Credit Controller
Also advertised as: Accounts Receivable Clerk, Collections Specialist, Credit Control Assistant, Credit Controller, Debt Collections Officer, Sales Ledger Controller
Chases outstanding invoices and manages customer payment terms to protect cash flow.
What the job involves
Credit controllers keep a company's cash flowing by making sure customers pay on time. You build relationships with clients, negotiate payment plans and escalate persistent non-payers. It suits confident communicators who are comfortable having firm conversations about money.
Typical responsibilities
- Chase overdue invoices by phone and email
- Set and review customer credit limits
- Negotiate payment plans for struggling accounts
- Reconcile the aged debtor report
- Liaise with sales teams on account queries
Common employers
- Manufacturers
- Wholesalers
- Utility companies
- Accountancy shared service centres
- Retailers
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£21,000 – £25,000 a year
With experience
£28,000 – £36,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours
Working environment
Office based, high call volume
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Negotiation
- Numeracy
- Resilience
- Accounting software
- Relationship management
Transferable skills you may already have
- Debt collection or call centre work
- Customer service
- Confident phone manner
Requirements employers ask for
- Negotiation
- Numeracy
- Resilience
- Accounting software
- Relationship management
- No formal qualification required
Useful but not essential
- Debt collection or call centre work
- Customer service
- Confident phone manner
- ICM Certificate in Credit Management
- AAT qualification
Helpful qualifications
- ICM Certificate in Credit Management
- AAT qualification
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Credit Controller and Collector (Level 2)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Maths
- Related subject: Business studies
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Credit Controller
next
Credit Manager
next
Finance Manager
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Direct impact on business cash flow is visible
- Transferable across every industry
- Clear pay progression with experience
What people find hard
- Difficult conversations with reluctant payers
- Month-end pressure to hit collection targets
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a credit controller?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a credit controller earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £21,000 to £25,000 a year, rising towards £36,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Debt collection or call centre work, Customer service, Confident phone manner.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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