Credit Team Leader

Credit Team Leader
We have an exciting opportunity for a Team Lead, to provide support the Credit team to plan, organise staff and control the Credit Control team. Provide ongoing accounts /credit control support to Branch Network and to work harmoniously with the other members of the Reece credit management team doing this to achieve company vision and Greatness + Growth strategy. We are looking for a considered and engaged credit professional, with experience in all facets of Credit.

Reporting to a Group Credit Manager, you will be an accomplished communicator and Change Champion who can quickly adapt to a high-volume processing environment and work accurately within expected timeframes.

Managing a team of up to Six (6) Credit Control Officers, you will be required to be hands on with all-round accounts duties, any Oracle Cloud base experience would be an advantage, customer support & driving process improvements.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Staff**
- Responsible for the supervision of the activities of credit control staff
- Ensure we have adequate staff trained to perform the functions of the department
- Ensure the capabilities/calibre of the staff is such that we have natural succession in place for all department function
- Encourage all staff to embrace the R10 values

**Receivables Function**
- Assist the national credit manager
- All customer payments received are deposited on the day they are received
- Ensure the payments received are allocated to the correct customer
- Ensure the payments allocated are aged and matched correctly
- Any payments received that do not match are followed through with the customer/branch in a timely manner
- Ensure the department staff assist customers (and branch staff) with general account enquiries in a positive and cooperative manner

**Credit Control**
- Ensure that the branch managers within the allocated state(s) are aware of and actively pursue late paying customers by referring them to the branch trial balance/immediate collection and associated reports
- Set, maintain and approve credit limits for new and existing customers
- Listen to and respond to branch queries and problems regarding the collection of overdue accounts (assist the branch)
- Generate credit control reports for senior management and branches, e.g.
- Branch Trial Balances (and, exception reports on request)
- Regional and Operations Managers exception reports
- National Credit Manager and Board reports by the designated date
- Identify potential unacceptable credit risks (from customer behaviour patterns, industry information and or investigation etc and inform/advise the relevant branch management team
- Take responsibility for the credit control of major accounts within the state(s), with the home branch manager
- Identify those customers that are to be covered by debtor insurance and ensure we have adequate insurance cover in place
- Coach branch managers/assistant managers in branch credit control
- Negotiate directly with debtors where appropriate
- Organise telephone collections of overdue accounts
- Ensure reminder and/or demand letters are sent at appropriate intervals
- All incoming dishonoured cheques are dealt with in a timely manner.

**Debt Recovery**
- Coordinate and control the debt recovery process for the allocated state(s)
- Initiate legal proceedings against identified debtors and oversee the process to the final outcome of the proceedings
- Ensure that there is appropriate debt recovery action in place for all accounts classified as bad debt (where circumstances allow)
- There is to be a “soft file” for each legal action containing all relevant documents, ensure all “legal accounts” are correctly coded and reported
- Liaise with the collection agency and/or solicitors on the most appropriate action to take in relation to debt recovery
- Ensure Reece is represented in the highest ethical and professional standard
- 5. General Department Administration
- Ensure department meetings are recorded and action sheets sent to the National Credit Manager
- Take part in CIP teams when appropriate

**SKILLS / EXPERIENCE / QUALIFICATIONS**
- Several years experience in credit and receivables management
- Proven ability to function in a sales focused environment (flexibility)
- Demonstrated ability to deal with argumentative customers/situations in a calm, commercial manner
- Accuracy and attention to detail
- Sound knowledge of the relevant state-based debt recovery legislation
- Experience in the performance management of staff; productivity of staff performance; morale and motivation of staff; development of staff capability
- Some exposure to accounting (bookkeeping)
- Clear verbal and written communication skills
- Competent working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel)
- Work autonomously and within a team
- Be able to represent Reece in a professional manner (external meetings, court, insolvency matters etc)

We will give you the tools and systems to successfully ful