Senior Credit Controller

Informa is a leading international events, intelligence and scholarly research group.

We’re the specialist’s specialist. Through hundreds of powerful brands, we work with businesses and professionals in specialist markets, providing the connections, intelligence and opportunities that help customers grow, do business, make breakthroughs and take better informed decisions.

Informa is listed on London Stock Exchange and a member of FTSE 100, with over 11,000 colleagues working in more than 30 countries.

Informa’s divisions include:

Informa Connect, a specialist in content-driven events and digital communities that allow professionals to meet, connect, learn and share knowledge.

Informa Intelligence, providing digital intelligence and data-based products, consultancy and research services that help businesses in specialist markets make better informed decisions, spot opportunities and gain competitive edge. 

Informa Markets, creating platforms for international markets to trade, innovate and grow. Through over 500 leading brands, our exhibitions, specialist digital content and data solutions allow customers operating in specialist markets to meet and trade, and for their businesses and markets to thrive. 

Informa Tech, a division bringing specialism in technology. We aim to inspire the global technology community to design, build and run a better digital world through research, media, training and events that inform, educate and connect businesses and professionals working in technology.

Taylor & Francis, specialist in scholarly research and in helping academic and research communities make new breakthroughs.  We commission, curate, produce and publish scholarly research and reference-led content in specialist subject areas, helping to advance research and enabling knowledge to be discovered and shared.

Global Support is Informa's sixth division, with major hubs in the United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong and Singapore as well as several smaller locations.  As the team behind the teams, Global Support colleagues provide shared, efficient business services and function-specific expertise to each of Informa's operating divisions, enabling our commercial teams to focus on their markets and customers.

The purpose of the role is to collect all monies owing to Informa within collections policies and procedures to ensure that collection targets are met and to also collect monies owing from customers who have exceeded credit limits or terms to minimize bad debts.

You must be able to maintain a caring, efficient, knowledgeable, and effective interface with customers and colleagues always, resolve customer queries, and collect payments within credit terms while maintaining and enhancing hard-won customer relationships.

You must ensure that all company policies are adhered to and that specific duties are carried out within set time limits while providing an excellent level of service to all Informa customers and colleagues.

Key Responsibilities:
The Credit Control Senior Specialist is expected to assume the following key responsibilities plus any other reasonable duties as required:

• Ensuring customer portal is highlighted to customers when contacted.
• Responsible for collecting all monies owing to Informa within credit control policies and procedures to ensure that collection targets are met.
• Collect monies owing from customers who have exceeded credit limits or terms to minimize bad debts.
• Carry out a step-by-step schedule for collections and follow-ups. This should include a rule on sending invoices immediately and following up with letters, emails or phone calls and outdoor visits.
• Build close internal and external relationships with Sales and customers.
• Responsible for ensuring all customer contact notes are entered and updated into SAP or the appropriate system.
• Manage the outstanding sales balances falling due and contact customers to obtain payment before the event start date if applicable to your division.
• To resolve queries in a timely fashion and collect aged debt to minimize bad debt provision.
• Manage simple disputes through FSCM and escalate complex disputes to the Team Leader.
• To achieve the monthly cash collection targets set for your specific section of accounts.
• Responsible for looking after any unallocated cash items sitting on your set of accounts and working with the Cash Application team to have the monies applied if you can get the appropriate backup from the Customer.
• Responsible for providing weekly reports to the Business detailing current levels of debt if applicable for your division.
• Responsible for checking customer credit ratings.
• Responsible for AR/ Debt provision reconciliations.
• Assist the finance team with internal and external audit requirements.
• Provide/complete necessary documentation to customers to ensure the payment can be processed (vendor request forms, W9, W8, residency forms, tax exempt certificates, withholding tax certificates, etc.).

• Good knowledge and understanding of all Credit & Collections processes.
• Knowledge of best practices in customer service operations.
• A good knowledge of the SAP system is an advantage.

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent communication skills at all levels including a wide range of stakeholders within the business.
• Continuously drives & improves processes & systems.
• Excellent problem-solving skills,
• Be proactive, take initiative, and encourage teams to do the same.
• Knowledge and ability to use relevant internal systems.
• Act with integrity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Excellent influencing skills.
• Highly organized, and diligent with attention to detail and the ability to maintain these skills whilst working under pressure.
• Advanced skills in Excel, Word & Outlook are essential.
• Confident with presentations.
• Remain approachable under pressure.
• Work as part of a team.
• Ability to complete a variety of related tasks.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to be flexible within the role.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English & Arabic.