Credit Manager

For more than a century, Ben E. Keith Company has been a leader in fine food and premium beverage distribution, and we strive to consistently exceed our customers' expectations.

Our Food Division is a complete broad line multi-state distributor, and our Beverage Division operates throughout the state of Texas as a proud distributor of Anheuser-Busch products, craft and import beer brands, spirits, and wine.

We are dedicated to the growth and success of our business, our customers, and our employees-continuing our commitment to delivering quality since 1906.

Summary:

The Credit Manager oversees the company's credit and collections operations, establishing and implementing credit policies that protect company assets while enabling business growth. This position leads the credit team, makes strategic decisions on customer credit terms, manages high-risk accounts, and partners with internal stakeholders to optimize cash flow and minimize bad debt. The primary purpose of the Credit Manager is to be the administrator and enforcer of the Company's credit policy. The execution of this position requires the exercise of discretion and independent judgment.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Policy Development (30%)

• Develop and optimize credit policies in collaboration with senior management, ensuring alignment with company growth objectives and risk appetite
• Lead, coach, and develop the credit and collections team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and ethical business practices
• Drive digital transformation initiatives, including automation of credit processes and implementation of predictive analytics tools
• Foster a culture focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with industry peers, trade associations, and credit bureaus for market intelligence and best practice sharing

Portfolio Management & Risk Assessment (40%)

• Oversee end-to-end credit lifecycle, including investigation of financial status, and periodic reviews of existing accounts
• Make data-driven credit decisions on high-value and complex accounts, managing special arrangements and deviations from standard terms
• Directly manage the company's largest and highest-risk customer portfolio to optimize cash flow while maintaining positive relationships
• Audit and recommend bad debt classifications, coordinating with collection agencies and legal counsel when necessary
• Manage the monthly credit review process

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration (20%)

• Partner with sales teams through customer visits and joint calls to strengthen relationships and resolve credit issues
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex credit situations, balancing customer experience with risk management
• Provide credit references and respond to inquiries from business partners while maintaining confidentiality
• Present credit performance insights and recommendations at management meetings

Performance Analytics & Reporting (10%)

• Prepare and deliver a comprehensive monthly reporting suite, including bad debt analysis, high-risk account monitoring, portfolio health metrics, and third-party performance tracking
• Analyze collection effectiveness and DSO trends, implementing process improvements to optimize working capital
• Maintain accurate customer master data, including credit terms, tax documentation, and account setup in company systems

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field
• 5+ years of progressive experience in credit and collections, with at least 2 years in a leadership role
• Demonstrated proficiency in financial analysis, credit risk assessment, and collection strategies
• Strong command of Microsoft Office Suite, particularly advanced Excel functions for data analysis
• Valid driver's license for customer visits and business travel

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional certification (e.g., CCE - Certified Credit Executive, CBA - Certified Business Analyst)
• Experience with ERP systems and credit management software
• Knowledge of relevant regulations, including UCC, bankruptcy law, and fair debt collection practices
• Experience in the food service or distribution industry

Critical Competencies:

• Analytical Excellence: Ability to interpret financial statements, calculate complex credit metrics, and identify trends/patterns in large datasets
• Communication Mastery: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present complex financial information to diverse audiences, including executives, customers, and team members
• Problem-Solving Agility: Capacity to navigate ambiguous situations, develop creative solutions for unique credit challenges, and make sound decisions with incomplete information
• Technology Adaptability: Willingness to learn and leverage new technologies, including company-specific applications and emerging fintech solutions
• Leadership Impact: Proven ability to influence without authority, manage multiple priorities, and drive results through others

Working Conditions:

• Primarily office-based with occasional travel
• Flexibility to handle urgent credit situations outside standard business hours
• Access to highly confidential information requiring strict adherence to data privacy and confidentiality protocols

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb, or balance, as well as stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 20 lbs.

Ben E. Keith (BEK) Company is one of the largest food and beverage distributors in the United States. We are a family-owned business with a long-standing tradition of supporting the diverse communities in which we live and work. Our competitive employee benefits provide health and financial protection to our employees and their families.

* Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance

* Short and Long Term Disability

* 401K with matching contribution

* Profit-Sharing Plan (100% company-paid)

* Employee Assistance Program

* Wellness Program

* Educational Assistance Program

* Paid Vacation and holidays

* Employee Credit Union

We have sought to create an environment in which the contributions of each employee at Ben E. Keith are fully valued. This means more than simply treating one another with respect; it also means considering how all our people can positively impact the quality of the decisions we make about our business.

Here at Ben E. Keith, we recognize that our workforce reflects the increasingly diverse nature of our society, and we want to do all we can to take advantage of that diversity with both our external and internal customers. We believe our differences are also our strengths and we want to do all we can to use those strengths to find more creative solutions for the business challenges we face. Ben E. Keith is an equal employment opportunity, affirmative action employer. VEVRAA Federal Contractor

Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled