A profession in full transformation
Over the years, the Credit Manager’s role has evolved profoundly. Once seen as a technical position focused on collections, it has transformed into a strategic and interconnected function. For Laura Delmas, this shift is irreversible:
The Credit Manager is no longer just a risk expert but a driver of change within the company anticipating, enlightening, and uniting teams.
New and diverse skills
One of the most significant evolutions lies in the diversification of the required skill set. Credit Managers must now master digital tools, interpret performance indicators, and understand information systems. Yet, for Laura Delmas, the human element remains central:
The Credit Manager is the most commercial of financiers and the most financial of salespeople.
This formula reflects the delicate balance between rigor and openness, between numbers and relationships.
The Credit Manager must be able to speak the language of both finance and sales, explain risks without hindering business, and foster a climate of trust.
Convincing and supporting
The modern Credit Manager must know how to persuade both internally and externally.
They must convince while keeping the goal of securing revenue in mind.
When faced with a risky client, it’s not just about refusing an order but about offering alternatives:
The Credit Manager can negotiate directly with the client for suitable guarantees a deposit, credit insurance, a bond, or an internal guarantee in order to balance caution and opportunity.
They also act as a facilitator by providing sales teams with lists of healthy or under-exploited clients to help offset risks and support growth.
This proactive approach perfectly illustrates Laura Delmas’s philosophy: Credit Management is not a brake but a catalyst for secure development.
A profession of balance and the future
Tomorrow’s Credit Manager will be both an analyst, a communicator, and a strategist. Their skills will blend finance, data, and human interaction. They will be as adept with digital tools as with the right words to convince.
New generations will need to master digital tools but also know how to communicate, unite, and lead change.
For Laura Delmas, this combination of rigor and human intelligence will make all the difference. Credit Management, long perceived as a control function, is now becoming one of influence and leadership.
Above all, it’s a profession of balance between performance and prudence, between finance and relationships.
The future of the profession: toward a role of influence and strategy
Beyond digital transformation, Laura Delmas describes a deeper evolution: the Credit Manager is becoming an influential player in corporate governance.
Credit Management is now an integral part of business strategy, on par with finance or sales.
This evolution is especially visible in more mature organizations, where the Credit Manager sits on the executive committee or contributes to strategic business decisions. Their understanding of customer risk, cash flow, and market behavior makes them a key advisor to top management.
In the future, their role may expand further contributing to CSR policies through managing reliable partners, participating in international expansion strategies, or ensuring regulatory compliance.
Tomorrow’s Credit Manager will be a conductor of sustainable performance, harmonizing finance, data, relationships, and impact.
Pride and challenges
We conclude this expert series with Laura Delmas’s reflections on her greatest sources of pride and the challenges ahead.
When asked what makes her most proud, Laura Delmas does not hesitate: successful transformations.
What makes me proud is when we support a company, implement a project, and after six months, the results are there. It’s not just about DSO or cash it’s seeing the teams embrace the process, change their perception of Credit Management, and turn it into a lever for collective performance.
She cites, for example, a project carried out with a British group: The DSO dropped significantly, but beyond the numbers, it was the team dynamic that struck me most. At first, the subsidiary directors were cautious, even reluctant… and today, they are the ones driving the initiative.
These successes illustrate the power of change management: when teams understand the meaning and benefits of Credit Management, they take ownership of it and bring it to life every day.
Still, challenges remain: The challenge of tomorrow is to bring intelligence into tools and functions. That will allow us to create even more value for the company.
Thank you for following this expert interview series with Laura Delmas. We hope her insights and experience have inspired and enlightened you about the world of Credit Management.
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