Credit Controller and Accounts Receivable Specialist in Gloucester

Location: Gloucester

Working Pattern: Hybrid

At Safran, excellence is a journey - and we'd love you to be a part of it. As a trusted global leader in aerospace, defence and space, we are proud to be a company where diversity, innovation and opportunity come together to shape a sustainable future where we can all succeed through a shared vision.

Your Role

The Credit Controller and Accounts Receivable Specialist will have a dual purpose, focused on two elements: Credit Control and Accounts Receivable.

• Credit Control: The main responsibility is to help manage customer credit accounts, minimise bad debt exposure, ensure timely collection of outstanding invoices, and maintain healthy cash flow. This involves assessing credit risk, managing customer relationships, and implementing effective debt collection strategies while maintaining positive customer relationships.
• Accounts Receivable: This element involves maintaining accurate customer accounts, processing invoices, recording and allocation of customer payments, reconciling customer balances, and supporting the efficient collection of outstanding debts.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively manage and reduce aged debt across a portfolio of customer accounts.
• Chase outstanding invoices via telephone, email and written correspondence to ensure timely payment.
• Take ownership of debt collection activities, escalating issues where necessary to achieve resolution.
• Build strong relationships with customers to improve payment performance and resolve queries efficiently.
• Investigate and resolve disputed invoices, payment delays and account discrepancies.
• Negotiate payment plans and support debt recovery activities in line with company procedures.
• Monitor customer creditworthiness and support the assessment of credit risk.
• Perform credit checks and assist with setting and reviewing customer credit limits.
• Accurately forecast monthly cash collections and identify potential risks to cash flow.
• Produce and analyse aged debt reports, collection performance reports and key credit metrics.
• Maintain accurate customer account records and master data within the ERP system.
• Process and allocate customer payments, ensuring all cash receipts are accurately matched and reconciled.
• Investigate and resolve unallocated cash and account reconciliation issues.
• Support month-end Accounts Receivable activities and reporting requirements.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders and business units to improve collections and resolve customer issues.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, financial controls and audit requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve credit control processes and drive operational efficiencies.

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of accounts receivable, credit control and debt collection processes and practices.
• Knowledge of credit risk assessment.
• Financial analysis and reconciliation skills.
• Proficiency in accounting and ERP systems.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.

Behavioural Competencies

• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Commercial awareness.
• Resilience and persistence.
• Ability to work to deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Sense of responsibility.

Qualifications and Experience:

Essential

• Previous experience in credit control, collections, or accounts receivable.
• Strong understanding of credit management principles.
• Experience managing customer accounts and debt recovery activities.

Desirable

• AAT qualification or equivalent.
• Membership or study towards qualifications from organisations such as the CICM.
• Language - French (would be advantageous).
• Experience in a business-to-business (B2B) credit control environment.
• Experience with ERP Systems, SAP preferably.