Credit Team Leader with German

Job Purpose

We are looking for a highly self-motivated and detail-oriented Credit Control Team Leader to join our Credit team. This role reports hierarchically to the Head of Credit Management, with a dotted line to the Regional Finance Director. The Credit Control Team Leader supports Bridgestone's financial goals and sales efforts by maintaining healthy account receivables within the organization's risk framework. The role involves close collaboration with supply chain, sales, and finance teams to improve processes and ensure compliance with credit policies and regulations.

Responsibilities:

• Manage credit approval and collections activities, applying policies and maintaining procedures
• Lead and develop a team of credit and collections staff, ensuring ethical and effective operations
• Monitor customer credit risk, recommend exposure limits, and manage special credit arrangements
• Negotiate collateral and security agreements
• Support collection procedures and handle escalations, including client visits
• Identify target accounts to improve payment habits and support sales through secured transactions
• Prepare and manage dashboards to monitor KPIs
• Supervise credit application approvals
• Secure procedures for executing collaterals (e.g., bank guarantees, deeds)
• Prepare monthly accounts and aging reports for finance
• Respond to customer inquiries and resolve outstanding credit issues
• Assist in developing credit policies and procedures
• Maintain credit documentation and invoice files
• Review A/R ledger and resolve aged invoices and disputes
• Perform analytical reviews and reporting within accounts receivable
• Liaise with other departments to align credit and collection activities with customer relations strategy

Qualifications & Experience Required

Education, Master, other certification:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of supervisory or management experience
• 7 years of progressive credit experience in a sales or similar environment
• Prior experience in collections and A/R, including regulatory compliance

Technical Skills:

• SAP experience
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills
• Advanced financial statement analysis
• Proficiency in accounting software and MS Office Suite
• Experience with credit rating tools

Languages Skills:

• German C1
• English C1

Soft/Behavioral Skills:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Dependable and accountable
• Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills across all organizational levels
• High attention to detail and accuracy

WHAT WE OFFER

At Bridgestone, what really matter is to foster co-creation opportunities and empowering you to be creative and curious to make mobility safer, more efficient, and more sustainable for future generations. Whatever role you fill, when you represent Bridgestone, you are a valued teammate, and part of our larger mission to "Serve Society with Superior Quality", for that, we offer you more than just a competitive payment; we will provide you:

• A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.
• The opportunity to develop and grow, through training and regular mentorship.
• Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
• A truly global, dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long-term well-being.
• A diverse and inclusive team.

We are committed to create an even more inclusive culture that advances equity, embraces individuality, and helps our increasingly diverse teammates, customers, and communities thrive, by providing equal opportunities in employment. This means that all job applicants and members of staff will receive equal treatment and that we will not discriminate on grounds of gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, color, nationality, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, religion or age.