Credit and Collection Manager

Posted on: 2006-02-13

MICHELE BOCHICCO 518 Hemlock Drive Winder,Georgia 30680 Home: 770-725-6063 E-mail: [email protected] Credit and Collection Manager Summary Credit professional managing multiple credit and A/R locations. Skilled in motivating and managing credit/AR teams to desired performance goals. Frequent interaction with sales, finance and customer care management. Ability to expand job knowledge and skills to all levels using sound business strategies. Set and achieve goals and desired results. Areas of Expertise: •Departmental and Project Management •Policy Creation and Implementation •Customer Resolution/Negotiation •Apply Sarbanes Oxley Processes •Cross Training/Team Building PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE SARA LEE COFFEE & TEA 1997 – 2006 New Jersey and Georgia Responsible for managing two departments including: credit/collections and A/R/route reconciliation. Primary responsibility to unify Credit departments with a standard of policies and procedures for trade receivables and reduce credit risk. Credit Manager North & South 2003 - 2006 •Direct and manage all aspects of transitioning the Credit and Collection functions for the North and Southeast to Shared Services division in St. Louis. Requires interaction with drivers, route managers, customer service, billback and cash application departments. •One of four credit managers selected to train St. Louis credit specialists on JDE 400, coffee and tea credit policies and procedures, develop communication network between credit, sales and drivers. •Promotion to relocate to Georgia to realign the Credit Dept. to ensure consistency through out the North and South credit organization to align them with Corporate policies. •Implement existing credit policies and Sarbanes-Oxley procedures to Georgia and Florida locations. •Increased receivables current from 82% to 95% and maintained 95% or better levels. Closed fiscal year with a DSO of 27.0 days. An improvement of 1.5 days. Credit Manager Northeast Division 1997 – 2003 •Managed staff of eight credit/collection analysts and three route reconciliation reps with $30 million in receivables. Achieved a 25% improvement in DSO having a positive impact to drivers achieving bonus. •Established and implemented procedures for ACH processing of route collections at seven locations. Reduced risk exposure by setting controls and improving communications between drivers and credit department. •Developed credit hold procedures impacting three Sara Lee divisions. Trained Account Executives in credit policies. •Member of the task force to establish core credit terms policy that would be utilized by all Sara Lee Coffee & Tea locations. •Work directly with Director of Finance to establish and execute bad debt analysis and reserve procedures utilized by all Sara Lee Coffee & Tea locations. BEL CHEESE USA 1994 – 1997 Credit and A/R Manager Responsible for credit, accounts receivable and deduction departments. Managed 2500 active accounts ranging from Sam’s Club; Wal-mart; grocery chains; distribution centers to privately owned establishments. •Developed and implemented credit policies and procedures as well as accounts receivable controls for managing cash application. •Member of pricing committee assigned to streamline pricing policies and implementation to reduce pricing deductions and payment delays. •Prepare monthly reports for presentation to parent company in France. •Created a Claims Coordinator position to manage and reduce customer chargeback’s and deductions. •Developed a customer deduction study to determine reasons for short payments and establish long term resolutions. Outside departments became involved to reduce their respective occurrences. •Negotiate and authorize contracts with D & B, Seafax and Purveyor Marketing Service to help in establishing credit worthiness of new accounts. •Worked directly with IT department manager to develop and apply system changes for better exchange of information with customers (EDI, summary invoicing). DORMAN ROTH FOODS, INC. 1978 – 1994 Credit and Accounts Receivable Manager Responsible for staff of four collections analysts and two receivable reps. Managed receivables totaling $3.5 million. •Achieved a reduction in DSO by 3.5 days from 32 days to 28.5 days. •Coordinated and responsible for all phases of processing new customer credit applications. •Create and apply credit and collection policies to non credit functions to improve communications and reduce risk. •Manage the annual audit conducted by external auditors as it relates to the credit and accounts receivable functions. •Member of the Customer Service Committee in conjunction with the corporate committee to establish procedures for membership in the International Standards Organization’s 9000 services. •Interacted with IT to design and integrate an automated dunning system to improve collection efficiencies. Professional Development •Commercial Law League of America – Bankruptcy & Collection Laws by State •Leadership Skills for Women •Dun & Bradstreet Business Education In House Credit & Collection Seminar - Supervisory Management PC Programs and Applications •Microsoft Excel,Word,Outlook •JD Edwards AS 400 •ACH Scanning Customer Remittances References Upon Request