Credit Assistant

Farmers Home Furniture•Brunswick, GA

About The Position

The Credit Assistant assists the credit manager in coordinating accounts receivable and collections. The role supports credit decisions and issuance of customer credit lines, conducts credit investigations, and follows credit approval procedures intended to limit losses while growing store accounts receivable. It also helps ensure delinquent customers are contacted and collection procedures are followed. The position leads assigned staff and helps oversee accounts receivable and collections, while also assisting customers on the sales floor and performing store duties as assigned. The role requires maintaining accurate account and administrative records, following customer service standards, and promoting Farmers Furniture’s H.O.M.E. values. The position may require moderate physical effort, including climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and handling objects weighing 12–50 pounds. Work may involve exposure to dirt, dust, temperature extremes, electric currents, or toxic agents/chemicals.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Three years of experience in accounting/bookkeeping, loan processing, and/or collections, or a combination of training, experience, and education that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Possess and maintain a valid State Driver’s License.
Ability to evaluate, audit, and interpret data using established criteria and exercise discretion in identifying alternatives.
Ability to function in a managerial capacity and make procedural and technical decisions.
Ability to operate equipment, machinery, tools, and materials used to perform essential functions.
Ability to use reference, descriptive, and advisory information.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic, calculate decimals and percentages, use fractions, and interpret graphs.
Ability to interpret written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule-form instructions and exercise independent judgment to adapt methods and standards.
Ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity when evaluating information against measurable or subjective criteria.
Ability to exert moderate physical effort, including climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and sometimes lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects weighing 12–50 pounds.
Ability to perceive colors or shades, sounds, depth, visual cues or signals, and communicate orally.

Responsibilities

Lead assigned staff, address employee concerns, direct work, provide guidance, and discipline as needed to support efficient office and credit operations.
Help manage and oversee accounts receivable and collection activities.
Review credit applications; investigate and verify prospective customers’ financial status and reputation; document findings; recommend approval or rejection to the credit manager; and establish account credit limitations.
Contact customers about overdue payments by telephone or text, review applicable contract terms, and attempt to secure payment.
Send form letters, text messages, and late-charge notices to encourage payment of delinquent accounts.
Travel to customers’ homes to collect late payments and assist with merchandise repossessions as necessary.
Ensure payments are posted to customer accounts and document all correspondence and attempted correspondence concerning accounts.
Review and analyze collection reports to assess collection status, outstanding balances, and the effectiveness of collection policies and procedures.
Review delinquent account records, prioritize collection work by delinquency, and determine which accounts to assign to staff.
Prepare paperwork for potential legal action and, with prior credit manager approval, submit delinquent accounts to an attorney or outside collection agency.
Collect on returned checks and delinquent accounts.
Complete, prepare, review, or approve forms, logs, requests, records, reports, correspondence, and other documents; oversee accurate files and administrative records.
Operate a calculator, copy machine, telephone, and other equipment needed for essential functions.
Log customer service requests into PQA and schedule merchandise repairs.
Assist customers on the sales floor as assigned, including greeting customers, demonstrating products, completing sales write-ups, participating in sales floor rotation, and updating CRM.
Maintain an acceptable sales quota based on store goals assigned by the Store Manager.
Comply with Store Operations Customer Service Counter and Telephone Standards.
Maintain a work environment free of legally prohibited discrimination and sexual harassment; uphold and promote the company’s H.O.M.E. values.
Perform Store Manager duties as required, assist other store departments as required, and perform other related duties.