Credit Control Manager

Company Description

Xeinadin was established in 2019 when a number of leading business advisory and accountancy practices across the UK and Ireland came together to re-imagine the future of accountancy. Our collective mission to provide locally forged, trusted business advice to SMEs through forward-thinking, close-knit relationships remains pivotal to our growth. It's our people who drive our business forward, and we offer them future-focused career opportunities whilst supporting individual specialisms. Our regional offices of over 3000 colleagues operate collaboratively, combining collective expertise to maximise potential.

Description

The Credit Control Manager is responsible for leading the daily credit control function, ensuring effective debt collection, strong debtor governance and consistent application of Group credit control policies and procedures. The role is accountable for team leadership, aged debt management, cash collection performance, reporting, credit risk oversight, process compliance and stakeholder engagement.

The successful candidate will work closely with operational and finance teams to improve cash conversion, minimise bad debt exposure and maintain accurate client account records while driving continuous improvement across credit control processes and systems.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Performance

• Lead, coach and develop the Credit Control team, establishing clear priorities, objectives and performance standards.
• Drive a proactive collections culture focused on maximising cash collection and reducing aged debt.
• Monitor team workloads, productivity and service levels, addressing issues and escalating material risks where appropriate.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Debt Collection & Aged Debt Management

• Oversee the collection of outstanding client debt, with particular focus on aged, high-value and higher-risk balances.
• Ensure all collection activity is undertaken in accordance with Group policies and procedures.
• Manage escalation processes, including Stop Supply, pre-legal and legal recovery actions where required.
• Oversee payment arrangements, ensuring appropriate approvals, documentation, monitoring and follow-up actions where agreements are not met.
• Support the timely resolution of issues impacting debt collection and cash recovery.

Credit Policy, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure the Credit Control Policy and associated controls are applied consistently across all collection activities.
• Oversee company credit checks and ongoing credit risk monitoring to support informed decision-making and risk mitigation.
• Maintain appropriate documentation, approval processes and audit trails for key credit control decisions.
• Identify and escalate emerging credit risks, recommending actions to minimise financial exposure.

Systems, Automation & Client Account Governance

• Oversee effective utilisation of CCH and other systems for debtor management, collection activity, statement production and reminder automation.
• Ensure client account information, billing details and collection records are maintained accurately and consistently.
• Monitor account exceptions and ensure prompt investigation and resolution.
• Support the implementation of process improvements, automation opportunities and standardised credit control practices across the function.

Disputes, Complaints & Stakeholder Management

• Ensure invoice disputes, client queries and credit control complaints are recorded, investigated, escalated and resolved in accordance with agreed procedures.
• Build effective relationships with Directors, Partners, Finance teams and operational stakeholders to support debt collection objectives.
• Maintain clear ownership and accountability for actions required to resolve collection barriers.
• Communicate collection risks, issues and required actions effectively to key stakeholders.

Bad Debt, Provisions & Write-Offs

• Review aged and high-risk balances and support the bad debt provisioning and write-off process.
• Ensure write-off requests are appropriately evidenced, approved and recorded in accordance with policy.
• Identify trends and emerging risks within the debtor ledger and recommend mitigation actions.
• Support the reduction of bad debt exposure through effective collection and escalation strategies.

Reporting, Controls & Continuous Improvement

• Prepare and review regular reporting on aged debt, cash collections, payment plans, disputes, bad debts, write-offs and other key performance indicators.
• Provide meaningful insight and recommendations to Finance leadership and operational stakeholders on collection performance and risks.
• Monitor performance against targets and identify opportunities to improve cash collection and debtor management.
• Drive continuous improvement through enhanced processes, system optimisation, automation and team development.
• Support wider finance initiatives and projects as required

Key Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven experience within Credit Control, Collections or Accounts Receivable, including experience leading or managing a team.
• Strong understanding of debt collection processes, aged debt management, payment arrangements, credit risk assessment and debt recovery procedures.
• Experience of operating within a fast-paced, customer-focused and performance-driven environment.
• Experience of working with finance and credit control systems, including debtor reporting and workflow management.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to motivate, develop and manage high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management abilities, including confidence handling challenging conversations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret debtor reporting, identify risks and prioritise actions effectively.
• High attention to detail and a strong controls and compliance mindset.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong commercial awareness and sound judgement in balancing customer relationships with collection objectives.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, together with confidence using finance and credit control systems.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across Finance, Operations and senior management teams.

Additional Requirements

Desired Qualifications

• Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) qualification or membership, or equivalent professional credit management qualification.
• Degree qualification in Finance, Accounting, Business, Commerce or a related discipline.
• Equivalent significant practical experience in senior credit control or collections management will also be considered.

Desired Attributes

• Positive and pragmatic leadership style.
• Commercially minded with strong decision-making capability.
• Resilient, organised and able to perform effectively under pressure.
• Customer-focused whilst maintaining firm and consistent credit control standards.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a passion for process enhancement, automation and data quality.
• Proactive, collaborative and results-oriented approach to achieving cash collection and business objectives.

Benefits

Benefits

• Company Pension Scheme
• 25 days of annual leave + bank holidays
• Additional annual leave days from certain levels of seniority
• Ability to buy up to 5 days of annual leave to reach a maximum of 30 days per annum
• Business closure over Christmas*
• Life Assurance x4 annual salary
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Enhanced Company Sick Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24/7 support, free and confidential
• Corporate Discounts Platform

Flexible Benefits platform with ability to opt-in to various insurances (level of seniority dependent & self-funded at corporate rates) such as:

• Critical Illness Cover
• Cash plan
• Cycle to work
• Eye care
• Dental

*subject to exceptions and business needs