CREDIT ASSOCIATE JOB DESCRIPTION

A Credit Associate keeps a company's receivables current and its credit exposure controlled. The role sits between Sales and Finance, applying daily cash receipts, screening new credit applications, and resolving payment discrepancies before fiscal month-end close. Work is governed by internal credit policy and, in publicly traded environments, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance requirements. This individual owns the operational cash application and account maintenance cycle day to day, a scope distinct from the risk-decision focus of a Credit Analyst.

As the Credit Associate, you process payments, maintain customer credit files, and resolve account discrepancies to keep receivables accurate and current. You typically report within the Credit or Accounts Receivable department, working closely with Sales, Collections, and general accounting during month-end close.

Career Impact: Hands-on ownership of cash application and credit file maintenance builds a track record employers value for AR and credit analyst promotions.

Business Impact: Timely deduction coding and unapplied-cash resolution directly reduce days sales outstanding for the accounts you manage.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to ERP platforms and credit policy work opens a path toward senior credit analyst or AR supervisor roles.

Company Value: Some employers in this space offer hybrid or remote-eligible schedules once training is complete.

• Apply daily cash receipts, including lockbox, ACH, wire, and credit card payments.
• Reconcile bank deposits against posted receipts to meet daily closing deadlines.
• Assign deduction reason codes and resolve unidentified or unapplied payments.
• Review and process new credit applications, including reference and credit bureau checks.
• Maintain customer master data and electronic credit files for the department.
• Coordinate with Sales and Collections to resolve account and payment discrepancies.
• Support month-end close activities, including occasional evening or weekend coverage.
• Escalate complex or unusual account issues to a supervisor for review.

• High school diploma or equivalent; Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance preferred.
• 1 or more years of accounts receivable or credit experience, with high-volume data entry exposure.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including basic formulas and reporting functions.
• Basic understanding of accounting principles and credit policy compliance.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to meet strict daily and monthly deadlines.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills for cross-department coordination.
• Ability to multi-task and work independently with minimal supervision.

• Experience with a large ERP system such as SAP, Oracle, or JD Edwards.
• Familiarity with automated cash application software such as GetPaid.
• Prior customer service background in a credit or collections environment.
• Knowledge of construction, distribution, or related B2B industry billing practices.

• Days sales outstanding, reflecting how quickly this associate's assigned accounts convert to cash.
• Percentage of daily receipts posted and balanced before the close deadline.
• Unapplied cash aging, measuring how fast unidentified payments are resolved.
• Deduction resolution turnaround time, tracking how quickly discrepancies are cleared.
• Credit application processing time, measuring speed from submission to account setup.
• Typical tools: ERP/accounting systems (commonly SAP or Oracle); spreadsheet software (commonly Microsoft Excel).

• Base Salary Range: $40,000–$52,000 annually
• Bonus: Small annual discretionary bonus, if offered
• Equity: Not typically offered at this level
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• PTO: 10–15 days annually, plus standard holidays
• Common Perks: Hybrid or remote-eligible scheduling in some roles

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment with this role is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other characteristics protected under federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request for candidates with disabilities. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Credit Associate owns daily cash application, posting lockbox receipts, ACH, and wire transfers while ensuring exception items from the bank report are properly identified and posted. Reporting within the AR/Credit team, this individual reconciles daily cash receipts and supports fiscal month-end close to keep collections tracking against goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply cash on a timely basis daily.
• Cash application processing includes.
• Posting of all lockbox receipts, including electronic payments (i.e., ACH and wire transfers).
• Identifying and proper posting of exception items from the bank report.
• Credit card payment posting and reconciliation.
• Daily cash receipts reconciliation, including intercompany DHO entries daily.
• Cash activity reporting for management, including daily collections vs. goals update.
• Maintenance and storage of cash files and documentation.
• Proper deduction reason code assignment for short/over payments and identifying and properly posting unidentified and unapplied payments.
• Providing back up documentation for cash application and deductions to other AR / Credit team members.
• Posting all receipts before fiscal month-end close, which could include extra evening hours during month-end and some possible weekend hours, where applicable, to meet closing deadlines.
• Additional support to include.
• Customer master maintenance back-up.
• Assistance with automated processes and tasks to maximize efficiencies, as well as identifying and recommending new process improvement opportunities and assisting with the project as needed.
• Account reconciliation offsets (credit balances vs. appropriate open invoices and deductions), upon request.
• Assisting general accounting team with due diligence and reporting of unclaimed funds (escheatment).
• Compliance with credit policy and Sarbanes-Oxley guidelines.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• High School/GED required.
• Associates Degree in Accounting/Finance preferred, or some college credits.
• Minimum 1-3 years experience with high volume data entry experience; cash application experience preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Aptitude for working with numbers / detail oriented.
• Basic understanding of accounting principles.
• The ability to provide timely, accurate and detailed information to the Pentair internal departments.
• Proven record of accuracy and dependability.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Programs with an emphasis on Excel spreadsheets.
• Competent with use of the internet / electronic commerce; online meetings; ability to learn quickly and remotely (off-site trainings).
• Superb follow-up skills.
• Ability to multi-task, work independently and be self-sufficient.
• Meets deadlines.
• GetPaid software experience a plus.
• Experience utilizing a large ERP (i.e., SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, QAD).

Embedded within the Credit Portfolio Management Team, the Portfolio Associate supports investment grade credit, high yield, and bank loans strategies for institutional and retail clients by preparing trade studies and recommending trades based on account positioning and firm-wide risk targets. Working closely with Middle Office, Settlements, Compliance, Risk Management, and Account Management, this individual coordinates execution of approved trades with trading desks around the globe.

Key Deliverables

• Support the Credit Portfolio Management Team that oversees investment grade credit, high yield, and bank loans strategies for institutional and retail clients.
• Prepare trade studies to reposition accounts based on the requests of the Portfolio Management Team.
• Recommend trades to the Portfolio Management Team based on account positioning, credit analyst recommendations, firm-wide risk targets, and account guidelines.
• Coordinate execution of approved trades with the appropriate trading desks around the globe.
• Ensure that all proposed trades are consistent with client guidelines in concert with the Compliance Team.
• Manage cash flows, benchmark changes, and other account transition events in coordination with the PM Team.
• Facilitate the trading operations of the Credit Desk in support of portfolio managers across the firm.
• Coordinate with Middle Office, Settlements, Compliance, Risk Management, and Account Management to ensure client objectives are met, accounts are appropriately positioned, and all credit trades are ticketed and processed.

Skills & Qualifications

• Strong academic background in a related field from a leading accredited college or university with 1-5 years of work experience.
• Fundamental fixed income expertise is required Prior exposure to cash and derivative securities in the credit and interest rate sectors is preferred.
• Knowledge of Bank Loans, CLOs, and leveraged finance is a plus.
• Outstanding analytical skills with a proven ability to function efficiently in a high-pressure and time-critical environment is required.
• Strong communication skills, poise under pressure, and professionalism are necessary attributes to succeed in this role.
• A positive "can-do" attitude along with a willingness to embrace all tasks, large or small, is crucial on this high-volume desk.
• A collaborative mindset and an ability to work effectively on a diverse team with cross-functional constituencies is a must.
• Mastery of advanced Excel techniques is essential while programming skills (SQL, VBA, Python, etc.) are a plus.

Reporting to the RM, the Credit Associate manages transactions from beginning to closing, building and maintaining financial models while overseeing junior analysts to drive transactions to completion. Partnering with management and internal departments, this individual takes end to end ownership of the portfolio and clients under assignment, from origination through deal closing to ongoing monitoring.

Primary Duties

• Provide support in managing and executing transactions from beginning to closing including building and maintaining financial models.
• Execution of transaction closing and legal documentation.
• Monitor and evaluate current events related to the specific assigned sector and advise RM of these events.
• Manage the preparation of credit applications, borrower rating applications, annual and quarterly client reviews.
• Oversee junior analysts on the team to drive transactions forwarded to completion.
• End to end ownership of the portfolio and clients under assignment, from the point of origination to deal closing to ongoing monitoring.

Requirements

• 3+ years in a relevant role, preference for previous bank experience.
• Ability to organize thoughts, clearly articulate points, and provide summaries and explanations of transactions, verbally or in writing, to management or other internal departments.
• Demonstrates a high degree of attention to detail and an ability to complete work accurately and in a timely manner against strict deadlines.
• Strong finance and accounting skills with an ability to read and interpret financial statements and perform credit analysis proficiently.
• Excellent research skills.
• Ability to execute transactions from beginning to end with minimal supervision.
• Outstanding financial modeling/valuation and analytical skill.
• Knowledge and skill in legal documentation.
• Able to quickly learn and adapt to new processes and systems.
• Strong intellectual curiosity.

Sitting at the intersection of credit underwriting and portfolio monitoring, the Credit Associate analyzes financial statements, builds financial models, and reads credit documentation for new and existing deals. Operating across corporate, commercial banking, investment banking, and private credit contexts, this individual assists in underwriting amendments, upsizes, refinancings, and restructuring situations while preparing quarterly credit reviews and valuations.

Core Functions

• Analyze financial statements, build financial models, analyze macro and micro trends, and articulate fundamental / investment facts and opinions.
• Read and interpret credit documentation for new and existing deals.
• Assist in the underwriting / obtaining approval for amendments, upsizes, refinancings and other transactions within the existing investment portfolio.
• Assist in restructuring / turnaround situations, if applicable.
• Attend and participate in meetings regarding new and existing investments.
• Prepare quarterly credit reviews / valuations of investments.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree, finance, accounting or business degree preferred.
• 2-5 years of experience in corporate / commercial banking, investment banking, or private credit / direct lending.
• Proficient in financial modeling.
• Ability to distill a substantial amount of qualitative and quantitative information (operational and financial) into a succinct, coherent and actionable investment thesis.
• Familiarity with loan documentation and credit agreements.

A key member of the payment application team, the Credit Associate 1 processes payments quickly and accurately, including Cash Application/COD's, Lockbox Posting via ECP, Salesmen Collections, and Electronic and Remote Deposit. Collaborating across Credit Specialists for unapplied payment follow-up, this individual prepares the daily accounts receivable deposit and balances bank deposits back to SAP to meet daily deadlines.

Areas of Ownership

• Assume lead role in the payment application process.
• Process payments quickly, efficiently, and with accuracy. 
• Payments include, but not limited to, Cash Application/COD'S (State level), Lockbox Posting via ECP, Salesmen Collections, Electronic and Remote Deposit.
• Prepares daily accounts receivable deposit, including creating receipts for entry and balancing receipts to checks.
• Ensure balancing to meet daily deadline.
• Identify and resolve issues causing payments to be unapplied.
• Distribute unapplied payments to Credit Specialists for follow-up.
• Balance Bank Deposits back to SAP.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Position Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• 1+ years of experience in related area.
• Have knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures within accounts receivable field.
• 10-Key by touch.
• Excellent MS Office skills, with advance experience in Excel (i.e. VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, etc.).
• Proficient with automated accounting systems.
• SAP or similar ERP software experience a plus.

New account application review and creation depends on the Associate III, Credit, who reviews documents and approvals, uploads documentation, and sets up accounts that comply with policies and guidelines. Based within a permanent night shift structure with a temporary work-from-home set up transitioning to hybrid starting April 2022, this role also handles mailbox inquiries and provides daily operations coverage for PTOs.

Operational Focus

• Review documents and approvals for new account application/creation; upload documents.
• Setup account that has complete documents and has complied to policies and guidelines.
• Handle and address mailbox inquiries, direct to other concerned departments as necessary.
• Assist other associates in the process and generate reports.
• Daily operations coverage for PTOs and as needed by the business.

Background & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree (Management Accounting, Business/Financial Management, or any related course).
• 1-2 years minimum experience in Accounts Receivable function or general accounting background.
• Willing to work on a permanent night shift.
• Candidates must have a stable internet connection to support a temporary work-from-home set up.
• This is not a complete listing of the job duties. It's a representation of the things you will be doing, and you may not perform all of these duties.

As the Credit Associate, this role supports the underwriting needs for Eagle Lending's Personal Line of Credit product by processing, evaluating, and completing financial analysis on individual loan requests while ensuring turnaround time requirements are met. The Credit and Risk team relies on this work to ensure quality credit and avert potential signs of default throughout the underwriting process and loan life cycle.

What You'll Do

• Support the underwriting needs for Eagle Lending's Personal Line of Credit product by focusing on processing, evaluating, and completing financial analysis on individual loan requests ensuring turnaround time requirements are met. Verify accuracy and completeness of loan application file.
• Cultivate strong and positive working relationships with partners: Sales, Closing, Executive Loan Committee, Loan Servicing, Product etc.
• Effectively use Moody's CreditLens or similar tool to spread tax returns and financial statements.
• Ensure quality credit and avert any potential signs of default throughout underwriting process and loan life cycle.
• Ongoing servicing of the portfolio, including loan modifications and projects with Special Assets and Credit & Risk.
• Actively participate in continuous improvements by generating suggestions and participating in problem solving activities.
• Assist in underwriting additional consumer lending products as needed.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• One+ year underwriting experience.
• Experience with financial/credit analysis including reviewing financial statements, credit reports, tax returns and various income streams.
• BA/BS required or equivalent work experience.
• Flexibility to adapt and able to manage multiple assignments while working independently.
• Strong decision-making, interpersonal and communication skills; including the ability to clearly understand complex concepts.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, and attention to detail.

Credit Associate researches and completes lien waivers, underwrites credit applications, and processes customer master changes while exercising judgment in accordance with well-defined policies and procedures under general supervision. Success in the position means referring complex, unusual problems to a supervisor while supporting the team across multiple functions of the department and identifying opportunities to streamline current processes.

Accountabilities

• Lien waiver research and completion.
• Credit application underwriting.
• Customer master changes.
• Account discrepancy review.
• Credit refund request submittals.
• Refers complex, unusual problems to supervisor.
• Under general supervision, exercises some judgment in accordance with well-defined policies, procedures, and techniques.
• Work typically involves regular review of output by a senior coworker or supervisor.
• Located in a comfortable indoor area.
• Any unpleasant conditions would be infrequent and not objectionable.
• Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about.
• On rare occasions there may be a need to move or lift light articles.

Technical Qualifications

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age or older.
• Must pass pre-employment assessment(s) if applicable.
• Customer service and/or credit experience preferred.
• Bachelors Degree in Finance, Accounting or related field preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Applications such as Word and Excel is a must.
• Must be an effective communicator (verbal and written) with exceptional phone skills and attention to detail.
• Experience desired but not required in process improvement.
• Support team within multi-functions of the department, identify and help slimline current processes.

Reporting to the Credit Department, the Credit Associate sends invoices and statement copies to sales or customers, processes credit applications by pulling D&Bs and references, and sets up new accounts in SXe. Partnering with sales teams on account changes, this individual updates and maintains electronic credit files while processing credit card payments and portal billings.

Duties

• Send invoices /statement copies to sales or customers.
• Portal billings.
• Process credit applications and prepare credit file for review/approval. (Pulling D&Bs and references).
• Setting up new accounts in SXe and routing of invoices and statements in other systems (CoAction/Billtrust).
• Acct changes – salesman & otherwise.
• Update and maintain electronic credit files for the Credit Department.
• Enter adjustment credits if requested.
• Process credit card payments.
• Perform other related duties as required or directed.

Requirements

• High School Diploma.
• Customer Service Experience.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
• Organized and excellent time management skills.
• Positive attitude and problem solving ability.
• Construction, Distribution, or building material knowledge is a plus.