Credit Controller EMEA

Phenna Group; Leicester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Phellena Group is seeking a Credit Controller to oversee overdue accounts for its Spanish and Italian entities. You will chase payments, assess credit applications, and collaborate with Sales, Invoicing and Operations to resolve disputes.

The role requires English proficiency plus Spanish or Italian, and prior credit control experience. You will support month-end activities and ensure compliance with GDPR and EU directives.

Qualifications

• Fluency in English with professional proficiency in either Spanish or Italian, required.
• Previous experience in credit control or a similar finance role is essential.
• Strong understanding of credit management processes and techniques.

Responsibilities

• Monitor customer accounts across Spain and Italy; flag overdue balances and manage terms.
• Contact customers in Spain and Italy via phone, email and local channels to chase payments.
• Negotiate structured payment plans with Southern European clients to recover debt.
• Assess new customer credit applications using local registries and business filings.
• Collaborate with Sales, Invoicing and Operations to resolve billing disputes.
• Allocate incoming payments, credit notes, and region-specific payment instruments.
• Assist month-end closing and perform reconciliations for Spanish and Italian entities.
• Support external audits with documentation and transaction trails.
• Generate aging, cash collection and debt risk reports for senior management.
• Follow GDPR and EU Late Payment Directive compliance in daily tasks.

Skills

Credit control

Accounts receivable

Communication

Negotiation

Attention to detail

Tools

Excel

Financial software

Job description

Phenna Group was founded in 2018 on the principles of building genuine connections and relationships with businesses in the testing, inspection, certification and compliance sector across a range of industries and markets. Whilst we are a business of scale, with turnover of c.£0.5bn, core to our ideology is to be free of the inefficiencies and bureaucracy typically seen in large corporates, creating a dynamic and innovative group that delivers services to a global, diversified client base.

Purpose of Role

Reporting to the Senior Credit Controller, the Credit Controller is responsible for the collection of overdue debts in a timely and professional manner, improving working capital efficiency and minimising credit risk through the effective monitoring and assessment of customer accounts and their creditworthiness.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Monitor Customer Accounts: Systematically track customer accounts across Spanish (S.A./S.L.) and Italian (S.r.l./S.p.A.) entities, promptly flagging overdue balances and managing ledger terms aligned with local commercial practices.
• Customer Communication: Contact customers in Spain and Italy via phone, email, and formal local channels (Burofax in Spain; certified email PEC or Raccomandata A/R in Italy) to chase payments and maintain key relationships.
• Negotiate Payment Plans: Agree on structured payment plans (planes de pago / piani di rientro) with Southern European clients to recover outstanding debt while preserving ongoing commercial partnerships.
• Credit Assessments: Evaluate new customer credit applications across Spain and Italy, assessing creditworthiness via local business registries and intelligence tools (Informa D&B, Cerved, or Camera di Commercio filings).
• Collaborative Problem-Solving: Partner with Sales, Invoicing, and Operations to swiftly resolve billing disputes and handle invoice rejections within mandatory national e-invoicing platforms (FACe / Veri*Factu in Spain, SDI in Italy).
• Cash Allocation & Payment Instruments: Accurately allocate incoming electronic payments, credit notes, and region-specific payment instruments (SEPA Direct Debits, Pagarés in Spain, and Ri.Ba. in Italy) to maintain real-time account balances.
• Month-End Support: Assist the General Ledger team with month-end closing, performing account reconciliations for Spanish and Italian entities in accordance with local group reporting timelines.
• Audit Support: Prepare account documentation and transaction trails for annual external audits, ensuring compliance with local tax authority requirements (AEAT in Spain, Agenzia delle Entrate in Italy).
• Reporting & Analysis: Generate regular aging, cash collection, and debt risk reports, highlighting high-risk accounts or market trends in Southern Europe for senior management.
• Compliance & Policies: Adhere to internal credit control guidelines, EU data privacy laws (GDPR), and regional commercial regulations including the EU Late Payment Directive.

Requirements

• Fluency in written and spoken English, alongside full professional proficiency in either Spanish or Italian, is required.
• Previous experience in credit control or a similar finance-related role is essential.
• Strong understanding of credit management processes and techniques.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build strong relationships.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and reporting.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel. Experience with financial software is a plus.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Phenna Group is an Equal Opportunities Employer