Credit management


Credit management is the process of granting credit, setting the terms it's granted on, recovering this credit when it's due, and ensuring compliance with company credit policy, among other credit related functions. The goal within a bank or company in controlling credit is to improve revenues and profit by facilitating sales and reducing financial risks.
A credit manager is a person employed by an organization to manage the credit department and make decisions concerning credit limits, acceptable levels of risk, terms of payment and enforcement actions with their customers. This function is often combined with Accounts Receivable and Collections into one department of a company. The role of credit manager is variable in its scope and Credit managers are responsible for:
Credit managers tend to fall into one of three groups due to the differing specialty legal and jurisdictional knowledge required:
  1. Commercial Credit Manager
  2. Consumer Credit Managers
  3. Construction Credit Managers

    Professional Organizations

Australia

Credit managers in Australia obtain memberships from the Australian Institute of Credit Management. Qualifications and continuing education can also be obtained from here.

Canada

Credit professionals in Canada can obtain the official designation, Certified Credit Professional - CCP, from the Credit Institute of Canada. This designation is slowly becoming a requirement of most corporations when choosing which individual to hire to manage their credit department.

France

Credit professionals in France can obtain memberships, continuing education and certification through the French Association of Credit Managers, called Association française des Credit Managers AFDCC.

United Kingdom

Credit managers operating within the United Kingdom can obtain accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Credit Management, called the Chartered Institute of Credit Management from 1 January 2015 after it was granted a Royal Charter.

United States

Credit managers in the United States can obtain memberships, continuing education and certification through the National Association of Credit Management. Certification levels include Credit Business Associate, Certified Credit and Risk Analyst, Credit Business Fellow, Certified Credit Executive, Certified International Credit Professional and International Certified Credit Executive.

Construction Credit Management

Construction Credit Management is considered an area of specialty as it encompasses some specific skill sets:
1) Strong knowledge of security and lien law within your province, state or territory,
2) The ability to understand how money moves through the construction pyramid,
3) People skills that go beyond traditional credit management in that the credit manager may be required to deal with Managerial and non-managerial staff of both the white and blue collar variety,
4) A basic knowledge of construction and the willingness to make site visits if needed.