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.

No matter the industry or region, credit professionals share one common goal: collecting payment from customers. For some, this means establishing favorable terms and conditions. For others, it hinges on building strong customer relationships. Construction credit, however, is far more nuanced.

In southwestern Europe, occupying the Iberian Peninsula, stands the country of Spain. Its rich culture, strong traditions and extensive coastline make it a popular place to visit. Included among the top 20 largest economies in the world, and one of the largest in the European Union (EU), Spain is a strong environment for business.

Customer habits can be unpredictable. Noticing the problem is one thing but finding the root cause of the issue and finding a long-term solution that protects your company’s interests while maintaining a strong customer relationship takes time and dedication.

When it comes to getting a thorough view of customers’ financial health, there are few resources as enlightening as their financial statements. While it may be intimidating at first to parse through the dense datasets, learning how to interpret and analyze financial statements can help credit managers make strong, swift credit decisions.

For decades, credit departments have been unfairly stereotyped as the “department of no.” If a deal slowed down, credit was often blamed. If a contractor complained about paperwork, credit was blamed. If an order didn’t ship as fast as expected. Again, credit.

From day one, credit professionals learn that negotiation isn’t a one-time task—it’s a daily occurrence. Whether it’s a sales deal or a customer dispute, credit practitioners are always negotiating.