Check Reconciliation Specialist

Column is the software platform for public information. We build automated tools and workflow solutions that help governments, law firms, and media organizations notify the public. Today, thousands of publishers and tens of thousands of agencies, firms, and individuals rely on Column to keep their communities informed every day. We’re reimagining how public information connects people, institutions, and media.

We're a remote-first team of engineers, designers, and builders who are committed to creating software that supports an informed public.

About The Role

Company: Column | Location: Remote (U.S.-based) | Employment type: Full-time

Column is looking for a detail-oriented Check Reconciliation Specialist to join our Finance Operations team. This is an entry-level role, though experience in accounts receivable and payments support is a plus. You will match incoming check payments from our new Chase lockbox against invoices in Stripe and improve processes around incorrect check payments. You will work closely with the Support team on customer communications and complex payment issues.

What You'll Do

• Process and match incoming check payments received through the Chase lockbox against open invoices in Stripe
• Reconcile daily lockbox deposits and payment batches to ensure every check is accounted for and applied correctly
• Investigate and resolve payment discrepancies, including short payments, overpayments, duplicate payments, and misapplied funds
• Identify and apply refunds or credits for overpayments and incorrect check amounts
• Improve processes around incorrect check payments to reduce manual rework and prevent recurring errors
  
  

What We're Looking For

• Meticulous attention to detail: catches small discrepancies in payment amounts, dates, and invoice matches before they become bigger issues
• Organized and process-driven: maintains accurate records, works systematically through batches, and keeps reconciliation workflows tidy
• Clear communicator: writes plainly and professionally when coordinating with customers and the Support team on payment issues
• Continuous improver: has a bias toward process improvement, spotting recurring errors and fixing the root cause rather than just the symptom
  
  

What Success Looks Like

• Efficiency: 100% of lockbox check payments matched to Stripe invoices within 5 business days of receipt
• Problem Solving: All payment discrepancies (short payments, overpayments, misapplied funds) investigated and resolved within 5 business days
• Accuracy: Zero reconciliation errors at month-end close, with records audit-ready at all times
  
  

Your First 90 Days

First 60 Days: Learn Column and Build the Foundation

You will:

• Learn Column's product, customers (publishers, advertisers, filers), and how public notice payments flow through the platform from placement to reconciliation
• Get trained on the Chase lockbox, Stripe invoicing, and Column's internal billing systems, shadowing current reconciliation workflows
• Meet with the Support team to learn how they handle payment questions and escalations, what customers commonly get wrong, and where reconciliation causes friction

By Day 60, you will have:

• Independently matched a full cycle of lockbox payments to Stripe invoices with accuracy
• Resolved your first set of payment discrepancies (short payments, overpayments, misapplied funds) with guidance
• A working relationship established with the Support team, including agreed channels and handoffs for payment issues

Days 61-90: Own and Build

You will own day-to-day check reconciliation by Day 90, including full lockbox-to-Stripe matching, discrepancy resolution, and escalation handling. You will partner with the Support team to document shared payment-issue processes, and deliver a documented improvement for incorrect check payments, reviewed with Finance Operations, by Day 90.

Must Haves

• Comfortable working with spreadsheets and payment/invoicing systems
• Clear written communication skills for customer-facing coordination
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills
  
  

Nice to Haves

• Experience in accounts receivable or payments support
• Prior experience with Stripe, invoice reconciliation, or lockbox payment processing
• Experience documenting finance processes or SOPs in a knowledge base
  
  

Core Values

• Be the person people can count on. We set clear expectations, take responsibility for our work, and deliver results.
• Clear focus. We communicate clearly, prioritize effectively, and stay focused on what truly moves our work forward.
• Grit and growth mindset. We raise the bar, take ownership, and view challenges as opportunities to learn and improve.
• T.E.A.M (Together everyone achieves more). We uplift each other, celebrate progress, and succeed as a team.
  
  

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $55K to $60K based on experience
• Retirement: 401(k) with company match
• Health: Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Insurance: Life, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• Time off: Flexible PTO
• Work setup: Fully remote, U.S.-based