Credit and Cash Application Manager

Ecolab; Selangor; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Ecolab is seeking a Credit and Cash Application Manager to lead the Credit Management and Cash Application team in Kuala Lumpur, ensuring robust risk assessments and timely payment processing. You will drive key projects, optimize processes, and mentor staff to achieve performance targets across the region.

The role requires strong analytical, stakeholder management, and Lean Six Sigma mindset, with experience in SAP/Oracle environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business studies, accounting, or finance.
• Minimum 5 years in Credit & Cash Application or equivalent.
• Experience leading change and continuous improvement projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead credit risk analysis and reviews using financial data and external reports.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Manage accurate, timely processing of customer payments and reconciliation.

Skills

Credit management

Cash application

People management

Process improvement

Lean Six Sigma

Stakeholder management

SAP/Oracle

Excel/MS Office

Audit coordination

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, or finance

Tools

SAP/Oracle

MS Excel

Job description

The Credit and Cash Application Manager will lead and oversee Credit Management and Cash Application team to deliver:

About the Role

Accountable for developing, implementing and maintaining sound credit policies and processes to ensure outstanding service to internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Accountable for leading credit risk analysis and reviews including financial information obtained from external sources (financial statements, credit reference agencies reports etc.).
• Responsible for identifying and leading continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provides input to establish departmental vision and objectives, identify/prioritize project work, and drive key initiatives to execution.
• Accurate and timely processing of customer payments in accordance with company policies, procedures, and service level agreements. Drive team performance, compliance, and continuous improvement to support business and regional objectives.
• Manage Credit management processes ensuring smooth flow of activities for different locations in scope of the Credit Risk Team. Ensure compliance with established rules and policies.
• Review and approve credit risk analysis including risk categories, credit limits, etc.
• Be engaged in analysis and improvements of the credit risk mitigation processes using best industry practices.
• Ensure strong collaboration with different stakeholders and parties.
• Identify and drive process efficiencies by identification of areas prone to automation or other technological enhancements.
• Manage Credit Management Team located in Kuala Lumpur (including goals setting, coaching, training, succession planning etc.).
• Be a partner for Business Divisions in credit risk-related matters.
• Act as the first point of contact for external, internal and SOX audits related to Credit Management processes.
• Cooperate closely with the Regional Management to drive different Pan-Regional initiatives.
• Closely monitor KPIs and make sure that they meet agreed standards. Propose remediation steps in case of discrepancies.
• Detect, analyse and elevate all process and tasks that are not working properly or need to be improved.
• Make sure that internal controls work accurately and efficiently.
• Act as a strong strategic partner in transition and process design projects.
• Ensure posting accurate, timely allocation of customer payments and swift resolution of reconciling items within agreed service levels (SLAs).
• Monitor unapplied and unidentified cash, tracking receipt posting turnaround times to implement effective action plans for continuous improvement.
• Track and analyze key departmental metrics, including Auto-Match rates and Unapplied Cash aging, to drive accountability and optimize team performance.
• Manage regional stakeholder expectations through proactive communication and transparent reporting, ensuring effective conflict resolution to minimize escalation risks.
• Maintain a rigorous control environment, ensuring full adherence to internal controls, SOX requirements, and global financial policies.
• Coach and mentor team members through robust performance management, succession planning, and engagement strategies to build a high-performing, resilient team.
• Lead process transitions and system migrations, ensuring all deliverables are met within scope without disruption to business continuity.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external audits, providing precise documentation and timely responses to ensure clean audit results.
• Partner with cross-functional teams within the Shared Service Center (SSC) to ensure seamless month-end closing and financial reporting.
• Drive APAC-wide process standardization and automation initiatives, reducing manual intervention and significantly increasing operational throughput and data accuracy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business studies/ accounting or finance.
• Min 5 years operational experience in Credit & Cash Application
• Proven track record of managing change and leading continuous improvement projects

Required Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to manage, motivate, and develop a diverse team in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment.
• Minimum of 2 years in a people-management role
• Experience supporting SEA, North-Asia and ANZ markets
• Experience in shared service center or BPO environment is an added advantage.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated "process improvement" mindset (knowledge of Lean Six Sigma or similar methodologies is an advantage).
• A collaborative leader with a high degree of accountability, capable of managing complex stakeholder relationships in a fast-paced environment.
• Business and technology acumen within AR/Credit process.
• Excellent understanding of the critical success factors for Shared Service Center.
• Knowledge and understanding of SAP/Oracle financial processes.
• Advanced Microsoft Office Suite Excel, Word, Outlook software.
• Fluent English in speaking and writing.
• Customer service, process improvement, people and project management skills.
• Lean / Six sigma qualification will be an asset.
• Ability to manage diverse stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking and operational delivery.