As someone who speaks to credit managers every day about their careers, it’s fascinating but not surprising how everyone is motivated by different things when it comes to deciding on a career opportunity. We are all humans at the end of the day!
There are some things that we do think should be considered as part of everyone’s decision-making. As we know, credit control as a discipline is quite universal. Credit control managers are not a ‘one size fits all’ – different credit managers are more suited to different working environments – which is why we thought it would be good to summarise some of the things that we think you need to think about as a Credit Control Manager.
As a credit control manager, evaluating job opportunities is a critical decision-making process. Credit control departments serve as the financial backbone of organisations, responsible for efficiently managing receivables and ensuring prompt payments.
However, the pressures faced in these roles can vary significantly based on many factors. It is essential to recognise that credit control is a dynamic function that adapts to factors such as the industry, profit margins, company operational context and financial goals.
In this article, we will explore how these factors should influence your decision when considering new job opportunities in credit control.
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Industry or Sector
The industry or sector in which a company operates plays a pivotal role in determining the nature of pressures faced by its credit control department. When evaluating a job opportunity, consider the context of how the company operates or the sector they operate in:
High-Risk Industries: Industries prone to economic fluctuations and project delays, such as construction or manufacturing, may exert higher pressure on credit control managers to enforce stricter credit policies and minimise the risk of bad debt.
Service-Based Industries: If the prospective employer operates in service-oriented sectors like IT consulting or marketing, you may need to balance client relationships with timely payments, as these sectors often rely on flexible credit terms for long-lasting partnerships.
Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: In healthcare, credit control managers must navigate the complexities of insurance claims and government reimbursements, which can add administrative challenges to the role.
Profit Margins
Understanding the profitability of a company is crucial in evaluating the credit control environment:
Low-Profit Margins: Companies with narrow profit margins tend to adopt more aggressive debt collection strategies. They prioritise prompt invoice settlement and often enforce strict credit policies to manage cash flow effectively.
High-Profit Margins: Organisations with healthy profit margins may offer credit control managers more flexibility. They might provide extended credit terms or encourage building long-term customer relationships with flexible payment options.
Company Operational Context
Evaluate the operational context of the prospective employer:
Small vs. Large Businesses: Smaller companies may require credit control managers to optimise processes with limited resources and staff. In contrast, larger corporations often have dedicated teams and advanced tools at their disposal.
Domestic vs. International: Consider whether the company has international operations, as this could introduce added complexities due to different legal and cultural factors affecting credit control.
Customer Diversity: Assess the diversity of the customer base. A diverse customer portfolio with varying payment behaviours may necessitate the ability to implement tailored credit control strategies.
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Financial Goals
Understand the financial goals of the prospective employer and how they align with your career aspirations:
Growth-oriented: Companies focused on expansion may prioritise increasing sales over stringent credit control. This approach may involve accepting higher credit risk to drive growth.
Profit Maximisation: Organisations aiming to maximise profits might adopt conservative credit policies to minimise the risk of bad debts, which could result in slower sales growth.
Debt Reduction: If the company is striving to reduce debt burdens, the credit-control manager’s primary goal may be to expedite debt collection and improve cash flow.
In conclusion, as a credit control manager evaluating new job opportunities, it is crucial to recognise that credit control departments face diverse pressures influenced by industry, profit margins, operational context, and financial goals. Your decision should align with your career objectives and the specific challenges and dynamics of the organisation.
Successful credit control management involves striking a balance between maintaining customer relationships and ensuring timely payments. By considering the various factors discussed in this article, you can make an informed decision when presented with career opportunities, ultimately contributing to your professional growth and the financial success of your future employer.
If you’re at a stage where you want to consider new opportunities, we’re happy to have a more in-depth confidential conversation with you about this. We have various career opportunities in the sector that we’re working on now that we can discuss.