Credit Controller

About JLA Group

JLA Group specializes in critical infrastructure solutions, providing services in Laundry, Catering, Heating, Fire Safety, Infection Control, and Air Conditioning. Their Total Care service offers comprehensive on-premise machine supply and maintenance. With a strong sales and operations team, JLA fully owns and manages its assets ensuring daily support to customers.

Joining JLA means access to extensive employee benefits, including health and wellbeing support like a 24/7 wellness app, Employee Assistance Program, mental health first aiders, and up to eight counseling sessions available remotely or in person. Employees benefit from a free onsite gym and discounted gym memberships, company sick pay, life assurance coverage, a pension scheme, free office parking, eye care vouchers, cycle-to-work schemes, and access to exclusive staff discounts.

JLA promotes work-life balance with 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, flexible working options, and enhanced family leave policies. They foster growth and recognition through a colleague recognition scheme, career development support, training, and offer up to £1,000 bonuses for employee referrals.

Role Overview

The Credit Controller position involves managing a portfolio of accounts to collect outstanding customer payments and reduce aged debt in a challenging, fast-paced environment. The role emphasizes continuous improvement and teamwork with opportunities to influence process enhancements and future strategies.

Key Responsibilities

• Accurately logging invoice queries for the Query team to manage.
• Recording payment promises to support precise cash flow forecasting.
• Maintaining timely invoicing through consistent and focused telephone communication.
• Managing a customer portfolio to maximize cash collection through effective relationship management.
• Prioritizing daily tasks to balance customer service and financial targets.
• Working closely with internal teams to support customer success and negotiate payments.
• Collaborating with managers to propose strategies for challenging accounts.
• Processing payments via debit or credit card.
• Forecasting cash collections alongside team leaders and department heads.
• Proposing next steps for unrecoverable debts.
• Performing other duties as necessary.

Candidate Criteria

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Consistent track record of meeting debt collection targets.
• Proven ability to manage debt effectively to resolution.
• Excellent telephone communication skills.

Preferred Experience

• Handling defaults and following relevant procedures.
• Maintaining clear and organized customer activity records in finance systems.
• Proficiency in MS Excel.
• Experience working under pressure in busy office environments with tight deadlines.
• At least 2 years in a similar credit control role.
• 3+ years managing high-value customer accounts.
• 3+ years handling high-volume, low-value accounts.
• Advanced Excel skills, including use of Lookup and Pivot tables for reconciliation tasks.
• Experience in change management and process improvement.

Personal Qualities

• Ability to prioritize workload and work effectively under pressure.
• Capable of being both approachable and assertive with clients to resolve queries and secure payments.
• Keen attention to detail and precision.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities within a changing environment.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Positive, adaptable work attitude.
• Strategic thinker, confident in presenting ideas to stakeholders.