CREDIT MANAGER in Commerce, California at L'AGENCE

Job Summary

The Credit Manager will lead wholesale credit assessment, accounts receivable management, cash collection and risk mitigation across all domestic and international wholesale accounts. This role partners closely with Sales, Customer Service and Operations to protect working capital, maintain strong cash flow and ensure timely order releases while supporting revenue growth.

Position Overview

The Credit Manager will lead wholesale credit assessment, accounts receivable management, cash collection, and risk mitigation across all domestic and international wholesale accounts. This role partners closely with Sales, Customer Service, and Operations to protect working capital, maintain strong cash flow, and ensure timely order releases while supporting top-line revenue growth.

Key Responsibilities

Credit & Risk Management

• Establish, review, and adjust credit limits and payment terms for multi-brand specialty boutiques and international accounts.

• Evaluate customer creditworthiness using financial statements, D&B / credit bureau reports, trade references, and factoring/credit assessments.

• Manage relationship with factoring partners or trade credit insurers (Hilldun), submitting credit approvals, monitoring credit lines, and filing claims when applicable.

• Regularly review aging accounts and recommend bad debt allowances, write-offs, or escalation pathways for legal collection.

Collections & Order Release

• Manage daily collections workflows, proactively contacting overdue accounts via phone and email to secure timely payments.

• Review daily wholesale order holds in the ERP system (Full Circle), collaborating with Sales to resolve credit holds, past-due balances, and chargebacks without compromising shipment schedules.

• Negotiate and monitor structured payment plans for distressed or delinquent accounts while minimizing exposure.

Cash Applications & Chargeback Management

• Oversee accurate application of wire transfers, ACH payments, checks, and credit card charges to customer accounts.

• Investigate, track, and dispute wholesale retailer chargebacks, compliance deductions, markdown allowances, and return discrepancies in coordination with Customer Service and Logistics.

• Maintain clean customer reconciliations and provide statements of account regularly.

Reporting & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Prepare and present weekly/monthly AR aging reports, Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) metrics, cash collection forecasts, and high-risk account summaries to finance leadership.

• Partner with the Sales team during seasonal market/order-writing periods to ensure customer credit availability aligns with anticipated booking volume.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: 5+ years of progressive wholesale credit and collections experience, with at least 2–3 years in the contemporary fashion, apparel, or wholesale retail sector.

• Industry Knowledge: Deep familiarity with department store vendor portals (Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, etc.), factoring institutions, and specialty boutique retail credit dynamics.

• Systems: Proficiency in apparel/retail ERP and EDI/portal workflows. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, SUMIFS) strongly preferred.

• Communication & Negotiation: Firm yet diplomatic communication style capable of preserving delicate customer relationships while enforcing payment terms.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent practical experience. NACM (National Association of Credit Management) certification (CBA, CBF, or CCE) is a plus.

The preceding functions have been provided as examples of the types of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different position and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Competencies & Skills

• Working knowledge of department store vendor portals (Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, etc.), factoring institutions and specialty boutique credit practices.

• Proficiency in apparel/retail ERP systems and EDI/portal workflows.

• Advanced working knowledge of Excel (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables, SUMIFS) strongly preferred; proficient in MS Office.

• Clear, professional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to enforce payment terms while maintaining strong customer relationships.

Physical Requirements:

• This position is an office position that requires frequent use of a computer, mouse and keyboard.

• Frequent sitting.

• Occasional standing, bending, stooping.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.