Kerry Logistics are currently recruiting for a Credit Controller (Maternity Leave Cover) working within a busy Finance department based in Trafford Park, Manchester. Title: Credit Controller (Maternity Leave Cover) Hours: 8.00am - 4.00pm: Monday to Friday with a 45-minute lunch break each day 9.00am - 5.00pm: Monday to Friday with a 45-minute lunch break each day 10.00am - 6.00pm: Monday to Friday with a 45-minute lunch break each day PURPOSE OF THE ROLE: To ensure that all outstanding debts are pursued and collected in accordance with policy, procedures and in line with performance and quality standards set out by the business, with the aim to maximize cash flow and minimize bad/doubtful debts and losses. To contact all internal and external customers by phone, with the aim to minimize resolution times, facilitate the best possible cooperation and to build relationships, with the goal of reducing overdues to acceptable levels. To support this, reduce the query positions and unallocated cash to a minimum across own portfolio of customers. To maintain all customer credit limits and to make sure all trade occurs within those limits; performing ongoing credit checking to keep limits correctly set and to seek authority from line managers to extend limits when they would go "out of policy". To ensure accurate and timely account opening based on credit information, financial information and commercial considerations; and follow up by credit checking and monitoring of own portfolio of customers on an ongoing basis; taking ownership of customer accounts holistically, not just from point of view of overdues. MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THIS ROLE: Customer portfolio management
• Effectively manage individual account portfolio, chasing due and overdue debt mainly by telephone, supported by e-mail to ensure cash collection targets are met. Take all possible effort to exceed minimum call levels, which will vary due to business needs each month Collections process management
• Independently and consistently manage the dunning cycle, including the statements, letters and any manual follow up by phone and email between events, making sure escalations to the business are performed verbally and followed up by email
• Understand and manage the direct debit process, working with the business to make full use of this facility
• Organize own workload around daily calling of customers and internal parties, using the phone as the main tool to maximize cash collections
• Accurate recording of all communication with debtors on the collections management system to allow consistent and accurate reporting on progress of KPIs
• Identify and escalate potentially high-risk accounts and situations to line management and the branches, but continue to follow up until each issue is resolved
• Monitor, assess and maintain credit limits for customers, making sure customers stay within their credit limits on daily basis, and making sure limits are appropriately set. Cash process management
• Posting daily cash receipts
• Daily processing of cash allocation, credit notes, journals and contra transfers Account opening process
• Timely opening of Party Masters and accounts for new customers
• Help ensure consistent and effective credit decisions are made, identifying and promoting best practice
• Dealing with name changes, ensuring correct registration and legal entity data is captured Credit granting process management
• Assess creditworthiness of existing or prospective clients
• Examine financials and credit history case by case (financial statements, legal documents, etc.)
• Complete ratio, trend and cash flows analyses where necessary to inform decision-making
• Adhere to Credit Policy and guidelines, and champion both across the business
• Make coherent and comprehensive verbal and written recommendations on credit limits and payment terms to stakeholders in the business Recoveries management
• Work with 3rd parties to manage the aged debt positions of the UK business
• Work with local and off-site teams to coordinate data needed in the 3rd party collections workflows Compliance
• Comply with segregation of duties to safeguard company assets and prevent fraud
• Ensure any compliance procedures and financial controls are followed to ensure integrity of the sales ledger
• Work to support the closing off each period in a timely fashion, making sure own ledger is reconciled and all cash allocated Statutory and legal obligations
• Assist in data preparation for external and internal audits, ensuring data is provided in a timely manner Stakeholder management
• Cultivate and maintain effective relationships with the key Sales and Operational stakeholders, with a view to make sure the right credit decisions are made on consistent basis
• Being able to relay complex information to non-financial audience
• Maintain excellent communication, calling to discuss matters and follow up with email
• Proactively and independently work with the stakeholders to identify ways to reduce overdue and queries
• Identify and promote best practice in dealing with the stakeholders Standards
• Approach the role with a 'can do' and continuous improvement mindset
• Willing to go the "extra mile", views Customer Excellence as a personal objective
• Maintaining a strong working relationship with all members of staff. Qualifications
• A qualification in Business or Accountancy preferred
• High degree of IT literacy - Excel, Word, Outlook
• A student or full member of the CICM preferred General
• Adhering to all policies outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Adhering to all HR and Health and Safety policies
• Performance Development Reviews - to participate in the PDR process and to identify