Credit Manager

SUMMARY:
To manage and control the organisation’s credit granting process, ensuring that credit risk is effectively evaluated, monitored, and minimised while enabling sustainable sales growth and maintaining healthy cash flow.

POSITION INFO:

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.

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.

• 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.

VALUES

• Honesty and Integrity
  Mutual Respect, Trust and Dignity
  Openness and Transparency
  Participation, Co-operation and Teamwork
  Performance and Accountability
  Passion and Commitment

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.