1.  KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Credit Risk Management

• Analyse credit applications and trade references to assess the creditworthiness of prospective and existing distribution customer.
• Establish, evaluate, and adjust credit limits and payment terms at least annually, informed by comprehensive risk assessments, purchasing volumes, and historical payment performance.
• Place strategic credit holds on delinquent accounts and release them promptly once compliance is met.

Collections Management

• Direct and oversee the daily operations of the accounts receivable cycle, ensuring accurate and timely application of customer payments.
• Lead proactive collection efforts for high value and aged accounts, negotiating payment plans, settlements, or pursuing legal action/third-party collections when necessary.
• Oversee the reconciliation of customer accounts, resolving disputes related to pricing, short pays, or distribution shortages.
• Reconcile complex customer accounts.
• Collaborate transparently with stakeholders across the organization to resolve disputes that delay payment.

Sales Partnership & Communication

• Collaborate closely with Sales Managers and Sales Representatives to support and achieve collection targets.
• Conduct monthly AR review meetings with the sales and executive teams to communicate portfolio health and highlight high-risk accounts.

Reporting & Compliance

• Generate weekly and monthly AR aging reports, DSO calculations, and cash flow forecasts for executive leadership.
• Ensure all credit policies and procedures comply with relevant financial regulations.

Records Management & Filing Supervision

• Ensure the effective and secure maintenance of critical customer documents, including customer invoices, proof of deliveries (PODs), and payment records and other relevant documentation.
• Maintain an organized filing virtual and manual system to guarantee quick retrieval of documents for audits, dispute resolution, and compliance purposes.

Investigations & Legal Representation

• Act as the official representative for the company at legal proceedings, mediations, and court hearings pertaining to debt recovery, bankruptcies, and credit disputes.
• Assist in and direct internal or external investigations concerning financial discrepancies, account fraud, or high-risk, severely delinquent accounts.

Occupational Health and Safety

• Assist in the identification, development and provision of appropriate health and safety related information, instruction and training for all employees (i.e.; first aid and disaster workshops).
• Adhere to safety systems, policies, plans, and procedures to ensure a safe working environment;
• Report workplace hazards to responsible personnel
• Collaborate with responsible personnel to ensure your safety hazards that have been reported are resolved swiftly eliminate threats to mitigate against unsafe working conditions for you and team members.
• Communicate, compile and submit reports on any accidents and incidents

Leadership

• Clearly define and communicate department objectives.
• Promote, create and enforce company policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at all times
• Set departmental objectives/KPIs, review and assess ongoing performance of direct reports
• Prepare monthly report on the departments’ operations based on set KPIs.
• Ensure that the function operates in accordance with all health, safety and environmental policies and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of self, staff and visitors
• Establish and enforce service delivery standards for each role and member within the department.
• Develop team programs to support the organisation’s business strategy.
• Provide a motivating work environment to support the team and other departments where necessary.
• Ensure all relevant training is carried out in a timely manner and recorded by employee acknowledgements.