Each month, members of Levelset’s Payment Professionals Community nominate a credit manager that they feel is worthy of recognition as Credit Manager of the Month.
I’m pleased to announce our October 2021 Credit Manager of the Month: Anne Scarcella, CCE! I have known Anne for over a decade and am extremely excited to present her with this award.
Anne is a Territory Credit Manager with Crawford Electric Supply, a distributor with 25 locations across Texas and Louisiana and more than 650 associates.
Though Crawford may have given Anne her first introduction to the building industry just two years ago, she has worked in credit and collections for more than 20 years. Anne is a Certified Credit Executive (CCE), Credit Business Fellow (CBF), and Certified Credit and Risk Analyst (CCRA), and was named NACM Student of the Year in 2015. She’s something of a rockstar in the credit world! I am proud to share Anne’s experience and insights through this interview.
Learn more: What does a credit manager actually do?
Lori: What got you started in construction credit?
Anne: I started at Crawford Electric Supply in 2019. After doing some research on the company and Sonepar Group (our parent company), I met with the Vice President of Credit. It didn’t take long for me to feel like Crawford was the place for me. Turns out I was right!
I never had construction experience prior to joining Crawford. But in the last two years, I have learned so much about Texas Lien Law and the processes necessary to protect our rights.
How do you measure success as a credit team at Crawford — and what are you doing to improve?
We have to look at DSO (days sales outstanding), accounts over 90 days —and bad debt, of course. But we also take it to the human level. We recognize that our success is also measured by the relationships we maintain with our customers and our sales team. Credit is an excellent companion to sales.
Read more: 12 KPIs credit managers use to measure success
What is your approach to reducing credit risk with new customers?
I like to look beyond the surface and dig a little deeper. I trust my instincts. But I also use all of the tools available to research a potential customer.
Related: Tools to prequalify contractors before making a sale
What are some lessons you have learned so far in your career?
Everyone has their own talents. It is so important that we provide an environment where our team members can really shine. When you mess up, own it. Don’t stay where you are not happy. Find a job you enjoy, and work with people you enjoy being around.
And most importantly, make sure you have time for your friends and family. Be there when they need you.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering credit as a career?
DO IT!! If you like a fast-paced, ever-changing, challenging job that has a lot of interaction with salespeople and customers, this is the place for you.
Dig deeper: The qualities of a great credit manager
What do you like to do outside of work?
I enjoy long weekends in Mexico, and I love to spend time with my family and friends.
What are 3 words you think your colleagues would use to describe you?
Kind, committed…and the opposite of subtle.
If you didn’t work as a credit manager, what would you do?
I love credit — and I am good at it — so I am really not sure. But if I am just picking something that I think would be awesome, I would be a food critic.
Thea Dudley teaches credit & collections
Join the free certificate course to learn the foundations of credit & collections in construction with 30-year industry veteran Thea Dudley.
You can also connect with Anne on LinkedIn.