Director of Credit

ABOUT THE POSITION  

Columbia Sportswear’s Finance teams oversee the financial health and forward strategy for a portfolio of four global brands. These teams provide expertise across Compliance, Credit, Financial Planning and Reporting, Indirect Procurement, Risk, Tax, Treasury, and Strategy. 

As Columbia Sportswear Company’s Director of Credit, you will report to the VP of Treasury and directly oversee the Credit function for North America Wholesale Customers, and Latin America and Asia Pacific (LAAP) Distributors.  You will lead and manage credit, collections, dispute management and accounts receivable in a Shared Services environment. You will be responsible for Global Credit Risk Management and Worldwide Credit policy to minimize risk while maximizing company sales.   

Success within this role will be based on your ability to assess credit risk across a global framework, while building positive relationships and rapport with customers and internal stakeholders.  This ability and skill will enable you to serve as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert on credit and collection related topics.   

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE  

• Directly manage the US and Canada Wholesale and LAAP Distributor Credit Functions.  These functions are comprised of:  Credit, Collections, Dispute Management and Accounts Receivable through a team of approximately twenty-five people in the U.S. and India.   

• Provide guidance and oversight over the credit functions in Europe, China, Korea and Japan.  

• Serve as a business partner to the U.S. and Distributor Sales teams to maximize sales while minimizing credit risk. 

• Develop relationships with senior management at high-risk key Customers and Distributors.  Schedule regular calls with customers and visit as necessary   

• Monitor industry and customer credit risk, keeping up to date on international country risk and issues in countries in which Columbia and our Distributors do business 

• Direct and develop a shared services team in India to drive excellence in the Billing, Credit, Accounts Receivable, and collections area.   

• Work with the information technology team to lead process improvement and automation projects for the credit function.  Serve as the Credit Champion for system related issues, new industry solutions, and ways to improve efficiency  

• Collaborate with Accounting partners to ensure reserve methodologies adequately cover anticipated risk and meet accounting standards. 

• Work with FP&A partners to forecast bad debt and chargeback expense, cash collections and accounts receivable balances. Explain forecast variances on a monthly basis 

YOU ARE  

• A credit and collections subject matter expert with a knack for financial analysis 

• Organized and capable of running an efficient and effective credit function 

• A mentor, possessing strong management skills and an ability to develop and motivate teams 

• A problem solver, adept at troubleshooting highly complex and deadline driven initiatives

• Creative, partnering with sales teams to implement credit solutions in support of Distribution models in high country risk geographies 

• Relationship focused, able to build rapport with customers and Columbia personnel across cultural and geographic distances 

YOU HAVE  

• A bachelor’s degree in business administration, Finance, related business field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.  MBA, CCE, or ICCE are a plus 

• 15 years’ experience working in credit and collections with increasingly higher levels of responsibility in global, multi-brand companies  

• 5 years’ experience working with international customers and distributors required 

• 8 years of managerial experience to include experience managing managers, working in a matrix organization, and leading a Credit team 

• Proven knowledge of international risks and tools to manage country risk  

• Credit experience inclusive of selling to global retailers, distributors or dealers, preferably in the apparel, footwear, or outdoor industry  

• In depth knowledge of bankruptcy laws and commercial credit and collection laws, concepts, practices, and procedures 

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally (<10%)

#LI-SR1

#Hybrid

This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company. 

Columbia Sportswear is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. The Know Your Rights poster is available here: https://www.eeoc.gov/poster The pay transparency policy is available here: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OFCCP/pdf/pay-transp_ English_formattedESQA508c.pdf Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please notify your recruiter.

At Columbia Sportswear Company, we’re proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding. Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community. Benefits that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match. Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services). In addition, Columbia offers EAP which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services. We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available.

If you need an accommodation/adjustment to successfully complete and submit your application, please reach out to AskHR@columbia.com with the Subject: Applicant Assistance Requested.