[Hiring] Credit Control & Collections Analyst @Outforce

Role Description

The Credit Control & Collections Analyst plays a critical role in maintaining organisational cash flow through proactive management of customer accounts, and by providing detailed financial reporting, analysis and business insights to support financial decision making. The role combines accounts receivable responsibilities with data analysis, requiring the ability to identify trends, investigate anomalies and provide meaningful financial information to support the Finance team and broader business.

Key Responsibilities

• Reporting and Financial Analysis
  • Prepare regular accounts receivable, debtor performance and management reports.
  • Monitor, analyse and report on debtor activity, Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), customer payment trends and collections performance.
  • Prepare cashflow forecast schedules and supporting information based on customer payment activity, expected receipts and collection activity.
  • Extract and compile financial and operational datasets from SAP, Vend and other business systems for reporting purposes.
  • Review customer account data to identify trends, anomalies and potential credit or collection risks, escalating significant findings to the reporting manager.
  • Prepare other routine reports and analysis as required.
  • Ensure the accuracy, completeness and integrity of financial reporting data.
• Accounts Receivable and Credit Control
  • Manage an allocated portfolio of customer accounts and proactively pursue outstanding debt.
  • Contact customers via email and phone to follow up overdue accounts and facilitate prompt payments.
  • Process customer payments and accurately allocate receipts within financial systems.
  • Prepare and distribute customer statements and account correspondence.
  • Reconcile customer accounts and investigate discrepancies.
  • Investigate and resolve pricing, billing and account queries in collaboration with internal departments.
  • Raise credit notes and adjustments in accordance with approved procedures.
  • Escalate significant, aged or disputed debts promptly in accordance with procedures, and undertake recovery actions as directed.
  • Process recharge invoices and other customer invoicing requirements.
  • Maintain accurate records of collection activities and customer communications.
  • Develop and maintain positive customer relationships whilst ensuring collection targets are achieved.
  • Create and maintain customer accounts and master data in SAP, ensuring new accounts are set up accurately and promptly and customer information remains current.
  • Complete customer credit reviews, including assessment of payment history and credit information, and monitor credit limits and account performance, escalating significant credit-risk concerns as required.
• General Finance Support
  • Perform account reconciliations and other finance activities as required.
  • Provide coverage for other finance team members when on leave.
  • Participate in finance projects, data cleansing and system improvement activities as required.
  • Undertake other duties as reasonably required.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of accounts receivable, credit control, debt collection and customer account management processes.
• Demonstrated ability to work with financial and operational data, identify trends and exceptions, and prepare accurate reports.
• Good understanding of customer credit information, credit limits, payment history and credit-risk indicators.
• Strong investigatory and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate and resolve account discrepancies.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, data analysis, reporting and reconciliation activities.
• Strong systems capability with experience using financial software or ERP systems, ideally SAP.
• Ability to interpret financial and customer account information and identify matters requiring further investigation or escalation.
• Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail, particularly when maintaining financial and customer master data.
• Professional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with customers and internal stakeholders.

Requirements

• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience in an Accounts Receivable, Assistant Accountant, Credit Control or similar role.
• Demonstrated experience in accounts receivable, customer account management, reconciliations, collections and financial reporting.
• Experience working with financial systems or ERP platforms, ideally SAP, is preferred.
• Experience working within high-volume commercial, retail, wholesale or FMCG environment is highly regarded.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills are required.

Education

• Degree qualifications in Accounting, Finance, Data Analysis or related disciplines, or equivalent experience.

Personal Attributes & Characteristics

• Professional, confident and resilient with a strong customer service mindset.
• Able to communicate (verbal and written) in English to a professional level.
• Highly organised with strong time management skills, able to manage competing priorities and consistently achieve deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Proactive, resourceful and solutions-focused, with the ability to identify patterns in data and confidently escalate concerns or issues.