Credit Team Lead, Europe

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Overview:

As the Europe Credit Management Assistant Manager, will be responsible for overseeing and leading the credit management team within the Europe Region.
The individual will lead a team of credit professionals, managing the credit review process, conducting in-depth financial analysis, and continuously monitoring customer credit profiles. The role requires a deep understanding of the regional customer base across Europe, identifying key market and industry trends to help assess risk effectively. In addition to credit reviews, this role also entails analyzing financial statements, evaluating payment behavior, and making data-driven decisions on credit limits & payment terms. They will also manage complex customer accounts and reduce the likelihood of bad debt by implementing proactive measures to mitigate financial risk, including close coordination with Sales and Finance teams to support overall revenue growth while maintaining financial stability.

Key Responsibilities
Credit Reviews & Financial Analysis:
• Lead the process of reviewing and assessing customer creditworthiness, including the evaluation of credit reports, financial statements, and payment history
• Conduct detailed financial analysis to determine the credit limits, terms, and conditions for customers based on their financial health and risk profile
• Assess industry-specific risks by leveraging knowledge of the economic landscape in various European countries and understanding regional market conditions that may impact customer payment behavior.
• Collaborate with senior management to evaluate major credit decisions and provide recommendations for high-risk customer
• Ensure that credit decisions are based on accurate financial analysis, including ratios, cash flow, and profitability.
• Conduct regular credit reviews to ensure accounts are monitored and updated accordingly, adjusting terms and conditions when needed based on changes in financial health or market conditions.

Team Management & Collaboration:
• Work closely with Sales and Operations teams to balance risk mitigation with business growth objectives. Collaborate with these teams to understand customer dynamics and ensure that credit decisions support the overall sales strategy.
• Use data-driven insights to forecast future credit risks and advise the leadership team on necessary adjustments to the credit policy.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, and development opportunities to the team members.
• Drive performance, collaboration, and engagement within the team, fostering a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with collections agencies to ensure timely, efficient recovery of overdue accounts, overseeing the escalation process when internal collection efforts are insufficient

Reporting & Metrics:
• Report on credit-related activities, financial performance, and KPIs to senior management.
• Work closely with regional finance leaders to understand regional dynamics and adjust strategies accordingly.
• Set team objectives and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure targets are met.
Training & Knowledge Sharing:
• Develop and lead training programs for business units on best practices for customer data management, ensuring they understand how to leverage customer data for enhanced retail operations and customer engagement.
• Participate and lead on all projects related to Customer Master Data. Actively participate in UAT, SRT for any IT related projects & implementations, proactively assess challenges.
Process Improvement & Automation:
• Identify opportunities to streamline and automate Credit Management processes to improve efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance data quality.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance credit review accuracy, timeliness, and reliability.

Experience:
• 8+ Years of Experience in managing Europe region credit management with at least of 5 years of experience in people management.
• Must have - knowledge on unique dynamics of European customers and regional market financial analysis experience.
• Experience in working within a multinational organization, especially in managing cross-border data compliance
• Knowledge of data privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA is a plus.
Skills:
• Proficiency in financial reviews and D&B similar reports. ERP systems (SAP preferred)
• Familiarity with local and international credit management standards and ethical debt collection practices.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to communicate and influence at all levels of the organization and with outside supplier.
Qualification:
• Education: Masters / bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance & Accou