What is the work like?As a credit controller or debt collection agent, you would be responsible for recovering unpaid money from businesses or individuals. You could work for a third party collection agency or debt purchasing company employed to collect debts from businesses (known as commercial collection) or individuals (consumer collection). Alternatively, you could be a credit controller in a company's finance or credit department, chasing late payments from suppliers and customers. What qualifications and experience will employers look for?Employers will expect you to have a good standard of general education and confidence with maths. You will find it useful to have computer skills and experience of office and customer service work.Some employers may prefer you to have some GCSEs (A-C) including maths, and you may have an advantage with qualifications in book-keeping or accounts (see related profiles for details).You should check with individual employers about the qualifications and experience you need for each job.What further training and development can I do?You will do most of your training on the job. Your training may cover telephone techniques, credit law, court orders and insolvency procedures.Your training may include taking qualifications from the Credit Services Association (CSA) or the Institute of Credit Management (ICM). You can study for CSA or ICM courses part-time or by distance learning. See websites for more details.You should keep your skills and knowledge of credit law up to date throughout your career. The ICM and CSA both offer a range of short courses and workshops to help your professional development.Credit Controllers, control and protect the debts owed by customers to their businesses. They are employed by companies that sell goods or services, or by organisations such as banks, building societies, hire purchase companies, and credit card companies. There are two types of credit controlleroCommercial credit controllers- involved with corporate customers oConsumer credit controllers- involved with customers who are private individuals. In large organisations, the credit control team leader may manage a team of credit controllers who carry out much of the daily administrative work, leaving the decision making and tasks that require specialised knowledge to the credit controllers.In smaller organisations, the credit manager is likely to undertake most of the work personally. There are three main areas of work: Risk assessment - involves gathering financial information on the customers creditworthiness, analysing the information, and deciding whether to offer credit to the customer. Debt collection - may include visiting the customer and offering advice, setting up systems for repayment of the debt, or instigating legal action if recovery proves difficult. Insolvency work - credit managers may be involved in insolvency proceedings, including meeting with other creditors, recovering goods, or arranging for a liquidator to wind up a company and sell off its assets. A credit controller usually works 9am - 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Longer hours may be necessary at certain times of the month or financial year. In some organisations there may be opportunities for part-time work. The work is mainly office-based, but time may be spent out of the office, visiting customers, other organisations or attending court proceedings. Credit managers may have to spend short periods of time away from home on business, and there may be some travel overseas. As a credit controller,you should: obe business focused, with a good knowledge of the local economy opossess a high level of numeracy and IT skills obe able to work accurately opossess good interpersonal and communication skills obe methodical and organised obe able to motivate staff opossess highly developed analytical and investigative skills.There are no set minimum entry requirements, but most employers will expect at least four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3).The normal route to becoming a credit manager is to start as a credit controller and progress into a management role. It may be possible to become a credit manager with experience in a related field such as banking. A growing number of employers require applicants to have the professional qualifications of the Institute of Credit Management(ICM) as well as extensive experience. There are two qualifications offered by ICM:Certificate in Credit Management - there are no formal entry qualifications to register as a student with ICM and study for this qualification. New Credit Controllers may expect to earn upwards of £16,000. Credit Controllers with experience may earn between £16,000 and £25,000. A Credit Control Team Leader can earn about £27,000Senior Credit Controllers may eventually become Credit Managers and earn up to £60,000 a year.Go here for further Credit Manager information.http://www.justaccountancyjobs.com/content-credit_controller_job_profile