Credit Control-Receivables

The Credit Control - Receivables role in a Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company is essential for managing and optimizing the company's accounts receivable processes. This position involves assessing credit risk, establishing credit limits, monitoring customer accounts, and ensuring timely collection of outstanding invoices. The Credit Control - Receivables specialist plays a critical role in maintaining positive cash flow, minimizing bad debts, and supporting the company's financial stability and growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Credit Risk Assessment:

Evaluate the creditworthiness of new and existing customers, analyzing credit reports, financial statements, payment histories, and other relevant data.

Establish credit limits and terms for customers based on risk assessment, credit policies, and business requirements, ensuring a balance between risk and opportunity.

Customer Credit Management:

Monitor customer accounts receivable balances, aging reports, and payment trends, identifying delinquent accounts and potential credit risks.

Communicate with customers regarding payment terms, overdue invoices, and credit issues, providing reminders and assistance to facilitate timely payments.

Negotiate payment arrangements and settlements with delinquent customers, escalating collection efforts as needed to recover outstanding debts.

Billing and Invoicing:

Ensure accuracy and completeness of billing and invoicing processes, verifying invoice details, pricing, and terms before issuing invoices to customers.

Coordinate with sales, finance, and operations teams to resolve billing discrepancies, disputes, and customer inquiries promptly.

Generate and distribute regular statements, reminders, and dunning letters to follow up on overdue invoices and encourage payment compliance.

Cash Application and Reconciliation:

Apply customer payments accurately and promptly to respective accounts, reconciling payments received with outstanding invoices and resolving discrepancies.

Investigate and resolve unapplied payments, unidentified receipts, and payment posting errors to maintain accurate accounting records.

Perform bank reconciliations and cash flow analysis to ensure proper recording and tracking of receivables and cash receipts.

Credit Control Reporting and Analysis:

Prepare and analyze receivables aging reports, collections performance metrics, and credit risk assessments, providing insights and recommendations to management.

Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), bad debt ratios, and collection efficiency, identifying trends and areas for improvement.

Collaborate with finance and accounting teams to forecast cash flow, provision for bad debts, and optimize credit management strategies.

Qualifications and Skills:

Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field; additional certification in credit management or finance is advantageous.

Proven experience in credit control, accounts receivable management, or financial analysis, preferably in the FMCG industry or a related sector.

Strong understanding of credit risk assessment principles, credit policies, and collections procedures.

Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build rapport with customers and internal stakeholders.

Analytical mindset and attention to detail, with the ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.

Proficiency in accounting software, ERP systems, and Microsoft Excel for data analysis and reporting.