MULTI-TASKING – OUR EXPERT GUIDE

So, You Want to Be a Credit Manager? Here's What You Need to Know

So, You Want to Be a Credit Manager? Here's What You Need to KnowCredit Management isn’t just about chasing payments — it’s about protecting the lifeblood of a business: cashflow. To help future finance leaders get a real feel for what it’s like to step into a Credit Manager role (and thrive!), we asked current Credit Manager, Philip Holborough to share their honest thoughts in our Voices of Transactional Finance Leaders Series. In this article, Philip talks about everything from the challenges he’s faced along the way, to the skills and attitudes that really make a difference. He also gives a glimpse into how the role is changing, what impact technology like AI might have, and why having a "bulldog attitude" could actually be one of your biggest assets. Whether you're just starting out or aiming for the next step in your career, their advice is packed with real-world lessons you won’t want to miss.What do you think future leaders should prioritise or focus on most in order to successfully make themselves appointable as a Credit Manager?Debtor payment trends. Regardless of industry the key to successful Credit Managers is analysis of payment performance – this is often the biggest tell-tale sign of potential payment issues in the future.What are both the best and the most challenging aspects of being the Credit Manager of a fast-paced business? Blending Credit with Sales. Often the two don’t mix well – but open, frank and honest conversations where clarity of objectives is understood on both sides will help in a very challenging environment.What are your opinions about the relationship between a Credit Manager and the FC/CFO and CEO? What is critically important in building a successful partnership and providing the right support to the FC/CEO/CFO? A good CFO will recognise the importance of a Credit Manager – not always the case with CEO as they are often more strategic and commercial in their approach and less likely to be open to credit conversations over sales performance.What new key skills or attributes do you think the next generation of Credit Managers are going to need to develop? Tenacity. Both internally and externally. “The squeaky wheel gets the oil!” Don’t be afraid to offer opinions based on gut instinct and past experience. You will earn the respect of the business very quickly if you are able to nail your colours to the mast! Are new technologies like Artificial Intelligence having much of an impact on your role as Credit Manager yet? What impact do you think they will have over the next few years? AI frightens me – but I recognise the importance of some labour-saving aspects. A computer will never get someone to pay a bill – only a human voice can do that.Is it possible to maintain a reasonable work life balance at Credit Manager Level or do you have to accept that there will be personal sacrifices in order to progress to that level?Clear boundaries are very important. CM can be a stressful occupation – you must be able to separate these to ensure no burn out!Away from core credit knowledge, what personality traits have been critical to your success as a Credit Manager? Are these natural or have you worked on developing them?The willingness to not let go! Bull dog attitude – obviously with respect to the customer and the wider business. Don’t give up.What is the one single best piece of advice you were given early in your career that still holds true today? “Show me the money!” Cashflow is critical to any business large or small – the Credit manager is the custodian of this process.If there’s one thing Philip’s advice makes clear, it’s that being a great Credit Manager is about a lot more than just ticking boxes. It’s about sharp instincts, real tenacity, clear communication, and a relentless focus on cashflow — all while building strong relationships across the business. The role might change over time, especially as new technologies come into play, but the core principles stay the same: know your numbers, trust your gut, speak up when it matters, and never lose sight of the bigger picture. For anyone thinking about a career in Credit Management (or already on the way), these lessons are pure gold. Take them on board, keep learning, and remember — the best Credit Managers aren’t just protecting the cash, they’re helping to drive the whole business forward. Looking for your next career move in finance or accountancy? At Sharp Consultancy, our expertise lies in matching your potential with the perfect temporary, interim, or permanent position. With a well-established presence in Leeds and Sheffield, our seasoned team of consultants extends their services across Yorkshire and beyond. Don't wait for opportunity to knock, reach out to us TODAY and let's chart your career path together.

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Top of many potential employers’ list is a candidate who is able to multi-task. But there is a huge difference between juggling several tasks at once without making much headway and being able to completely manage your workload.

Master the art of multi-tasking and you’ll become more efficient at work, improve your performance and grow your career.

Are your expectations achievable?

Take time to plan out your week in advance and make sure that what you set out to do is realistic and achievable. The satisfaction of powering through your to-do list will be far more motivational than staring at a long list of tasks that are never likely to get completed.

Be realistic with your time

Time is a hugely important factor when it comes to your ability to multi-task; firstly you must be realistic about how much time each task will genuinely take to complete to the right standard and secondly, you have to be sensible about what time you have available to you. If you know you are going to be attending several meetings during the week, plan out how you can best use your remaining time to avoid rushing to get things done or missing deadlines.

Write things down

It can be easy to forget about a particular task so write a list by whatever method works best for you – there’s lots of helpful online tools available and for some, nothing beats a simple handwritten list. Taking the time to think through what needs to be done will reduce the likelihood that something will slip your mind.

Get your priorities right

Look at each task in terms of how long it will take and what deadlines you are working towards. Also consider whether you need information or input from elsewhere to enable you to move forward. If you require contributions from other team members, make sure you ask for these with plenty of advance notice so they can plan their own workloads accordingly.

Try not to worry about what you are not doing

Having a clear focus on the task in hand is essential so try to allocate each task on your to-do list to a particular day of the week or time of the day. Knowing that you are not going to work on XYZ until later in the week will allow you to concentrate more effectively on what is your current priority.

Two birds with one stone...

Look for efficiencies by grouping similar tasks together. For example if you know you need to speak to several clients across the week, try to set aside a morning or afternoon to schedule these all in to avoid repeatedly breaking off from other tasks.

Give yourself a break

Multi-tasking isn’t about burning yourself out or rushing through tasks as quickly as possible. Make sure you take regular breaks – including a proper lunch break – you will be more likely to keep a clear head and complete tasks more accurately and efficiently.

Avoid distractions

It can easy to become distracted from the task in hand and emails are one of the most likely causes. Allow yourself regular points in the day to check your emails rather than reacting to every notification as they come in and take you away from what you are doing.

Communicate

Let your colleagues know if you need some quiet time and if possible, move to a different area of the office or pop in some headphones to reduce the sound of others. If you want to avoid being disturbed, ask for messages to be taken on your behalf or set your phone to voicemail.

Also remember to communicate regularly with your team to make sure that your timeframes are coordinated to avoid any last minute panics or repeated requests for updates.

Be disciplined with your time

Unless something needs your immediate attention, try to stick to your proposed schedule as much as possible. It can be worth keeping a little time free during each day to deal with things that need to be looked at more urgently or that crop up unexpectedly.

It’s OK to say no

Sometimes it simply isn’t possible to squeeze something else into your day – and that’s OK. It’s better to say what is possible from the outset rather than agree to every request and produce work of a lower standard or miss a deadline completely.

Sharp Consultancy specialises in the recruitment of finance and accountancy professionals. With offices in Leeds and Sheffield our highly experienced team of consultants recruit for temporary, interim and permanent roles across the full spectrum of positions throughout Yorkshire and beyond. CONTACT US today and speak to a member of our team about your next career move.