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- Requires negotiation skills, and the ability to explain financial matters clearly and work to strict deadlines
- With experience and professional qualifications, get promoted to credit manager
- Option to start your own collection agency or set up as a freelance field collection agent
As a credit controller you'll work in a 'third party' collection agency, paid to collect debts from businesses or individuals, or a company's finance or credit department and chasing late payments from suppliers and customers.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Contacting individuals or business customers when payment is overdue
- Checking credit records and tracing missing debtors
- Setting up repayment plans and working with debt counsellors
- Setting up and maintaining customer files
- Processing payments
- Starting legal proceedings if debts are not paid within an agreed time
- Liaising with solicitors and bailiffs
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You may get bonuses and commission. Some employers may offer a car and fuel allowance, especially if you're working as a field collector. You'll work standard office hours, or do shifts including evenings and weekends. You'll be based in an office or a call centre.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with negotiation skills, and the ability to explain financial matters clearly and work to strict deadlines.
You can apply directly to be a credit controller, as many large companies will train you on the job. The qualifications and experience you'll need will vary, but most employers will expect you to have the ability to use spreadsheets and computerised accounts packages and experience of office administration or customer service work. A qualification in bookkeeping or accounts can also be useful.
You may be able to move into credit control after getting experience in accounts, finance, or debt collecting.
You could do a Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Financial Studies to gain experience.
Alternatively, you may be able to get into this role through a credit controller intermediate apprenticeship, or advanced apprenticeship for credit controllers and debt collection specialists.
You'll need to have a full UK or EU driving licence, held for at least 12 months to be a Credit controller.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience and professional qualifications, you could be promoted to credit manager. You could also start your own collection agency or set up as a freelance field collection agent.