CCR2 Commercial Credit Management


Networking and the credit manager


Credit is open to networking to an extent that is rare amongst the wider business community – so opportunities abound


Jon Swan Head of credit services, Hachette UK jonathan.swan@hachette.co.uk


Very few professions network quite like credit professionals. I have lost count of the number of times I have gained (and hopefully given!) from networking. Recently, I took the opportunity to meet


up with a fellow professional who was clearly annoyed that, although her team had delivered their best ever results in 2016 and had that acknowledged in praise from the managing director, when it came to a company ‘town hall’ meeting to celebrate success, Credit did not even get a mention! I have been there before and I think that,


through our conversation, at least I gave some comfort in the knowledge that she was not alone – far from it! In fact, I was able to give a couple of ideas as to how to increase the visibility which may work out in the future.


Supportive forum Some three years ago, my company joined the SAP User Forum run by Forums International. The gains and benefits that we have had from simply attending quarterly meetings and, even better, being invited to site reference meetings by other members, has produced a payback of almost incalculable value. So another example of the value of networking. Apart from the personal gains that come


from networking, in the terms of improved visibility and of establishing strong and sustainable contacts, there are the very real advantages that come for the development of team members. I actively encourage my managers to


attend events and they often take members of staff with them, as we identify it with training and development benefits.


32 www.CCRMagazine.co.uk April 2017


Conscious decision If you are a credit professional, who does not tend to network much – or even not at all – then that might be your own conscious decision based on what you feel is actually important to you.


I actively encourage my managers to attend events and they often take members of staff with them as we identify it with training and development benefits


There are, though, credit professionals –


possibly those at the start of their careers – that would want to network more but are not sure where to go, or even if their firm would give them time off. If that is the case, then there will be a


CICM branch near you, so go on the website and check out the calendar. Not only are these good networking opportunities, but also valuable learning experiences. Apart from the CICM, there are businesses


that specialise in a variety of forums, many industry specific. Again check out the websites – you may well find that, as a potential member, you can attend the first meeting free – and if your manager has doubts, bring them along! CCR2


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