Permanent - Debtors Controller - Ekurhuleni (East Rand) - South Africa

Job Summary

• To manage the collection of outstanding debts while maintaining strong relationships with high-volume retail and wholesale accounts.
• The Debtors Controller optimizes cash flow by ensuring timely collections and resolving invoice disputes within a fast-paced retail supply chain environment.

Detailed Duties & Responsibilities

• Collections Performance: Execute systematic collections processes to secure timely payments from cash buyers, wholesalers, and retail trade networks.

Deduction & Claim Management:

• Investigate, reconcile, and resolve customer deductions related to advertising rebates, distribution centre shortages, or promotional discounts.

Credit Risk Oversight:

• Review credit applications, analyse credit bureau reports, and prepare recommendations for customer credit limit adjustments for review by the CFO.

Credit Insurance Compliance:

• Manage customer accounts within limits set by trade credit insurers (e.g., CGIC), ensuring timely reporting of overdue accounts.

Ledger Reconciliation Execution:

• Perform payment allocations, balance customer accounts monthly, and distribute accurate statements to the commercial client base.

Delegated Authority & Financial Limits

• Account Hold Release: Authorized to release blocked orders up to R100,000 for accounts within credit parameters.
• Credit Note Authorization: Authorized to verify and process administrative credit adjustments up to R20,000, subject to management approval.
• Settlement Arrangements: Authorized to recommend structured payment terms for delinquent accounts to the CFO for formal sign-off.

Competency Matrix

• Core Competencies: Assertive communication, complex account reconciliation skills, risk analysis capabilities, negotiation proficiency, and dispute resolution.

Performance Targets (KPIs)

Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
Average collection period for the commercial receivables’ portfolio.

Aged Debt Control
Overdue debt percentage tracking for profiles over 60 days.

Claim Resolution Efficiency
Turnaround time for resolving customer claims and shortages.

Unallocated Cash Minimization
Management of unallocated receipts within the debtor’s ledger.

Credit Insurance Alignment
Adherence to credit insurer notification deadlines.

Job Specifications

• Minimum Qualifications: National Diploma in Credit Management (Credit Management Part 1, 2 & 3 via ICM) or equivalent financial qualification.
• Experience: 4 to 6 years of experience managing high-volume commercial debtors, specifically handling major national retail accounts (e.g., Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Makro) and trade credit insurance processes (e.g., CGIC).
• Technical Knowledge: Credit control principles, commercial retail claims procedures, logistics deduction reconciliations, and ERP accounts receivable sub-ledgers.