Credit Controller

Headstar; Harrogate; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid / flexible working

Private healthcare

25 days holiday

5% employer pension contribution

Employee benefits and discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Headstar is seeking a dedicated Credit Controller to own the end-to-end Accounts Receivable and credit control processes in a finance team of four.

You will chase debt, maintain ledgers, review credit limits, build customer relationships, and collaborate with Sales and Operations to keep credit lines open.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in Credit Control.
• Strong communication skills and ability to build relationships with customers.
• Confident in discussing money over the phone and by email.
• Good Excel skills and comfort with financial data.
• Experience using Sage or a similar ERP/accounting system.

Responsibilities

• Taking ownership of the end-to-end Accounts Receivable process.
• Maintaining the sales ledger and ensuring customer accounts are accurate and up to date.
• Proactively chasing outstanding debt by phone and email.
• Building strong relationships with customers and being their main point of contact for financial queries.
• Investigating and resolving invoice queries before they delay payment.
• Reviewing customer credit limits and carrying out credit risk assessments.
• Managing aged debt and escalating overdue accounts when necessary.
• Liaising with external legal partners for recovery actions.
• Producing aged debt reporting and informing the business of potential issues.
• Working with Sales and Operations to keep credit lines open when sensible.
• Using credit automation tools to improve efficiency and visibility.

Skills

Excel

Communication skills

Relationship building

Credit control experience

Phone communication

Tools

Sage

Job description

There are two types of Credit Controller; the ones who send increasingly red emails, and the ones who actually get paid.

This company is looking for the second kind. So, they need someone to take ownership of Credit Control.

You'll be joining a Finance team of four and looking after the Accounts Receivable and Credit Control process from start to finish.

What you'll be doing:

• Taking ownership of the end-to-end Accounts Receivable process.
• Maintaining the sales ledger and making sure customer accounts are accurate and up to date.
• Proactively chasing outstanding debt by phone and email.
• Building strong relationships with customers and becoming their main point of contact for financial queries.
• Investigating and resolving invoice queries before they become an excuse for something not being paid.
• Reviewing customer credit limits and carrying out credit risk assessments.
• Managing aged debt and escalating overdue accounts when necessary.
• Liaising with external legal partners where further recovery action is required.
• Producing aged debt reporting and keeping the wider business informed of potential issues.
• Working closely with Sales and Operations to keep credit lines open wherever commercially sensible.
• Using credit automation tools to make the process more efficient and give the business better visibility of its debt.
• Supporting the wider Finance team with control tasks and helping streamline monthly reporting.

The important bit is how you do it because their customers are valuable, long-term relationships.

You'll pick up the phone, you'll get to know the customers, you'll understand why something hasn't been paid, and when somebody is taking the mickey, you'll be comfortable telling them.

You'll need enough commercial awareness to understand both sides, while still remembering that cash in the bank is generally more useful than cash on an aged-debt report.

What they're looking for:

• Previous experience working in Credit Control.
• The confidence to pick up the phone and have conversations about money.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build genuine relationships with customers.
• The ability to be diplomatic when appropriate and assertive when necessary.
• Good Excel skills and confidence working with financial data.
• Experience using Sage or a similar ERP/accounting system.
• Strong organisation and attention to detail.
• The ability to manage a busy ledger and prioritise the accounts that need your attention.
• A proactive approach to spotting and resolving problems rather than waiting for somebody else to find them.

What do you get?

• An annual salary of up to £35k (depending on experience)
• Hybrid / flexible working (the opportunity for remote).
• 25 days' holiday, plus an additional day off.
• Private healthcare.
• 5% employer pension contribution.
• Employee benefits and discounts.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• A few other decent perks.