Credit Manager

About the Role
This position is essential for supporting the finance department in its functions, particularly during the Director of Finance's absence. The role involves engaging both internally with team members and externally with customers, travel agencies, government entities, and auditors. Key responsibilities include managing credit procedures, investigating customer creditworthiness, and maintaining accurate documentation and records to support the finance function.

Responsibilities

• Know and observe the credit policies of the organization; assist in establishing and compiling legible and defined credit procedures for all department positions.
• Investigate customers' creditworthiness through various means and recommend credit approval or disapproval to management.
• Maintain complete records for each customer, documenting all credit research.
• Update approved credit customers in software systems, including Opera and ERP.
• Communicate names of defaulters with credit managers and the Director of Finance.
• Set and regularly review credit limits for in-house guests and City Ledger balances; forward high balance reports and follow up on discrepancies with the Front Office Manager.
• Conduct monthly credit meetings with the Director of Finance.
• Follow up on the collection of returned cheques, credit card chargebacks, and skip accounts.
• Investigate disputed charges and follow up on queries from City Ledger and credit card customers.
• Monitor AR staff to ensure ongoing documentation of all collection efforts for analysis of customer creditworthiness.
• Recommend writing off uncollectible debts after 6-12 months.
• Review and sign pro-format invoices, ensuring timely follow-ups by the responsible departments.
• Reconcile accounts receivable trial balances with general ledger accounts monthly to ensure accurate ageing.
• Ensure all transfers to City Ledger agree with the control account and audit city ledger rebates and journals prepared by AR staff.
• Verify that AR staff checks if all daily City Ledger folios are received from the Front Office, ensuring accuracy of all charges and credits.
• Ensure invoices/folios are processed promptly and interim/monthly statements are issued on time.
• Maintain supporting documents of all advance deposits and respond to client queries professionally and efficiently.
• Verify group billings and initiate payments of travel agents’ commissions based on verified reports.
• Update customer details and contacts as necessary, ensuring bills are sent with proper documentation.
• Maintain records, manage the dispatch of invoices, and prepare daily reports on no-shows and cancellations.
• Monitor staff performance through annual appraisals and report facts and figures to management monthly.
• Embrace and practice the company's values and competencies, serving as a role model for desired culture and behaviors.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a similar role.
• Background in the hospitality industry is preferred.
• Proficiency in English communication and computer skills, particularly with Microsoft applications.

Experience

• Essential:

  • Knowledge of finance and accounting processes and policies within the Middle East.
  • Experience in finance within the hospitality or customer service-related industry; hotel operation background is highly regarded.

• Desirable:

  • Previous experience in a similar role is highly regarded.

Communications

• Internal:

  • Management team and colleagues within the hotel.
  • Finance teams in other SBUs.
  • Group Finance and Regional Finance Teams.
  • Internal Auditors.

• External:

  • Finance service providers.
  • Hotel suppliers.
  • Asset Managers.
  • External Auditors.