As a leader in the credit profession, your days can feel extremely fast-paced and filled with so many decisions. However, leadership isn’t just about managing accounts and deadlines—it’s also about staying connected to your team. In the rush of daily responsibilities, one of the most valuable tools a leader can use is often overlooked: feedback from the people they work with. 

The ability to lead exists in all of us. You don’t need a title to make an impact—it’s about how you show up. But what sets great leaders apart from average ones? Over the past year, we’ve navigated economic uncertainty, from supply chain disruptions to looming trade war threats. During times like these, teams are looking to their leaders for direction.

The initial investigation into a potential customer’s credit worthiness is an essential step in the credit approval process, singlehandedly signifying the profession’s central goal: extending the right amount of credit that creates profit without introducing too much risk. While many credit managers are used to poring over a customer’s financial statements during this stage, many might not be analyzing as deeply as they could, unintentionally taking on more risk than intended. 

Prime Minister Mark Carney, who took office on March 14, introduced his new cabinet recently and lamented their focus on the economy, as the strife brought about by tariffs and threats of annexation from the United States weighs on the nation.

A recent contraction in the United States’ gross domestic product (GDP) is raising concerns for economists and credit managers as an early sign of recession. Meanwhile, inflationary pressures continue to weaken consumer sentiment, further contributing to a decline in market wealth. 

In the high-stakes world of construction, securing timely payment is both critical and notoriously challenging for material suppliers, where delayed funds can jeopardize entire operations. To avoid these pitfalls, credit professionals can enforce their lien and bond rights on a project. 

New technology reshapes the business credit profession, as each innovation reframes the work of a credit manager by automating everyday tasks. Unfortunately, just as technology can transform a credit manager’s work, it can give rise to creative ways for fraudsters to take advantage of businesses.  

Earning a professional certification is a transformative opportunity for credit professionals worldwide, leading to dynamic career shifts. NACM and FCIB’s six-level Professional Certification Program does just that by enhancing a credit professional’s abilities and deepening their understanding of the field. 

The world of business credit is vast and ever-changing, with innovations constantly reshaping the daily tasks of credit managers and markets shifting every day. In today’s economy, credit professionals must take the time to build and refine their skills to prepare themselves for the many varied credit dilemmas they may face each day.