Credit Control Manager

Credit Control Manager – Children’s Residential Care

Full-Time, Hybrid Contract

Location: Penrith, Cumbria

Salary:  £38,000 - £43,000

We are seeking an experienced and confident Credit Control Manager to take ownership of the credit control function within a growing children’s care organisation. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will manage an established credit controller, strengthen relationships with local authorities, and play a key role in protecting cash flow while supporting a values-driven service that makes a real difference to children and families.

This role would suit someone who has a passion for credit control, takes pride in reducing aged debt, and can bring structure, energy, and authority to a busy finance team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the credit control function day to day, with direct line management of the existing Credit Controller
• Monitor and manage outstanding invoices, ensuring timely collection and accurate allocation of payments
• Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with local authority finance teams to resolve queries efficiently and sensitively
• Review and work through older debt, implementing clear recovery plans where required
• Prepare and present debtor reports, aged debt analysis, and cash flow forecasts to senior stakeholders
• Conduct credit risk analysis and negotiate repayment plans in line with contractual and regulatory requirements
• Collaborate closely with referrals and placements teams to ensure accurate billing, documentation, and correspondence
• Ensure compliance with relevant financial legislation, safeguarding standards, and internal policies
• Review, improve, and streamline credit control processes, particularly around reporting and cash flow management
• Drive continuous improvement, bringing structure and best practice to an already stable and experienced finance team

About You:

• Proven experience in credit control, with at least a couple of years in a similar role and confidence managing debt end to end
• Previous experience managing or mentoring
• Strong understanding of debits, credits, and accounting fundamentals
• Comfortable using accounting software (experience with SAP Business ByDesign is advantageous but not essential)
• Experience working with local authorities or public sector clients
• Analytical, organised, and confident working through complex or historic debt
• Excellent communication skills, able to handle sensitive conversations without damaging relationships
• Passionate about credit control
• Ideally AAT Level 3 or 4 qualified, or qualified by experience (credit control qualifications welcomed)
• CICM qualification or equivalent desirable.
• Able to drive due to the rural office location

What’s On Offer:

• Medicash benefits, 3% pension contribution, and generous annual leave (25 days + bank holidays, increasing with service)
• Hybrid working model with flexibility
• Option to explore a four-day working week (pro-rata) for candidates who bring strong structure and processes
• Friendly, long-standing finance team with extremely low turnover
• Opportunity to genuinely own and shape the credit control function in a growing organisation
• Stable role with strong retention focus, annual pay benchmarking, and performance-based reviews

KPIs & Performance Metrics

• Debt Recovery Rate: Achieve 95% collection of invoices within agreed payment terms.
• Days Sales Outstanding (DSO): Maintain DSO at or below 30 days.
• Aged Debt Reduction: Reduce debt over 60 days by 20% within the first 6 months.
• Dispute Resolution Time: Resolve invoice disputes within 10 working days.
• Reporting Accuracy: Deliver monthly aged debt and cash flow reports with 100% accuracy and on time.
• Compliance: Zero breaches of safeguarding or financial compliance standards.
• Team Performance: Ensure credit control team meets individual collection targets and KPIs.

Contact Detail:

To apply, or for more information and an informal confidential discussion please contact Madeleine Crosley at 0161 507 5060 or [email protected]        

Compass Associates Ltd is acting as a Recruitment Consultancy for this permanent vacancy. We offer a £500 voucher for successful referrals following completion of probation.

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