Collections & Credit Control Specialist

Job Purpose:The Collections & Credit Control Specialist is responsible for managing customer receivables, ensuring timely collection of outstanding payments, monitoring aging balances, and maintaining effective credit control processes. The role will also manage and coordinate Letters of Credit (LCs), Bank Guarantees (BGs), Performance Guarantees, and Advance Payment Guarantees, while working closely with customers, project teams, finance, commercial, legal teams, and banks.The position requires strong commercial awareness, excellent follow-up and negotiation skills, and hands-on experience in receivables collection within a project-based environment.Key Responsibilities:Customer Collections & Credit Control:Follow up proactively with customers to ensure timely collection of outstanding receivables.Monitor customer accounts, payment due dates, and aging balances.Prepare and maintain detailed Accounts Receivable and Aging Reports.Follow up on retention payments, final payments, advance payments, progress payments, and other contractual receivables.Communicate professionally with customers regarding upcoming, due, and overdue payments.Negotiate payment schedules and recovery plans for overdue balances.Escalate long-outstanding accounts, payment risks, and potential bad debts to management.Coordinate with legal and commercial teams on accounts requiring formal notices or further recovery action.Maintain accurate records of customer commitments, payment promises, correspondence, and supporting documentation.Letters of Credit & Bank Guarantees:Manage and coordinate documentation related to Letters of Credit (LCs).Monitor LC terms, maturity dates, submission requirements, and payment realization.Coordinate with banks regarding LC amendments, document submissions, discrepancies, payments, and releases.Manage Bank Guarantees, Performance Guarantees, Advance Payment Guarantees, and related banking documentation.Coordinate with customers, project teams, commercial teams, and banks to ensure timely issuance, extension, amendment, and release of guarantees.Maintain accurate records and trackers for all active LCs and bank guarantees.Reporting & Reconciliation:Prepare weekly and monthly collection reports for management.Provide accurate collection forecasts and cash-flow updates.Maintain advanced Excel trackers covering receivables, aging, collections, commitments, and expected cash inflows.Update customer payment information accurately in Oracle ERP.Support reconciliation of customer accounts and investigate payment discrepancies.Coordinate with the Finance team to resolve outstanding invoices, credit notes, deductions, and account discrepancies.Ensure all collection-related records and reports are accurate and up to date.Stakeholder Management:Build and maintain effective relationships with customers, contractors, project teams, commercial teams, finance, legal teams, banks, and senior management.Work closely with project teams to understand project progress, contractual milestones, payment certificates, and collection issues.Proactively identify potential collection risks and recommend appropriate actions.Maintain professional communication when handling difficult customers and sensitive payment matters.Required Qualifications & Experience:Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Commerce, or a related discipline.3–5+ years of relevant experience in collections, accounts receivable, credit control, or commercial finance.Practical experience managing Letters of Credit (LCs) and Bank Guarantees (BGs).Strong understanding of commercial contracts, payment terms, retention, advance payments, and project-based billing.Hands-on experience in customer collections and receivables management.Experience using Oracle ERP or a similar ERP system.Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, formulas, data analysis, and reporting.UAE experience is preferred, particularly within construction, contracting, fit-out, MEP, engineering, or other project-based businesses.Key Skills & Competencies:Strong negotiation and collection skills.Excellent communication and stakeholder management.Strong commercial and financial awareness.Good knowledge of LC and BG processes.Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.Excellent follow-up and coordination skills.Ability to handle difficult customers and overdue accounts professionally.Strong attention to detail and accuracy.Excellent organization and time-management skills.Ability to work independently and meet collection targets and deadlines.Ability to manage multiple customer accounts and priorities simultaneously.High level of integrity, professionalism, and accountability.Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):Achievement of monthly and annual collection targets.Reduction in overdue and aging receivables.Reduction in long-outstanding customer balances.Timely follow-up and recovery of customer payments.Timely processing, monitoring, and closure of LC/BG requirements.Accuracy of customer receivable records in Oracle ERP.Accuracy and timeliness of collection and aging reports.Recovery rate of overdue accounts.Accuracy of collection forecasts and cash-flow projections.Timely resolution of payment disputes and account discrepancies.Preferred Candidate Profile:The ideal candidate will be a strong collections and credit-control professional with hands-on experience in project-based businesses, particularly construction or contracting. The candidate should be commercially confident, persistent in following up payments, comfortable dealing with customers and banks, and technically strong in LCs, Bank Guarantees, receivables aging, Oracle ERP, and advanced Excel reporting.