Credit Manager

Ben E. Keith Company•Albuquerque, NM

21h•Onsite

About The Position

Ben E. Keith Company is seeking a Credit Manager who views credit management as a strategic growth driver rather than a back-office function. This role involves leading a team focused on optimizing risk through data-driven decisions, partnering with sales to enable growth, creating positive customer experiences, and guiding an efficient sales-to-cash cycle. The Credit Manager will be the primary decision-maker for customer credit approvals and a key partner to the sales organization, ensuring adherence to company credit policy and protecting company assets. This position includes a structured transition period with the current Credit Manager to ensure continuity before their planned retirement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
5+ years of progressive experience in credit management, commercial credit, or lending
Demonstrated ability to make independent credit decisions in a terms-based environment
Strong understanding of financial statements
Strong understanding of credit risk analysis
Strong understanding of customer credit evaluation
Experience working in a high-volume, deadline-driven environment
Proven ability to enforce policy while maintaining collaborative relationships
Strong communication and decision-making skills

Nice To Haves

Experience with Bectran, SAP, or similar systems
Experience in unsecured or minimally collagenized credit environments
Certifications such as: CCE, CBA, CBFC, or equivalent
Industry knowledge in Food Services, Wholesale distribution, Banking or Lending helpful but not required

Responsibilities

Evaluate and approve customer credit applications using Bectran.
Establish appropriate credit limits and payment terms based on financial analysis.
Make independent credit decisions within policy guidelines.
Monitor customer balances, exposure levels, and payment behavior proactively.
Escalate high-risk or high-exposure accounts (e.g., >$100K) to corporate credit leadership.
Maintain complete documentation supporting all credit decisions.
Participate in periodic portfolio reviews and risk assessments.
Act as the administrator and enforcer of company credit policy.
Ensure consistent, disciplined application of policy without exception.
Balance risk management with business objectives while maintaining integrity of standards.
Support ongoing refinement and alignment of credit practices with company goals.
Partner with ~40+ sales representatives and district sales managers.
Enable sales growth through timely account setup and clear communication.
Communicate credit decisions in a professional, solutions-oriented manner.
Support sales teams in understanding and communicating credit requirements to customers.
Serve as escalation point for complex or sensitive credit issues.
Drive fast turnaround on new customer onboarding.
Prioritize incoming applications and respond quickly to sales inquiries.
Identify missing documentation and follow up promptly.
Partner with internal support staff to ensure accurate account setup in SAP.
Maintain efficiency in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
Monitor portfolio health, including exposure, aging, and risk trends.
Support preparation of reports related to bad debt, account performance, and credit metrics.
Identify opportunities for process improvements and efficiency gains.