ATS CV for Credit Managers — Proven, Recruiter-Ready Layout

Start by stating your credit portfolio scope in plain numbers: for example, £50M–£100M ledger value, number of customers (e.g., 600–1,000), and whether it is B2B, B2C, or mixed. Include ageing band ownership such as 0–30/31–60/61–90/90+ and confirm how you translate that into exposure decisions and credit limit governance. Mention the workflow you used to manage approvals, for example SAP credit management modules or Sage processes for AR controls, so ATS can match both role intent and system capability. Where relevant, reference credit bureau screening such as Experian or D&B and explain how that feeds credit scoring and customer risk ratings for ongoing review.

Recruiters look for evidence that you can control risk without blocking commercial growth. Describe your approach to setting, reviewing, and adjusting credit limits based on payment behaviour and risk signals, including how you handle anomalies like disputed invoices or sudden payment delays. If you use dashboards or reporting, cite tooling such as Excel PivotTables, Power Query, or automated KPI packs produced for Finance leadership. Add one certification line if applicable (e.g., CICM) and connect it to your day-to-day governance, such as improving credit policy adherence or strengthening collection prioritisation.

Explain DSO improvement with a before-and-after KPI and the operational levers you used, for example: “Reduced DSO from 67 to 49 days in 12 months by prioritising collections by ageing band and introducing consistent escalation triggers.” Show how you managed overdue accounts through structured contact plans, customer payment terms checks, and timely dispute resolution. Reference tools such as SAP for AR status tracking, and Excel for trend analysis of payment performance by customer segment. If you use reporting cadence, mention weekly KPI packs and the specific metrics included, such as overdue rate and percentage of invoices over 60/90 days.

Demonstrate that you can balance firmness with collaboration by describing negotiations with customers and sales stakeholders to secure payment plans. Use concrete examples of outcomes, such as reducing 90+ days exposure or increasing cash collected within standard terms, and avoid vague statements like “improved collections.” If you employed automation or workflow changes, cite the system activity (e.g., SAP workflow steps or Sage allocation rules) rather than only describing the concept. Include how you measured success, for example tracking collections effectiveness index, promise-to-pay achievement, and reduction in overdue rolling balances across quarters.

Clarify your bad debt controls by stating your write-off governance process and the KPI results you achieved. For example: “Reduced bad debt/write-offs from 0.45% to 0.25% by tightening credit limits, improving early-warning thresholds, and escalating non-payment using defined criteria.” Mention how you worked with Finance to agree provisioning inputs and how you documented decisions for audit readiness. If credit insurance was part of your protection strategy, describe how you selected insured exposures, maintained eligibility, and supported claim submissions using policy terms and evidence from AR records.

Include escalation and recovery activities in a credible, technical way: customer formal reminders, legal referral criteria, and management of disputes or short payments. Reference how you used credit bureau data from Experian/D&B to support risk decisions, and how that fed into credit scoring updates or review frequencies. If you have experience with litigation coordination, describe it as governance and liaison (e.g., preparing case packs and evidence) rather than claiming direct legal authority. Where possible, quantify outcomes like reduction in overdue rate beyond 90 days, improved recoveries on aged debt, or fewer policy rejections in credit insurance claims.

Show that you can turn credit knowledge into repeatable policy and reporting. Describe how you maintain credit policy documentation (terms, limit rules, review intervals, escalation ladders) and how you ensure stakeholders follow it across onboarding and renewals. Mention tools used to keep information accurate, such as SAP master data governance, Sage reference data controls, and Excel templates for credit reviews. Add a KPI reporting example, such as monthly portfolio reviews including utilisation, exposure by risk band, and trends in DSO and overdue.

Highlight stakeholder management by explaining how you collaborate with Sales to balance commercial relationships and risk appetite. Include your approach to data quality and audit trails, for instance maintaining consistent invoice dispute categorisation and reconciliation of AR ageing movements. If you have leadership experience, note responsibilities such as coaching collections team members, setting targets, and ensuring adherence to credit control processes. Finally, include any relevant professional development, such as CICM study progress or continuous improvement activities connected to credit control governance.