Extra Credit

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! When most people think of a credit professional, they picture someone focused on collecting payments and monitoring customer balances or credit scores. In reality, the job extends far beyond credit and collections.  The multi-faceted nature of the credit professional makes them an asset to the organization, facilitating com...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! The credit and sales departments both spend their days closely monitoring customers and transactions, albeit from different perspectives, making it easy for each department to recognize the needs of the other.  As the credit team works to mitigate risk by carefully considering the possible ramifications of each transaction,...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! Join us for this special Industry Insight episode with Shane Norman, CCE, senior account executive with Handle, as he discusses his 20-plus years of credit experience, and shares his perspective, both managing credit risk and now working with hundreds of credit teams nationwide.  Today we're talking about: Lessons lear...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! Join us for this week's episode on the power of proper documentation! Certain credit practices are grounded in the roots of the profession, unchanging in a dynamic field where change is constant. Documentation is one of these habits, with thorough records of even the simplest day-to-day credit decisions protecting cred...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! The nature of credit and collections requires credit managers to always keep an eye out for risk on the horizon, whether it’s concern towards a customer’s persistent cash flow issues or a weariness towards extending credit in a country with growing political instability.  Why it matters: During periods of economic uncertain...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! Sales and credit are two sides of the same coin, both aiming to grow the business, but from different perspectives. While sales focuses on closing deals, the credit team works to manage risk, ensuring customers are financially reliable and contract terms are sound. These different priorities can often lead to tension.   Whe...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! When a salesperson is pushing for a credit manager to finish their credit investigation and determine a credit line so they can close the sale, it is important that credit managers find a balance between speed and risk. Organizing the workflow within the credit department to accommodate these requests can help ease stress a...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! 🕵️‍♀️  Scene 1: The Case File Did you hear that? A company’s accounts receivable (AR) suddenly spiked. Collections slowed, and cash reserves dropped. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) smells trouble. Soon after, you’re brought in to investigate the scene of the crime. You’re left wondering... was it overdue invoices? Was it...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! Artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed how the world operates, integrating itself into nearly every facet of business. For credit departments, AI is being used to enhance email communication, draft demand letters, review contracts and even predict collection trends.  Despite its rapid advancement, AI presents signific...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! As a credit manager, you’re no stranger to difficult customers. Whether there is a disagreement over a late payment or a clash over company policies, conflict can pop up anywhere in a credit manager’s day to day work. Mastering emotional intelligence can help credit professionals de-escalate conflict and ease tensions.  Con...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! This week we are talking about building relationships outside of the credit department! The last decade has seen tremendous evolutions within the business credit field, with advancing technology transforming the credit management profession. With technology’s growing importance in modern credit processes, the relationship b...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! We’re diving into one of the most valuable tools available to global credit managers—the FCIB Credit & Collections Survey. The monthly survey serves as a global pulse check on real-world credit conditions. It gathers input from credit professionals across key international markets, on things like payment behavior, risk...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! The construction industry is a layered ecosystem where giants and startups share the same job site, each with unique risks and rules. In a highly competitive industry, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program provides marginalized businesses with a fair opportunity to compete and thrive.  However, rising fraud, s...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! The CMI documents trends in accounts receivables that could help credit professionals anticipate and prepare for changes. By taking the time to complete the CMI each month, credit managers are able to give back to the profession by strengthening an economic indicator that is central to so many credit professionals risk miti...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! During turbulent economic times, it is challenging for businesses to maintain stability. With heightened risk, traditional lending often tightens leading more companies to seek financing from private sources. Connect with us on LinkedIn: @ Nacm-National @ FCIB

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! Automation is changing the way credit managers do business across industries. For construction credit professionals, efficiency and accuracy is vital, and new technology might be able to help make tough credit decisions faster.  Connect with us on Li...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! This week, NACM hosted its 129th Credit Congress & Expo in Cleveland, Ohio—and things kicked off strong.  The opening general session featured keynote speaker Brant Menswar, who delivered a powerful message on staying focused and hitting your goals, even when things feel uncertain.  We caught up with a few attendees to...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! Credit professionals are often focused on supporting others—customers, colleagues and businesses—but they can sometimes forget to take time to care for themselves. In today’s shaky economy, many are facing growing challenges, which can lead to stress and a need for self-care.   Connect with us on LinkedIn: @ Nacm-National @...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! When it comes to hiring new credit managers, it can be hard to choose which candidate will be the best fit at your company. From the technical skills on their resume to their professional presence during a job interview, there is a lot to consider wh...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! It’s no secret that companies across industries are grappling with the ripple effects of shifting supply chains, severe weather events, rising costs and mounting tariffs.  By developing a crisis management plan, credit professionals can shift from a reactive approach to a proactive one, helping to minimize risk and improve...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! By incorporating additional KPIs with DSO, credit managers can provide a clearer view of department performance, enhancing understanding for management and leading to more informed credit decisions.  Connect with us on LinkedIn: @ Nacm-National @ FCIB

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered!  🧭 Being a leader is hard but leading during stressful periods where internal or external stressors seem to add pressure to your credit team can be even harder.  🚨Whether your company is undergoing a merger that throws everyone’s day-to-day work through a loop or economic instability brings added stress to everyone’s days...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! Collecting payment can be a hassle, no matter who you are. There’s nothing more frustrating for B2B credit professionals than collecting payment from customers with outstanding debt. Before thinking of sending a customer to collections—or worse, court—you have the option of sending a demand letter to communicate the severit...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! 📚Education plays a pivotal role in shaping a professional’s career by providing the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a competitive job market. Beyond that, education also fosters personal growth, boosts confidence and builds a strong network that can support career advancement.  🧠By continuously l...

Tell us what you love about Extra Credit and what topics you want covered! 💼The last few decades have seen waves of women joining the credit field, breaking into male-dominated offices and paving the way for other women to not only excel in credit positions but climb the ladder into leadership roles.  ✨For women’s history month, we decided to highlight the women in the profession who have pushed...