eNews Archive

The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, a federal program that offers marginalized businesses a fair opportunity to compete and thrive in competitive business environments, is being overhauled by the federal government, leaving credit managers working with DBEs in unfamiliar territory. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued an interim final rule on Oct. 3, 2025, restructuring their DBE and Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE). The ruling eliminates race- and sex-based presumptions of social and economic disadvantage. Why it matters: With the new ruling, currently c…

The accounts receivable (AR) department is the engine that drives an organization’s cash flow, managing the money owed to the business. What constitutes a healthy or unhealthy receivables portfolio varies by company, industry and risk tolerance, and those differences directly influence how organizations assess exposure, prioritize collections efforts and determine when corrective action is needed. Why it matters: Aging buckets, time-based categories used to group outstanding customer invoices, serve as a&nbsp…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly emerging as a powerful catalyst for growth, enabling organizations to innovate faster, operate more efficiently and unlock new opportunities across almost every part of business. As the expert system evolves, more credit professionals are looking to adapt, or at least explore, what it is capable of. Why it matters: While highly efficient, AI has limitations in both its applications and the extent to which it can be relied upon in credit management. Understanding its advantages and risks, and establishing clear protocols, allows credit professionals…

As remote work has become increasingly popular, credit departments are seeing more and more team members clocking in from different states or countries. Managing a team spread across the world can present unique challenges, but managers have found ways to remain deeply connected with their teams despite the distance dividing them.   Why it matters: Many companies have maintained multiple locations across state lines and time zones for decades. While it can be challenging for those new to management roles, slight adjustments to your leadership can help you accommodate the distan…

Everything in life is a balance—an even distribution of weight that allows someone or something to remain upright and steady. Without balance, even the strongest structures falter. In credit management, the same principle applies.   Why it matters: For credit professionals, major decisions are not driven solely by numbers or intuition, but by careful equilibrium between data-driven analysis and critical thinking. That balance is what delivers stability, resilience and sound judgment in navigating financial risk.    Every credit decision begins with a framework. Before onboar…

The Certified Credit Executive (CCE) designation signals that a credit professional has reached the highest level of credit expertise through NACM’s Professional Certification Programs. The designation is earned through a combination of education, credit experience and involvement in professional development. When designation seekers apply to take their CCE exam, they are taking a big step in their credit careers that will benefit them years into the future.   Why it matters: Earning the CCE designation not only s…

NACM’s seasonally adjusted combined Credit Managers’ Index (CMI) slid 2.2 points to 52.8. “Respondents continue to report numbers that are consistent with an overall trend of expansion, though that strength may be waning as comments suggest that financial stress is growing,” said NACM Economist Amy Crews Cutts, Ph.D., CBE. “A theme in the comments this month is that, in order to prop up sales, margins have been trimmed. While this strategy works in the short term, eventually firms will have to raise prices.” The Index for Unfavorable Factors declined 0.1 points to 51.0 points. The Ind…

Working in credit management requires a finely tuned eye for customer behavior. At times, you can’t help paying extra attention to a customer whose payments have slowed or companies you’ve had an increasingly hard time getting on the phone. But even the most eagle-eyed credit professional will have customers abruptly shut down without warning.   Why it matters: Your first instinct when a customer suddenly closes their doors may be to panic, especially when they owe you money. How…