- The Senior Credit Control Officer will play a crucial role in managing the company's accounts receivable portfolio. The primary objective is to ensure timely collection of outstanding debts, minimize bad debt risk, and maintain positive relationships with our customers. This role requires a proactive individual with strong analytical and communication skills who can balance effective debt recovery with excellent customer service .
Debt Recovery & Collections:
- Proactively follow up on overdue accounts via phone calls, emails, and formal letters to ensure prompt payment from customers .
- Negotiate payment plans and settlements with customers in a professional and ethical manner to resolve outstanding balances .
- Investigate and resolve discrepancies related to non-payment of invoices, collaborating with internal teams and customers as needed .
- Manage and execute the debt recovery process for all assigned accounts, ensuring adherence to company policies.
Credit Control & Risk Management:
- Assess the creditworthiness of new and existing customers by conducting financial analysis and credit checks .
- Establish and regularly review credit limits and payment terms for customers to mitigate financial risk .
- Monitor accounts receivable aging reports and identify potential bad debts, implementing appropriate actions to minimize losses .
Reporting & Administration:
- Prepare and present regular reports on accounts receivable status, overdue debts, and collection performance to management .
- Reconcile customer accounts on a monthly basis, ensuring accurate allocation of payments and timely issuance of receipts .
- Maintain accurate records of all communications, payment plans, and actions taken regarding customer accounts .
- Ensure timely submission of Statements of Account (SOA) and other relevant documents to customers .
- Liaise with internal departments such as Sales, Finance, and Operations to ensure a seamless billing and collection process .
- Build and foster strong relationships with customers to encourage timely payments and resolve disputes constructively .
Qualifications & Requirements
To be successful in this role, the candidate must meet the following criteria:
- Education: A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree (B.Sc./HND) in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field .
- Experience: At least 2-4 years of proven experience in a credit control, debt recovery, or similar role .
- Strong knowledge of credit control processes and accounts receivable management .
- Excellent negotiation and communication skills with a firm but professional approach .
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail .
- Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and handle difficult conversations calmly .
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, is required. Experience with accounting software and reporting tools is an added advantage .
- Must be a self-motivated, independent, and fast learner capable of working with minimal supervision .
- Must reside in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.