While discussing her next career move with her boss, Kristen Gibson, CBA, learned about the Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation through NACM and FCIB’s Professional Certification Program. “He recommended the CBA course to me and together we made a plan to move forward,” she said.  

Earning a designation through NACM and FCIB’s Professional Certification Program reflects a deep dedication to improving and refining a myriad of skills used each day as a credit professional.

Germany’s economy is in a deep crisis, according to the Federation of German Industries (BDI), with the country heading towards three years of declining growth for the first time since the nation’s reunification in the 1990s. In the final quarter of 2024, the German economy shrank by 0.2% according to CNBC, with the GDP expected decrease by 0.1% during the same three-month period.

Over the past decade, more U.S. companies have adopted a Shared Services Center (SSC), a centralized unit managing specific business processes for multiple entities within an organization. In B2B credit, some companies have an SSC to centralize credit-related functions such as credit analysis, billing, collections and dispute resolution. 

Tariffs, taxes or duties imposed by a government on imported or exported goods, have gained significant attention in recent months. For credit professionals, tariffs can influence trade credit terms, payment schedules and risk assessments. They may also impact the cost structure of international transactions, affecting the pricing and profitability of goods.

Time management can be tricky when your day-to-day work feels unpredictable. Credit managers know how easy it is to get so wrapped up in a single task that their entire to-do list slips their mind. Whether you carefully schedule out every second of your workday or keep a tentative list of tasks that need completion, it can be hard to organize your time as a credit manager because there is so much to do.

The credit management profession is often described as both an art and a science. It requires a combination of hard, technical skills—such as financial analysis and business credit law—as well as soft skills, like relationship-building and effective communication.

Completing one of NACM’s professional certification programs can hold different meanings for working credit professionals. Whether your new designation represents your fresh start at a new job or in a new industry, the confidence and skills that come with continued education ensure that you will hit the ground running no matter what.