Credit
Functions
- Credit clerk / Credit officer
- Credit supervisor / Credit analyst
Description
Credit professionals work for the accounting department. They are responsible for applying company standards, practices and policies in terms of credit. They study customer files and track the various levels of credit granted.
Duties
> Credit clerk
- Manage new credit requests
- Open credit accounts
- Track accounts
- Contact customers to recover amounts due while observing the company's policies
- Advise and inform customers
- Prepare the reports required by loan management procedures
Credit clerks work with accounts receivable clerks and collection clerks. Depending on the size of the company, one person may be responsible for all three functions.
> Credit supervisor
- Supervise the credit clerks
- Set objectives
- Analyze risks for credit requests, and approve or turn them down
- Make sure that credit policies are observed
- Approve changes to credit data
- Participate in implementing underwriting standards
Several years of experience in credit are required to hold this type of job.
Skills
This profession requires organized, calm, methodical and results-oriented people. Negotiating skills are required, along with perseverance and the ability to establish good interpersonal relationships.
The job of supervisor requires personnel supervisory skills.
Salary
> Credit clerk
Small- and medium-sized companies:
- Up to 1 year: $31,000 to $36,000 a year
- 1 to 3 years: $35,750 to $43,000 a year
Large companies:
- Up to 1 year: $32,750 to $39,250 a year
- 1 to 3 years: $36,500 to $45,000 a year
> Credit supervisor
- Small- and medium-sized companies: $44,250 to $56,000 a year
- Large companies: $48,250 to $63,750 a year
(Source: 2010 Salary Guide / Robert Half)