of office-sedentary type work.
• Standing: Occasionally standing, walking, bending, squatting, reaching, and twisting in the normal course of office-sedentary type work and for training workers.
• Hearing, Speaking: Frequently listens and speaks with managers and employees to collect and offer information to solve problems and process financial & accounting tasks.
• Seeing: Continually visually active to read and audit information on screen or in print, occasionally in small font size
• Handling: Frequently using hands in typing, calculating, filing, phone and other office equipment use.
• Movement: Occasionally bending, reaching, and twisting; occasionally climbing stairs and/or ladders squatting, and kneeling.
• Lifting: Occasionally lifting, carrying, and pushing or pulling up to 10 lbs. in the normal course of office-sedentary type work.

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Life Insurance (Basic & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Holidays)
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Retirement Plan (401k)
• Employee Assistance Program