Job Post Summary
Pay: £30,000–£35,000 per year
Credit Controller
Location: Blackburn, Lancashire (BB2 6AH)
Salary: £30,000–£35,000 per annum
Full Time | Permanent | Office Based
IM Group Services is one of the UK’s largest privately owned shopping centre management companies.
Based in Lancashire, IM Group Services manages a substantial portfolio of shopping centres and commercial properties across the United Kingdom on behalf of a range of ownership structures and investment vehicles. Working with national retailers, regional operators and independent businesses, our focus is to drive occupancy, improve asset performance and ensure the effective financial management of the properties within our portfolio.
As our business continues to grow, we are looking to appoint an experienced Credit Controller to join our finance team at our Blackburn head office.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong credit control and customer service experience who is confident dealing with tenants, businesses and professional advisers in a busy commercial environment.
The successful candidate will assist with the collection of rent, service charge, insurance and other property-related sums due from tenants across our portfolio. The role will involve regular telephone and email contact with tenants, maintaining accurate account records, resolving queries and ensuring outstanding balances are followed up promptly and professionally.
We are looking for someone who is organised, commercially minded and comfortable having firm but professional conversations regarding overdue payments. You must be able to manage a busy workload, maintain accurate records and take ownership of accounts through to resolution.
The Role
You will support the day-to-day credit control function across a portfolio of shopping centres and commercial properties.
A key part of the role will be contacting tenants by telephone and email to discuss outstanding rent and other charges, agree payment dates and ensure commitments are followed up.
You will also answer incoming calls, respond to account queries and work closely with the wider finance, property management and asset management teams to resolve issues and improve collection performance.
Your responsibilities will include:
Contacting commercial tenants by telephone and email regarding overdue rent, service charge, insurance and other property-related charges.
Making regular outbound collection calls and answering incoming telephone enquiries.
Following up outstanding balances promptly and professionally.
Agreeing payment dates and monitoring payment commitments.
Maintaining accurate and up-to-date notes on tenant accounts.
Allocating and reconciling payments against tenant accounts.
Producing and issuing statements, copy invoices and account information.
Investigating and resolving tenant queries relating to invoices, payments, balances and account allocations.
Working closely with the property management, asset management and finance teams to resolve disputes and remove barriers to payment.
Assisting with the collection of quarterly rent demands and other scheduled property charges.
Monitoring aged debt and identifying accounts requiring urgent action.
Preparing regular aged debt and collection reports for directors and senior management.
Escalating persistent non-payment or disputed accounts to senior management where appropriate.
Preparing account information and supporting documents for solicitors, enforcement agents or external debt recovery providers where necessary.
Monitoring payment plans and ensuring agreed instalments are received on time.
Assisting with the recovery of historic and complex arrears.
Responding to tenant emails and telephone calls in a timely and professional manner.
Maintaining accurate tenant contact details and account records.
Supporting the wider finance team with sales ledger administration and account reconciliations.
Assisting with the raising and distribution of rent demands, invoices and credit notes where required.
Providing general administrative support to the finance department.
Assisting with ad hoc finance and credit control projects.
Requirements – Essential
Previous experience working in credit control, debt collection, accounts receivable or a similar finance role.
Experience making outbound collection calls and dealing directly with customers or businesses regarding overdue payments.
Confidence answering incoming telephone calls and handling account queries.
A good understanding of sales ledger and credit control processes.
Experience maintaining accurate account notes and following up payment commitments.
Strong communication and negotiation skills.
The confidence to have firm but professional conversations regarding overdue balances.
Good organisational skills and the ability to manage a high volume of accounts and queries.
Excellent attention to detail.
The ability to prioritise urgent accounts and work to collection deadlines.
Good working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Outlook and Microsoft Office.
A professional and commercially aware approach.
The ability to remain calm and professional when dealing with difficult or challenging conversations.
A proactive attitude and willingness to take ownership of accounts through to resolution.
The ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a wider finance team.
The ability to work from our Blackburn office on a full-time basis.
Desirable
Experience working within the property, commercial property or shopping centre sector.
Experience collecting commercial rent, service charge, insurance rent or other property-related charges.
Experience dealing with commercial tenants, managing agents, solicitors or insolvency practitioners.
Experience using Sage 50 Accounts or a property management accounting system.
Experience preparing aged debt reports and collection updates for senior management.
Experience dealing with payment plans, disputed accounts and legal recovery processes.
Knowledge of commercial leases and the quarterly rent collection cycle.
A credit control, bookkeeping or accounting qualification would be advantageous.
What We Offer
Salary of £30,000–£35,000 per annum, depending on experience.
Permanent, full-time employment.
Office-based role in Blackburn, Lancashire.
Company pension.
On-site parking.
Excellent career progression opportunities within a growing property business.
The opportunity to work across a substantial national commercial property portfolio.
A varied role with direct involvement in tenant accounts, rent collection and financial reporting.
The opportunity to work closely with directors, senior management and experienced property professionals.
If you have strong credit control experience, are confident speaking to customers and businesses by telephone and enjoy taking ownership of accounts, we would like to hear from you.
Work Location: In person
Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
