Economic turmoil is straining cash flow for many businesses, while market instability continues to rise. In this climate, economic forecasts that provide perspectives into the health of the B2B world are increasingly valuable, as credit professionals rely on this information to anticipate and mitigate potential risks.

Earning a professional certification can be a transformative milestone in a credit professional’s career, opening doors to career growth and advancement. In recent years, hiring managers have increasingly valued certifications over traditional four-year college degrees. NACM and FCIB’s six-level Professional Certification Program helps both new and experienced credit professionals gain the practical knowledge and skillset needed to stand out and thrive in the B2B credit industry. 

The decision to pursue a designation through one of NACM and FCIB’s six Professional Certification Programs is a big one and the journey can be long, but the opportunity to refine your skills and grow professionally makes the big step worth it.  

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, workplace challenges can pop up at any moment. But what can leaders do to ease tensions and calm their credit teams?

As much as the European Union flounders under economic headwinds, Portugal’s economy reports strong growth, beating out previous forecasts. In 2024, Portugal’s economy expanded by 1.9%, beating out the expected growth by 0.1%, with forecasts predicting that the economy would grow by 2.1% in 2025.

NACM’s Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) deteriorated 1.6 points to 53.3. “The CMI lost some momentum in March after last month’s solid improvement,” said NACM Economist Amy Crews Cutts, Ph.D., CBE. “The deterioration was broad-based, with six of ten factors declining from the February survey.”

Economic uncertainty complicates the work of credit managers. As the changing tides of the economy become unpredictable, risk increases. Credit managers across industries have seen volatility in pricing, as wide-reaching economic uncertainties like tariffs, trade wars and supply chain issues send ripples across the economy. While price fluctuations are somewhat of a constant in the ever-changing world of business credit, it can still be difficult to predict and even harder to navigate.  

In the construction industry, getting paid can often be a waiting game. Any disruption in the payment flow—from the general contractor to the material supplier—may lead to significant delays in both payment and the overall project timeline.

NACM and FCIB’s six-level Professional Certification Program has proven to transform careers for credit professionals. Each designation unequivocally expands the knowledge base and skill set in various aspects of business credit. In addition to gaining credibility in their role, each designee walks away with valuable insights and experiences of personal growth.