“I knew what he was going to say the moment he walked into my office,” Joe told me. He was reeling from the resignation of Alex, his top performer, who a competitor recruited to a VP job with a seat in the C-suite. Joe desperately needed to vent, and as luck would have it, we were scheduled for our weekly coaching discussion the same day he received the news.

Nicole Anderson, CBA, credit account specialist II at Apogee (Owatonna, MN), earned her Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation due to her passion for learning. “I knew the CBA would help me improve in my role as a collector,” she said. “It shows I’m willing to invest the time and effort to become a better, more valuable employee.”

Pursuing a designation through NACM’s professional certification courses requires a dedication to advancing your knowledge of credit and committing time and effort towards your education. 

On today’s episode of Extra Credit…From handling customer disputes to managing cases of bankruptcy, credit professionals are often faced with high-stress situations. However, prolonged stress can lead to burnout, particularly during the year-end when workloads intensify.

The death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in late May has brought added uncertainty to a political climate already troubled by a combustible mixture of simmering domestic discontent, escalating tensions with Israel and its allies (including the U.S.), and the potential for a destabilizing battle to choose a successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose advanced age and faltering health suggest that a handover of power is likely to become necessary sooner rather than later. Raisi had been among the top contenders to replace Khamenei, along with the supreme leader’s son, Ayatoll…

New technology has transformed the credit management profession. From automated collections to data processing, the day-to-day work of a credit manager today stands in stark contrast to the workflow only a decade ago, as credit managers increasingly rely on new software to make more efficient credit decisions.

It’s hard to avoid stress in the workplace—whether it’s current events weighing on you or new leadership in your office creating tension, stress can pop up at any place or time. For managers, it can be hard to lift spirits when office morale is stifled by external and internal stressors outside your control, but it is undeniably important. 

As the B2B automation market expands, credit managers have access to a broad range of solutions and service providers to meet their challenges and diverse needs. While the abundance of options may seem daunting, it opens the door to finding a solution that can either complement an existing system or stand on its own.

For a B2B credit manager, the news that a customer has filed for bankruptcy can feel like a gut punch—especially the first time it happens. It’s a painful and unavoidable reminder of the unpredictability of business and the risks that come with extending credit.