Credit Manager

About the Role

This position coordinates, oversees, and manages accounts receivable and collection duties. Responsibilities include approving or declining customer credit lines, conducting credit investigations, and ensuring proper collection procedures are followed to limit losses while growing the store’s accounts receivable. The role also involves managing delinquent accounts and supervising assigned staff to maintain efficient office and credit operations.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, direct, and lead assigned staff, addressing employee concerns, directing work, and providing guidance to ensure efficient office and credit operations.
• Manage and oversee accounts receivable and collection activities.
• Review and evaluate credit applications; investigate and verify financial status and reputation of prospective customers; recommend approval or rejection of credit applications and establish credit limits.
• Contact customers via telephone or text to resolve overdue payments, review contract terms, and negotiate payment arrangements.
• Mail form letters, texts, or late charge notices to encourage payment of delinquent accounts; travel to customers’ homes for collections when necessary; assist with repossessions as required.
• Ensure all customer correspondence regarding accounts is properly documented.
• Review and analyze collection reports to assess the status of collections and evaluate the effectiveness of current policies and procedures.
• Organize and delegate collection workload based on delinquency degree and amount.
• Prepare paperwork for legal action against severely late-paying customers and submit delinquent accounts to attorneys or outside agencies with Store Manager approval.
• Maintain customer files in a fireproof cabinet, organized alphabetically and by account status (Active, Paid Out, Charge-Off, Repo, Bankrupt); ensure files are stored securely and not accessible to the public.
• Follow procedures for handling customer files and personal information, ensuring files remain in the office area and are never stored on the sales floor.
• Ensure daily bookkeeping tasks, including filing customer files, are completed by the end of each business day using the company’s Bookkeeping Checklist.
• Deposit all cash receipts into the store’s bank account daily using a night deposit bag; secure cash drawers by locking them when unattended and leaving them empty and open at night.
• Collect on returned checks and delinquent accounts.
• Maintain a work environment free of discriminatory practices and sexual harassment.
• Complete, prepare, review, or approve various forms, logs, records, reports, and correspondence related to daily responsibilities; maintain accurate files and administrative records.
• Operate office equipment such as calculators, copy machines, and telephones.
• Uphold and promote the company’s H.O.M.E. values: Helping others, developing Ordinary people to do extraordinary things, being a Motivated owner, and Ensuring excellence.
• Perform duties of the Store Manager as required and assist in other store departments when needed.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Three years of experience in accounting/bookkeeping, loan processing, and/or collections, or a combination of training, experience, and education that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Valid State Driver’s License.

Skills

• Data Utilization: Ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and assess data using established criteria, including exercising discretion to determine consequences and select alternatives.
• Human Interaction: Ability to function in a managerial capacity, making decisions on procedural and technical levels.
• Equipment Utilization: Ability to operate, maneuver, and control office equipment, machinery, tools, and materials used in performing essential functions.
• Verbal Aptitude: Ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and advisory data and information.
• Mathematical Aptitude: Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, calculate decimals, percentages, and fractions, and interpret graphs.
• Functional Reasoning: Ability to interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule-based instructions; apply principles of rational systems; and exercise independent judgment to adapt methods and standards to meet objectives.
• Situational Reasoning: Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in evaluating information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Physical Ability: Tasks require moderate physical effort, including climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting/carrying objects weighing 12-50 pounds.
• Sensory Requirements: Ability to perceive and discriminate colors, sounds, depth, and visual cues; ability to communicate orally.
• Environmental Factors: Exposure to adverse conditions such as dirt, dust, temperature extremes, electric currents, or toxic agents/chemicals may occur.