The Credit Manager oversees the credit-granting process, evaluates creditworthiness, and manages risk exposure for an organization. This role involves analyzing financial data, setting credit limits, implementing collection strategies, and leveraging credit risk technologies to minimize bad debt while optimizing revenue. Key Responsibilities
1. Credit Risk Assessment & Approval

• Evaluate credit applications (individuals, SMEs, corporates).
• Analyze financial statements, cash flow, and payment histories.
• Assign credit ratings using scoring models (e.g., FICO, Credit Bureau data).

2. Credit Policy Development & Compliance

• Establish credit policies aligned with risk appetite.
• Ensure compliance with NCA (National Credit Act), FICA, and SARB regulations.
• Monitor B-BBEE compliance in lending practices.

3. Portfolio Management & Risk Mitigation

• Track delinquent accounts and implement recovery strategies.
• Conduct stress testing on loan portfolios.
• Recommend provisions for bad debt (IFRS 9 impairment modeling).

4. Debt Collection & Recovery

• Oversee collections team and third-party agencies.
• Negotiate payment plans with high-risk clients.
• Manage legal recoveries (summonses, judgments).

5. Stakeholder Reporting & Communication

• Prepare credit risk reports for executives and regulators.
• Present portfolio performance to audit committees.
• Liaise with sales teams on credit terms for clients.

6. Technology & Automation

• Use credit risk software (Moody’s CreditLens, Experian Decision Analytics).
• Implement AI-driven credit scoring (machine learning models).
• Automate collections workflows with CRM tools (Salesforce, SAP Collections).

Required Skills & Competencies
Technical Skills
✅ Credit Analysis: Financial ratios (DSCR, LTV, debt-to-income)
✅ Regulatory Knowledge: NCA, FICA, IFRS 9, Basel III
✅ Risk Modeling: PD (Probability of Default), LGD (Loss Given Default)
✅ Data Tools: SQL, Power BI, Advanced Excel (PivotTables, VLOOKUP)
✅ Credit Bureau Systems: TransUnion, Experian, Compuscan
Soft Skills
✔ Negotiation & Conflict Resolution – Handling difficult client discussions
✔ Attention to Detail – Spotting financial red flags
✔ Decision-Making Under Pressure – Balancing risk vs. revenue
✔ Leadership – Managing collections/underwriting teams Qualifications & Certifications
Mandatory:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or Risk Management (BCom, BSc).
• Honours/Postgraduate Diploma in Credit Management (Preferred).

Professional Certifications (Highly Valued):

• Certified Credit Professional (CCP) 
• FRM (Financial Risk Manager) 
• CA(SA)/CFA