Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.
The Credit Manager leads a highly complex, high-volume Credit & Collections operation in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment. This role carries significant responsibility for protecting company financial exposure while enabling sales, supporting customers, and navigating ambiguity created by acquisitions, system limitations, and aggressive business timelines.
This is not a traditional credit role. Success requires sound judgment under pressure, comfort making frequent, high-impact decisions in gray areas, and the ability to partner with demanding internal stakeholders—particularly Sales leadership—while maintaining strong credit discipline.
The Credit Manager oversees policy, risk assessment, collections strategy, team leadership, and financial analysis, all while operating in a very demanding close environment, including extended hours, weekend work during close, and fluctuating priorities tied to business growth and M&A activity.
This is a hybrid position that will be based in our Charlotte, NC office.
The expectation is in-office 3x per week.
Key Responsibilities:
Credit Management & Risk Decisioning
Own and continuously evolve credit policies, procedures, and risk frameworks to support rapid business growth and acquisitions.
Assess creditworthiness of new and existing customers using financial analysis, judgment, and risk-based decisioning.
Approve or decline credit applications, credit limits, and terms in a high-volume, fast-turn environment.
Make frequent, independent decisions where risk is complex and outcomes are not always clear-cut.
Negotiate payment terms and resolutions with high-risk or escalated customers.
Partner closely with Sales, balancing revenue enablement with risk mitigation.
Communicate credit decisions clearly and confidently to Sales leadership, Finance, and other stakeholders.
Collections Strategy & Execution
Lead all collections activities, including strategy, prioritization, and execution across complex customer portfolios.
Monitor delinquency trends, past due exposure, and aging balances; drive corrective action.
Handle escalated customer disputes, complaints, and high-risk accounts.
Establish and manage third-party collection agency relationships.
Review and approve write-offs, credits, and account adjustments.
Develop and refine collection policies, processes, and controls to reflect acquisition-driven complexity.
Reporting, Analysis & Forecasting
Prepare and present regular credit and collections performance reporting to leadership.
Analyze trends, identify risks, and proactively recommend improvements to liquidity and cash flow.
Forecast cash flow and assess impacts of credit decisions on working capital.
Perform detailed financial analysis in complex and evolving scenarios.
Business Partnership & Stakeholder Management
Serve as a critical business partner to Sales Managers, Directors, and VPs—stakeholders who are highly driven, results-focused, and demanding.
Manage competing priorities while maintaining strong working relationships across Sales, Finance, Customer Service, and Operations.
Navigate internal resistance to change and drive alignment in a fast-moving environment.
Collaborate with external parties including banks, credit bureaus, and collection agencies.
Team Leadership & Development
Lead and develop a multi-level team (Credit Manager → Supervisor/Lead → Analyst), providing clear direction, coaching, and accountability.
Set goals, KPIs, and performance expectations; monitor results and address gaps.
Foster a resilient, collaborative team culture capable of operating under sustained pressure.
Develop and deliver ongoing training to keep the team aligned with evolving business needs and best practices.
Operating Environment & Demands (Critical to Understand)
Fast-paced, high-volume, high-complexity environment with constant change.
Currently supporting multiple acquisitions with no standardized integration playbook; priorities shift quickly.
Heavy decision-making cadence; issues arrive fast and often overlap.
Significant ambiguity—decisions frequently require judgment and calculated risk-taking.
Extended work hours are expected, particularly during month-end close.
Month-end close is highly complex due to 50+ ERP systems and a 4-4-5 calendar.
Regular late Fridays during close.
Works one Saturday per close cycle as required to finalize and transmit data.
Anticipated work on holidays (e.g., New Year’s / New Year’s Day) during ERP transitions (SAP)
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field.
Minimum 5 years of progressive credit and collections experience.
At least 2 years of people management experience (or equivalent leadership responsibility).
Strong financial analysis skills with the ability to assess complex risk scenarios.
Proven experience managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated ability to partner with demanding stakeholders, particularly Sales leadership.
Preferred
Professional certification such as Certified Credit Executive (CCE) or Certified Credit & Risk Analyst (CCRA).
Experience supporting mergers and acquisitions.
Exposure to ERP transitions and multi-system environments.
Why Xylem?
We believe in supporting our employees both professionally and personally. Our benefits include:
· Paid parental leave, maternity support, and fertility benefits
· Flexibility and hybrid work options where applicable
· Health, dental, and vision insurance from day one
· Emotional health and wellness programs and Volunteer program (Watermark)
· Paid time off (PTO)/Flexible time off (FTO) and paid holidays
· Career development, advancement, tuition reimbursement, and student loan forgiveness
· Generous retirement savings plan with company contribution
· Employee recognition and discount programs
Ready to grow your career while making a difference? Join a team that values your skills, supports your development, and empowers you to help solve global water challenges.
The estimated salary range for this position is $110,000 to $120,000 plus bonus. Starting pay is dependent on multiple factors, such as skills, experience and work location, and is not typically at the top of the range. At Xylem we offer a competitive compensation package with a generous benefit package, including Medical, Dental, Vision plans, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement.
#LI-RR1
Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.
At Xylem, you'll not only contribute to solving water issues but also have the chance to make a difference through our paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark. We prioritize our employees' well-being through inclusion and belonging as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERG). Proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and Affirmative Action workplace, Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment.
Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. Embrace the opportunity to be part of Xylem's transformative journey in shaping the future of water technology! #XylemCareers #GlobalImpact #WaterInnovation
Top Skills
Similar Jobs
What you need to know about the Charlotte Tech Scene
Key Facts About Charlotte Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 90,859; 6.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Lowe’s, Bank of America, TIAA, Microsoft, Honeywell
- Key Industries: Fintech, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, e-commerce
- Funding Landscape: $3.1 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (CED)
- Notable Investors: Microsoft, Google, Falfurrias Management Partners, RevTech Labs Foundation
- Research Centers and Universities: University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Northeastern University, North Carolina Research Campus
