Credit Manager

PURPOSE OF THE JOB

To manage and control the organisations credit granting process, ensuring that credit risk is effectively evaluated, monitored, and minimised while enabling sustainable sales growth and maintaining healthy cash flow.
The role ensures compliance with company policies, legal requirements (including the National Credit Act), and effective collection of accounts receivable in line with working capital objectives.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Educational Qualifications

• National Diploma or Bachelors Degree in Finance, Accounting (NQF 7).
• Credit Management Diploma (Institute of Credit Management of South Africa – highly advantageous).

Experience

• 5–8 years of progressive experience in credit control or credit management.
• Minimum 5 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Experience in a manufacturing and/or FMCG or sales-driven environment preferred.
• Proven experience in managing large debtor books and trade credit risk.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES

Credit Risk Management

• Develop and maintain the companys credit policy and procedures.
• Conduct credit assessments and evaluate new and existing customers.
• Approve or recommend credit limits and terms in line with policy.
• Monitor credit exposure and portfolio risk regularly.
• Maintain updated customer risk ratings and ensure compliance with credit terms.

Accounts Receivable Management

• Oversee daily debtor collections and allocate payments accurately.
• Review the age analysis weekly and take corrective actions for overdue accounts.
• Negotiate and manage payment arrangements where necessary.
• Work closely with the sales team to address disputed invoices.
• Recommend write-offs and provisions as per company policy.

Customer Relationship & Support

• Communicate credit terms clearly to customers.
• Resolve customer account queries promptly.
• Liaise with the sales department to align credit decisions with commercial strategies.
• Support customers with documentation and payment arrangements when required.
• Attend key account review meetings to manage credit-related risks.

Contract Administration

• Oversee and ensure the effective management of the contract administration process, including contract tracking, document control, renewals, and closures.
• Monitor that all contract-related documentation is maintained accurately, securely, and is audit-ready.
• Ensure that key contract milestones, renewals, and closures are tracked and actioned on time and custodians notified.
• Review periodic reports on contract status, compliance, and risks, and ensure that corrective actions are implemented where necessary.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, legal standards, and regulatory requirements in all contract administration activities.
• Identify process improvements and support training or awareness initiatives for staff involved in contract administration.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders (e.g., legal, procurement, finance) to resolve escalated contract administration issues.
• Hold staff accountable for meeting contract administration KPIs (e.g., document accuracy, compliance rates, timely renewals).

Corporate Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Monitor the operation of controls and procedures in order to ensure integrity.
• Coordinate with external auditors.
• Implement changes based on audit findings.
• Ensure that all action plans are in place to address internal and external audit findings and monitor progress against these plans.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and policy frameworks within functional area to prevent fruitless, wasteful and irregular expenditure.
• Identify and monitor departmental risks and develop and maintain a risk register.
• Provide support to the Internal Auditors and respond to findings.
• Assure compliance with all SHEQ related standards, processes and procedures.
• Observe and ensure all staff comply with the provisions of all labour legislation.
• Ensure adherence to the Company Code of Ethics, Values as well as Unwritten Ground Rules (UGRs).
• Ensure alignment of financial practices and processes to relevant legislation and governance requirements and mitigate potential financial risks.
• Regularly liaise with Leadership on corporate governance, provide advice and contribute toward alignment with legislation and regulations.
• Ensure compliance with the National Credit Act and POPIA.
• Maintain accurate credit records and documentation.
• Implement and monitor internal controls over credit and collections.
• Review and update credit procedures regularly.

Reporting & Analytics

• Prepare monthly credit and debtor reports for management.
• Analyse trends in collections, bad debts, and credit exposure.
• Recommend corrective measures based on data insights.
• Support budgeting and forecasting processes.
• Develop dashboards for credit monitoring where applicable.

Contribution to Business Strategy

• Participate in strategy formulation and policy development.
• Advise management on credit trends and their business impact.
• Support product and market expansion by assessing credit risk exposure.
• Implement credit automation or digital solutions to improve efficiency.

Stakeholder Management

• Identify all potential internal and external stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders by establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and clear lines of communication.
• Represent the organisation in meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
• Solve problems creatively whilst demonstrating a high level of integrity in line with core values and UGRs.
• Provide advice and guidance on stakeholder-related matters.
• Manage relationships and expectations in accordance with policies, procedures and legal requirements.

People Management

• Ensure successful implementation of all HR policies within the function.
• Recruit and hire the correct calibre of new employees timeously when vacancies arise.
• Provide suitable training and management development to optimise staff potential.
• Ensure ongoing training and development of employees.
• Monitor and measure employee performance through appraisals and performance objectives.
• Identify development areas and implement corrective action plans.
• Address employee relations matters fairly and promptly.
• Manage and improve communication and relationships within the function.
• Act as custodian of company values and organisational culture.
• Ensure compliance with labour legislation.
• Ensure employees have clear job profiles, targets and goals.
• Ensure employees have the necessary resources, skills, tools, and information.
• Proactively align future talent needs through succession planning and capacity building initiatives.
• Align with BBBEE strategy and ensure all targets and deliverables are met.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE & REQUIRED SKILLS

• Strong knowledge of credit risk assessment, credit policy, and collections management.
• Solid understanding of the National Credit Act and POPIA.
• Financial analysis and interpretation of customer financial statements.
• ERP system proficiency (SAP, Syspro, Oracle, or similar).
• Advanced MS Excel and reporting skills.

CORE BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND ATTRIBUTES

• Effective problem-solver.
• Strong analytical ability.
• High integrity and ethical standards.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to deal with uncertainty.
• Keen eye for detail and results-driven approach.
• Goal-orientated.
• Innovative and creative.
• Team-orientated.
• Able to operate in an uncertain, non-deterministic environment.
• Assertive.
• Resilient.
• Works well under pressure.
• Embodies Company Values and Policies.
• Strong financial acumen.
• Strong general business acumen.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Strong negotiation and networking skills.
• Ability to be proactive and predict business and market needs.