Credit Control and Recovery Manager

The Credit Control and Recovery Manager will be responsible for overseeing the debt collection and recovery processes across Malaysian and multiple foreign subsidiary offices, ensuring aligned processes, efficient recovery of outstanding debts and maintaining optimal credit control practices. This role will involve both domestic and international travel to manage and streamline collection strategies, efforts, and to foster relationships with key stakeholders and implement best practices for credit control in diverse environments. The manager will work closely with finance, legal, and sales departments to mitigate risks and improve cash flow. Key Responsibilities:

1. Stakeholder Management:
   • Build and maintain relationships with C-suit, Country GMs, Financial Controllers and Finance teams across 8 countries, 9 different industries with over 30 companies.
   • Close liaison with in-house legal teams to facilitate smooth litigation and recovery efforts.
   • Liaise with external debt collection agencies and credit bureaus where necessary to pursue difficult cases.
2. Regional Oversight:
   • Coordinate with foreign subsidiaries to ensure uniformity and efficiency in debt recovery processes.
   • Conduct regular visits to domestic and overseas offices to manage collections, provide support, and align on strategies.
   • Ensure consistency in credit control procedures across all regions.
3. Debt Collection and Recovery Strategy:
   • Lead and closely follow-up the debt collection efforts across multiple regional offices.
   • Develop, implement, and monitor strategies for effective debt recovery.
   • Negotiate payment plans and settlements with clients to reduce overdue receivables.
   • Ensure legal compliance in all debt collection practices.
4. Drive Credit Control Transformation:
   • Drive credit approval and onboarding process improvements.
   • Collection channel transformation from cash/cheque to adoption of digital payment methods.
   • Monitor Debtors Ageing to ensure proper follow-up on all cases.
   • Work with sales and finance teams to determine appropriate credit terms for new and existing customers.
   • Coordinate meetings between departments to resolve issues on roles and responsibilities and provide solution on operational issues.
   • Advisory to Write-off process and ensure requirements are aligned.
5. Reporting and Analysis:
   • Prepare regular reports on collection activities, outstanding debts, and overall credit control performance.
   • Analyse trends in collections and credit risks, making recommendations for improvement.
   • Provide insights on potential risks and strategies to mitigate them.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in credit control, debt collection, or a related role, with international exposure preferred.
• Strong knowledge of debt collection laws and practices.
• Proven ability to manage multiple regional teams and projects.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally on a regular basis.

Key Skills:

• Cost, Debt and other Negotiation and Influencing skills.
• Able to handle difficult and emphatic conversations and communications.
• Problem Solving Skills.
• Debt Management and Recovery Strategies.
• Knowledge of Legal processes.
• Proficiency in accounting software (SQL Financial Accounting) will be an added advantage.
• Ability to work independently and coordinate work with remote teams.