Pairing domestic and global trade credit knowledge: A CICP certification story

Regardless of how much experience you have, there’s always something new to discover on the job. Maybe you found another way to use the software you’ve had for years or learned a different method of gathering customer data. The second you think you’ve got it all figured out, you run into a problem that unearths a host of inefficiencies. You’re left there thinking, there’s still so much that I don’t know. 

This feeling is all too common in the unpredictable industry that is business-to-business credit management. The solution? Seeking the right education and resources through NACM and FCIB’s six-level Professional Certification Program.  

For recipient of the Certified International Credit Professional (CICP), Misty Menashe, CBA, CICP, credit and collections supervisor at LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. (Portland, OR), taking the International Credit & Risk Management Online Course (ICRM) revealed new facets of trade credit while strengthening her broader knowledge of business credit. 

“The ICRM course is an excellent complement to NACM’s Grad School,” she said. “The graduate curriculum gave me solid credit fundamentals so that much of ICRM’s material was recognizable. What the international course added was context—how those principles apply specifically to international business. That was new, and it’s directly relevant to managing a diverse customer base.” 

One of the biggest takeaways for Menashe was how to manage currency and country risk. “I learned about the cost of extending credit overseas, which comes with additional securities, heightened risk and strict compliance measures,” said Menashe. “With this knowledge, I could better formulate questions for our internal teams and I’m even working on having our international specialist take the course.”  

Menashe continues to build her knowledge in credit management, and much of what she’s learned from both certifications has prepared her for the upcoming final exam towards the Certified Credit Executive (CCE) this November.  

Study tips: Try not to rush through the end-of-lesson questions. “It’s encouraging to see how applicable the information is and the different approaches my classmates are taking,” said Menashe. “The group discussion posts throughout the ICRM course allowed us to think critically about how the material applies to our actual work processes.”