Becky Childs
St Pauls Walden,Herts
Summary
Results-driven Credit Control Manager with knack for reducing overdue balances and improving cash flow. Streamlined debt recovery processes, leading to shorter collection cycles and increased customer satisfaction. Excellent at fostering relationships with clients and internal teams to ensure smooth financial operations.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
30
30
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Credit Control Manager
International Institute of Anti Ageing
11.2018 - 12.2024
- I began as a Senior Credit Controller and am now the Credit Control Manager
- I am responsible for three Team members and since starting I have reduced the DSO from 68 days to 43 days on average and have increased cash collection on Sterling by 15.87% and on Euros 92.16%
- I am responsible for chasing late payments, agreeing credit limits and agreeing payment plans and instalments for customers
- I also issue claims on behalf of the company and deal with the clients in administration and all areas of litigation
- At year end I am responsible for write offs and reconciling the accounts and providing information for the Auditors
- I have implemented a chase letter cycle and a Festive instalment process along with implementing the criteria for credit account applications and am currently writing working procedures and a credit policy
- Reviewed contracts and agreements, ensuring consistency in terms of payment schedules.
- Liaised with sales team to resolve customer queries and issues.
- Developed strategies to improve debt collection rates.
- Streamlined processes, increasing operational efficiency.
- Collaborated with external agencies for effective debtor management strategies.
- Implemented automated processes, optimising workflow efficiency.
- Reduced outstanding debts with strict enforcement of payment terms and conditions.
- Improved efficiency by implementing new credit control systems.
- Negotiated repayment plans, reducing the number of delinquent accounts.
- Chased overdue invoices by liaising directly with clients.
- Managed a team of credit controllers for enhanced productivity.
- Ensured compliance with financial regulations and standards at all times.
- Maintained customer relationships whilst ensuring timely payments.
- Identified potential risks by meticulously analysing customer credit data.
- Advised senior management on credit policy matters and risk management.
- Worked closely with finance department to maintain accurate records and reports.
Credit Services Team Leader
Impellam Group PLC
01.2003 - 01.2008
- I began as a Credit Controller for National Accounts and was responsible for chasing invoices, resolving queries and working to a target
- I was promoted to the Litigation Coordinator (Senior Credit Controller band) and became responsible for the setting up of new accounts, maintaining Credit Limits and reviewing payment terms along with the whole Litigation process from ‘Letter before action’ to Enforcement and regularly attended court hearings to defend a claim
- I was again promoted to Credit Services Supervisor and was now responsible for all previous tasks along with Sales Ledger and supervising three members of staff
- This includes cash allocation, customer statements, new account set ups, limit and terms increases, chasing letters and bank reconciliations
- On average we allocate approximately £100m+ a month in multiple currencies
- I also am responsible for the Litigation process for my department including chasing overdue debt, negotiation of disputes, issuing legal claims and following the legal process through to Enforcement action and liaising with Solicitors and attending Court Hearings to defend the claim, chasing bad debt and resolving any issues to avoid potential legal action
- I also deal with Administration/Insolvency write offs, reporting on legal costs spend and recovery of costs, along with bad debt write offs, Proof of Debts and arranging payment plans
- I am targeted on cash collection and 90 day debt for a Legal Ledger of £200k+ a month
- I am responsible for my teams monthly 1-2-1’s, Team Meetings and twice yearly PDR’s along with running month end KPI’s and cash reports
Temporary Credit Controller
12.2002 - 04.2003
- During this period I signed on with Hays and temped in various companies whilst actively looking for a permanent placement
Sales Ledger Supervisor
Geemarc Communications Ltd
11.2001 - 11.2002
- I was responsible for raising invoices and credit notes, account reconciliation, dealing with returned items, customer relations, invoice queries, cash allocation, managing accounts, cash collection, working to targets and deadlines and collating information
Junior Credit Controller
Avnet EMG Ltd
12.1997 - 11.2001
- I was responsible for credit clearing new accounts, account reconciliation, invoice queries, 90 day cash collection and a ledger of approximately £200k a month
Office Administrator
The NB Group
03.1995 - 10.1997
- I was responsible for general administration duties of the office and assisted the Managing Director and Company Secretary with the running of two premises
Retail Worker / Hair Stylist
07.1994 - 03.1995
- I have worked in numerous retail premises during my last years of school and financially assisted myself through college
- I have also worked as a hair stylist with responsibilities such as customer service, stock control, banking and dealing with cash
Education
First Aider at Work Course -
St Johns
Level 2 Certificate in Credit Management -
CICM
Level 2 Customer Relations and Cash Collection -
CICM
Level 2 Negotiation & Influencing unit -
CICM
Advanced telephone collection techniques -
CICM
Level 2 Telephone Collection unit -
CICM
Negotiation & influencing skills -
CICM
Essential telephone collection techniques -
CICM
Level 3 Cash Collections -
CICM
Personal Skills Workshop -
CICM
Getting started in Credit Control & Collections -
CICM
Essential Management -
CICM
Advanced Debt Recovery through the Courts -
CICM
Telephone Collection Techniques Workshop -
CICM
Debt Recovery through the Courts -
CICM
First Aider at Work -
St Johns
Mental Health First Aider -
St Johns
Skills
- Microsoft Office
- Claris Works
- Filemaker Pro
- Sage Financial Controller
- Microsoft Publisher
- SAP V22
- SAP V40
- Sage (in French)
- Mondas R32k
- Tempest
- Topaz by Safe Financials
- Alloc8
- SQL
- Business Central
- Credit control techniques
- Collection strategy development
- Credit scoring systems
- Resilience in stressful situations
- Debt recovery knowledge
- Customer relationship management usage
- Legal knowledge
- Decision-Making competence
- Invoicing control
- Leadership aptitude
- Receivables management
- Confidentiality assurance
- Credit policy implementation
- Collections strategy development
- Debtor targeting
- Understanding of insolvency procedures
- Constructive feedback
- Negotiating terms
- Critical thinking competency
- Relationship Management
- Debt recovery
- Project leadership
- Calm under pressure
- Account reconciliation
- Chaser
- Debt management
- Credit insurance claim handling
- Payment plan negotiation
- Debt reconciliation
- Credit check management
- Effective negotiation
- Consumer collection
- Credit limit management
- Credit terms and conditions
- Debtor days reduction
- Credit control training
- Credit analysis
- Customer account reconciliation
- Account dispute resolution
- Telephone collections
- Payment acceptance
- Final demand issuing
- Accounts receivable ledger management
- Customer credit limit advice
- Customer credit checks
- Cultural awareness
- Interpersonal communication
- Strategic planning
- Resourcefulness
- Conflict Resolution
Accomplishments
Received The Flying Start Award and The Peoples Choice Award in 2018 at IIAA
Timeline
Credit Control Manager
International Institute of Anti Ageing
11.2018 - 12.2024
Credit Services Team Leader
Impellam Group PLC
01.2003 - 01.2008
Temporary Credit Controller
12.2002 - 04.2003
Sales Ledger Supervisor
Geemarc Communications Ltd
11.2001 - 11.2002
Junior Credit Controller
Avnet EMG Ltd
12.1997 - 11.2001
Office Administrator
The NB Group
03.1995 - 10.1997
Retail Worker / Hair Stylist
07.1994 - 03.1995
First Aider at Work Course -
St Johns
Level 2 Certificate in Credit Management -
CICM
Level 2 Customer Relations and Cash Collection -
CICM
Level 2 Negotiation & Influencing unit -
CICM
Advanced telephone collection techniques -
CICM
Level 2 Telephone Collection unit -
CICM
Negotiation & influencing skills -
CICM
Essential telephone collection techniques -
CICM
Level 3 Cash Collections -
CICM
Personal Skills Workshop -
CICM
Getting started in Credit Control & Collections -
CICM
Essential Management -
CICM
Advanced Debt Recovery through the Courts -
CICM
Telephone Collection Techniques Workshop -
CICM
Debt Recovery through the Courts -
CICM
First Aider at Work -
St Johns
Mental Health First Aider -
St Johns
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