Job Description

Role Credit Controller

Directorate: Finance Directorate

Salary: Grade 5 - £26,707 - £31,236 per annum

Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Open Ended

Rewards and Benefits: 28 days annual leave, plus 9 building closed days for all full-time staff.

Detailed Description

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Credit Controller to join our busy Accounts Receivable Team. The successful candidate will have previous experience in a credit control or cash collection role, ideally within a large and fast-paced financial environment.

The Accounts Receivable Team is responsible for maintaining effective control over the collection of all income and revenue due to the University from a variety of sources. As a member of the team, you will play a key role in ensuring all collection activities are carried out in accordance with the University's financial regulations, procedures and controls.

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of two years’ experience in credit control or cash collection, excellent communication skills, strong attention to detail, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Experience in business-to-business (B2B) collections, financial systems, and advanced Excel skills (including VLOOKUPs and Pivot Tables) are essential.

The role is based at our Edinburgh campus and operates on a hybrid working arrangement, with a minimum of three days per week on campus.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The successful applicant will be responsible for the following key activities:

• Managing credit control activities across University-led debtor ledgers.
• Contacting customers with overdue debts to expedite payment of outstanding invoices.
• Liaising effectively with both internal and external stakeholders to resolve invoice queries and support cash collection activities.
• Issuing payment reminders in a timely manner.
• Managing correspondence, telephone calls and email enquiries from debtors.
• Recording collection activities and maintaining appropriate review schedules for outstanding debts.
• Collecting revenues due to the University within agreed targets and timescales.
• Supporting the collection of tuition fees and other non-fee debts to ensure prompt settlement.
• Contacting students with outstanding balances and arranging immediate payment where appropriate.
• Investigating and resolving disputed invoices in collaboration with University staff.
• Negotiating payment arrangements and schedules where necessary.
• Ensuring all activities comply with University financial regulations, procedures and controls.
• Working closely with the Research Grants Team to support invoicing and collections from funding bodies.
• Participating in process improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency.
• Undertaking ad-hoc reporting, analysis and investigations as required.
• Raising invoice requests and supporting invoice administration processes.
• Performing cash matching and reconciliation activities.
• Creating and maintaining customer account records.
• Undertaking other duties of a similar nature as reasonably required by the line manager.

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Essential

1. Minimum of two years’ experience in a credit control, accounts receivable or cash collection role.
2. Experience of business-to-business (B2B) debt collection.
3. Strong working knowledge of financial systems and accounting processes.
4. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables and data analysis.
5. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
6. Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
7. Ability to manage competing priorities and work to deadlines.
8. Proven ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
9. A proactive and customer-focused approach to problem solving.
10. Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

Desirable

1. Experience working within a higher education, public sector or large organisational environment.
2. Experience of tuition fee collection and student debt management.
3. Knowledge of research grant invoicing and funder collections.
4. Experience contributing to process improvement initiatives.
5. Professional accounting or credit management qualification, or willingness to work towards one.

How to Apply

Please submit via the Heriot-Watt online recruitment system:

• A cover letter outlining your interest in the role and suitability for the post.
• A current CV.

Applications can be submitted until midnight on Friday 17th July 2026.

We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Candidates must either already have the right to work or be able to independently obtain a working visa.

At Heriot-Watt University we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our professional services teams play a vital role in supporting the University's strategic ambitions and ensuring an excellent experience for our students, staff and partners.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to contribute ideas, drive improvements and support meaningful outcomes that make a real difference. Join us and Heriot-Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance, with wellbeing and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to creating an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups.

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns, including part-time working and job share options.

About Heriot-Watt University

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching, research and professional services excellence, making it one of the UK's leading universities for innovation, business and industry engagement.

With campuses in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders, Orkney, Dubai and Malaysia, Heriot-Watt is Scotland's most international university and provides a dynamic and globally connected working environment.