How to become a credit controller
Official title: Credit controllers
Also called: Credit controller, Credit administrator, Credit control clerk, Credit control officer, Credit control assistant, Credit claim coordinator, Credit control administrator, Loan processor, Recovery officer, Loans administrator, Authorisation clerk, Debt recovery clerk
Credit controllers perform financial, administrative and other tasks in relation to credit control and debt collection.
Main tasks
- Receives requests for credit submissions and lending proposals
- Arranges for investigations of the credit worthiness of individuals or companies
- Deals with any enquiries or difficulties concerning the acceptance or rejection of credit applications
- Checks that accounting, recording and statutory procedures are adhered to for all credit transactions
- Arranges for the collection of arrears of payment
How to become one
Entry is most common with GCSEs/S grades but is also possible with other academic qualifications. Professional qualifications are available and may be required for some posts.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Senior credit controller and debt collection specialist (level 3). England. Typically 18 months. Skills England standard ST0175.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £28,532 a year The middle half earn £25,020 to £34,408.
- About 51,000 people work in this job now, and about 48,500 are projected by 2035. (-5%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a credit controller?
Entry is most common with GCSEs/S grades but is also possible with other academic qualifications. Professional qualifications are available and may be required for some posts.
How much does a credit controller earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £28,532 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £25,020 to £34,408.
Is a credit controller a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 5% by 2035, from about 51,000 to about 48,500 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a credit controller?
Not always. 29% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Senior credit controller and debt collection specialist (level 3).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03