Credit Controller, EMEA
Key Skills
Job Description
We are Kao, listed as one of the world’s most ethical companies for the last 20 years.
Our EMEA brand portfolio spans across three sectors; Consumer Care (John Frieda, Guhl, Bondi Sands, Bioré, Jergens, Curél), Professional Hair (Goldwell, Oribe, KMS Hair, Kerasilk), and Molton Brown.
Our corporate philosophy, The Kao Way, guides us in everything we do – acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation, and treating each other with trust and respect.
About our role:
As a Credit Collector, you’ll play a key role in supporting our financial performance and sustainable growth, with a particular focus on serving our business and customers in Italy.
Beyond managing outstanding receivables and maintaining healthy account balances, you’ll act as a proactive, value-adding business partner. By prioritising high-impact activities, building trusted stakeholder relationships, driving results with a solution-oriented approach, and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, you’ll help strengthen our credit and collections function and contribute to the wider success of the organisation.
What you will do:
- Proactively Manage and Collect Outstanding Receivables; Ensure timely follow-up on overdue accounts, maintain accurate records of collection activities, and work closely with customers to resolve payment issues while maintaining positive relationships.
- Prioritise High-Impact Activities; Focus daily efforts on accounts and actions that drive the most value—such as high-risk or high-value receivables—ensuring efficient use of time and resources
- Collaborate as a Business Partner; Act as a liaison between finance and commercial teams, providing insights into customer payment behaviour and supporting decision-making with data-driven recommendations.
- Contribute to Process Improvement; Identify recurring issues, inefficiencies, or bottlenecks in the collections process and propose or support initiatives to streamline operations and enhance performance.
- Ensure Compliance and Reporting Accuracy; Adhere to internal controls, company policies, and regulatory requirements while maintaining up-to-date and accurate documentation for audits and performance reporting.
What you will need:
- Bachelor/ Master educational level preferably in the Accounting and finance field
- Required languages: Italian: C2/native-level proficiency. English: fluent.
- 3+ years’ experience in a Credit and Collection environment.
- Experienced working within a changing environment with a continued focus on process improvement.
- Experience in running projects and/ or process improvements
- Ability to prioritize your own workload and getting things done.
- Relevant system knowledge (preferably SAP/S4Hana) and proficiency in Excel.
- Detail oriented, and able to manage shifting priorities.
At Kao, we believe the diversity of our teams strengthens our global mission. Here we trust and respect each other, collaborating in a friendly and inclusive work environment to achieve great results.
What you can expect from us:
- An entrepreneurial environment where passionate and innovative teams come together.
- Respect, teamwork and collaboration are at the heart of how we work.
- A workplace culture that prioritises employee wellbeing, with opportunities to get involved in initiatives such as Mental Health First Aiders, our Charity Committee, and DE&I communities
- A broad range of benefits, including flexible working, competitive salaries, health and wellbeing offers, pension schemes, insurance options, and more…
- Learning and development opportunities
Your voice matters here, we value entrepreneurial thinking and innovation from our teams.
To find out why 33,000 people across the Globe work at Kao please visit:
https://candidate-brochure.kao.com/kao-emea/full-view.html
https://www.kao.com/emea/en/careers/
Discover careers at Kao and how we live our purpose, Kirei – Making Life Beautiful.
https://kao.voyse.io/
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Core Responsibilities
The Credit Controller will manage outstanding receivables and maintain healthy account balances while serving as a proactive business partner for the Italian market. They will also identify process inefficiencies and collaborate with finance and commercial teams to drive financial performance.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Bachelor or Master degree in Accounting or Finance and possess at least 3 years of experience in a credit and collection environment. Proficiency in Italian and English, along with strong skills in SAP and Excel, is required.
Benefits
- Flexible working
- Competitive salaries
- Health and wellbeing offers
- Pension schemes
- Insurance options
- Learning and development opportunities
About Kao Corporation
Industry: Manufacturing
Company size: 10,001+ employees
Founded in 1887, Kao is a global company committed to realizing a Kirei World—a world in which all life lives in harmony. The Japanese word kirei, meaning “clean, well-ordered, and beautiful,” reflects our purpose. Kao, a Japan-based manufacturer of cosmetics, personal care and household products, as well as specialty chemicals, creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet. Through its brands such as Curél, SENSAI, and MOLTON BROWN cosmetics, Bioré and Jergens skin care products, Oribe hair care products, Attack laundry detergent, and Laurier sanitary products, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people across Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Combined with its chemical business, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,690 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 31,500 people worldwide and has more than 130 years of history in innovation. (As of December 31, 2025) Kao’s strength lies in unique scientific expertise. Through Yoki-Monozukuri—an excellent creation process that is good for everyone involved and enriches the lives of consumers and customers—Kao generates innovations that enrich everyday life.