Member Spotlight: Tools for Credit Expansion

B2B credit management is more than just a career—it's a lifestyle. Credit professionals are constantly adapting and learning more about industry trends, their customers, their peers and themselves. With six levels of professional certifications in NACM's Professional Certification Program, credit professionals are not only gaining knowledge and sharpening their credit skills, but expanding their reach so they can better adapt in the B2B credit world.

Philip Mundine, CBA, area financial services manager at J. R. Simplot Company (College Station, TX) recently earned his Credit Business Associate (CBA) designation to expand his knowledge and professional skill set. This designation supplied him with just that through three business related disciplines, Basic Financial Accounting, Financial Statement Analysis 1 and Business Credit Principles (BCP).

Not only was Mundine eager to expand his credit knowledge and skill set by earning his CBA, but he wanted to demonstrate his commitment to his profession and become a reliable source to his credit team. "Many members of my team already had designations and in order to get to their level, I had to do the same," he said. "Finally, I just had to make a commitment and find out what my next move was."

Mundine started out by setting a goal. "I wanted to receive the CBA and then immediately start working on earning my CBF," he said. "I find that working towards a goal motivates me and results in me passing the courses."

His biggest takeaway was the expansion of knowledge for newer and older concepts in credit. "I was relearning all those things that I'd forgotten too," Mundine said. "I would encourage anybody who is interested in credit, especially if they're just starting their career, to look at the designations offered by NACM. Really understand what they can do for your career and your day-to-day credit responsibilities and make the commitment to earn them."

For more information about each designation within NACM's Professional Certification Program, visit our website.