Career development is the key to long-term success within any profession. In a rapidly changing field like business-to-business (B2B) credit, professional advancement is essential. Yet not all professionals know how to advocate for it, and not every organization prioritizes it.

Following a year of sustained growth, Japan’s economy is navigating a transitional phase. While economists predict a strengthening economy, Japan is faced with potential interest rate hikes, a shifting political landscape under newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and slight pressure from U.S. tariffs.  

When assessing a customer’s creditworthiness, things are not always as they seem. A business may have strong cash flow but still carry crippling debt, or it may have a poor payment history yet still maintain substantial reserves. Without closely evaluating financial statements, credit professionals risk making uninformed and potentially costly decisions. However, while financials may not tell the full story, the person reading them can.

Business-to-business credit management can sometimes be viewed as a behind-the-scenes function, focused solely on risk control and compliance. Yet the true role of the credit profession reaches far beyond internal processes.

In construction credit, money is flowing down the ladder of supply and material suppliers and service providers selling to subcontractors are vulnerable to delayed payments—or worse, not getting paid at all. The critical first step in effectively managing construction credit is gathering and verifying job information, especially identifying everyone involved in the project.

After nearly a decade of stagnation, Germany saw signs of recovery in 2025, with the country’s gross domestic product increasing by 0.2%, according to the Wall Street Journal. While the strong numbers are a good sign for Europe’s largest economy, strong competition with China and massive stimulus funds from Berlin threaten continued growth.

NACM’s seasonally adjusted combined Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) improved 1.2 points to 54.5.

It’s often said that practice makes perfect. For credit professionals, the same rule applies. It is the experience gained through successes and failures that create opportunities for growth. To further refine their craft, many pursue continued education and advancement opportunities like NACM and FCIB’s six-level Professional Certification Program. 

Credit professionals handle confidential information day-in and day-out as they manage customers and work to mitigate risk. While confidentiality comes with the job, it is critical that credit managers understand what can and cannot be shared with those outside the credit department, whether they’re talking to a member of their sales team or a credit manager from another company.