Credit Officer – Agrochemicals at Talent Nexus

Our client is a well-established Agrochemicals Company in Nairobi. They are looking to hire a mature, competent and results oriented Credit Officer.

The purpose of this position is to manage the credit control function and ensure effective management of the company’s debtors’ accounts.

Key Responsibilities:

Credit Control

• Review the company credit procedures and develop and implement enhancement where required.
• In conjunction with Sales and and Finance & Administration Manager, design appropriate credit limits for each customer.
• Manage the outstanding sales balances by designing and implementing an appropriate means of collections while ensuring the Direct Debit Payment System among corporate clients is appropriately monitored and documented.
• Ensure credit limits are adhered to as per regulations existing at the time.
• Keep the company up to date with new credit management procedures and techniques.

Debtors Records / Information

• Ensure that master file data relating to credit management in the accounts receivable ledger is accurate and up-to date at all times.
• Reconcile transactions and balances on a fortnight basis to ensure accurate debtors accounts.
• Ensure that payments are correctly allocated, to appropriate accounts and against the appropriate invoice(s).
• Ensure that set procedures and control of invoices, credit notes etc. are followed.
• Be the custodian of the company debtors’ record for the overall debtors’ asset portfolio.
• Maintain accurate and up to date clients’ accounts records by setting up and maintaining client files.
• Obtain and maintain sufficient information to assess the credit worthiness of new and existing clients.
• Ensure statements are sent to customers by first day of every month

Reporting

• Prepare monthly aging analysis for Ledger account balances.
• Ensure that confirmation of clients’ accounts balances are properly prepared and mailed to customers within the required time.
• Ensure that the monthly evaluation report on the collection target by company clients and field sales team is ready by first Monday of the month.
• Prepare monthly collection forecasts and aged debt analyses to be presented to the Director by the last day of the month.

Debt Management

• Proactively follow up payment of outstanding invoices and ensure credit allocated to customers is monitored and controlled effectively.
• Optimize cash flow by reducing average collection days within company’s policies and procedures.
• Handle any disputed accounts to ensure that payments are in line with company credit policy.
• In liaison with customer service and field sales staff, investigate and resolve queries on customer accounts.
• Initiate and enforce ‘Stop Supply Orders’ to overdue accounts.
• Negotiate payment schedules with bad debtors, clients in financial difficulties and/or arrange for goods possession or re-possession to cover for the outstanding debt.
• Handle any disputed accounts to ensure that payments are in line with the company credit policy.
• Recommend/Justify debt write-offs to the management in line with laid down regulations.
• Identify bad debt accounts requiring assistance from a collection agency or legal action and co-ordinate collections with such third party contractors.

Required Qualifications, Skills & Competencies

• Bachelor’s Degree/ Diploma in a finance related field
• Qualifications in CPA will be an added advantage
• At least 4 years of credit control experience, preferably in a reputable debt collection agency
• Proven track record of achieving collection targets
• Excellent communication and people skills
• Excellent negotiation skills
• Self driven
• Must have a clean driving license