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Credit director vs credit officer

The differences between credit directors and credit officers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a credit director, becoming a credit officer takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a credit director has an average salary of $129,845, which is higher than the $129,478 average annual salary of a credit officer.

The top three skills for a credit director include credit policy, oversight and credit card. The most important skills for a credit officer are risk management, credit risk, and credit analysis.

Credit director vs credit officer overview

Credit DirectorCredit Officer
Yearly salary$129,845$129,478
Hourly rate$62.43$62.25
Growth rate17%17%
Number of jobs10,81360,323
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age4639
Years of experience82

What does a credit director do?

A credit director oversees an organization's credit-granting activities, ensuring operations adhere to credit policies and standards. Their responsibilities include making decisions in adherence with the company's short- and long-term goals, setting priorities, establishing timelines, conducting regular reviews and assessments, negotiating with external parties, and coordinating managers and supervisors. They may also manage employees to achieve these goals.

What does a credit officer do?

A credit officer is responsible for evaluating financial documents and account statements to determine the eligibility of an applicant for a loan option. Credit officers communicate with the applicant to discuss the loan process, explain the terms of service, and provide them alternative options that would fit their payment ability and loan needs. They create financial reports and recommend the qualified applicant to the manager for approval. A credit officer should have excellent communication and analytical skills, ensuring that the loan policies adhere to the federal and state regulations.

Credit director vs credit officer salary

Credit directors and credit officers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Credit DirectorCredit Officer
Average salary$129,845$129,478
Salary rangeBetween $76,000 And $220,000Between $85,000 And $196,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateAlaskaNew York
Best paying companyAspirationFarm Credit System
Best paying industryFinanceFinance

Differences between credit director and credit officer education

There are a few differences between a credit director and a credit officer in terms of educational background:

Credit DirectorCredit Officer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Credit director vs credit officer demographics

Here are the differences between credit directors' and credit officers' demographics:

Credit DirectorCredit Officer
Average age4639
Gender ratioMale, 72.7% Female, 27.3%Male, 64.4% Female, 35.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 15.3% Asian, 8.3% White, 64.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 10.7% White, 68.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between credit director and credit officer duties and responsibilities

Credit director example responsibilities.

  • Manage a staff of 50+ FTE.
  • Partner with small and entrepreneurial business to develop business plans and assist business owners with achieving payroll.
  • Communicate collection concepts to associates using FDCPA guidelines and the company training guide.
  • Developed/Share best practices, including collection practices and FDCPA rules/regulations training.
  • Approve and prepare attorney cases for processing, guardianship, Medicaid eligibility and/or litigation.
  • Major focus are on risk and DSO, integrating acquisitions, national accounts, high-risk customer visitations/negotiations, and trend identification/remediation.
  • Show more

Credit officer example responsibilities.

  • Manage credit risk and provide independent oversight of the bank portfolio.
  • Manage the global function for an ERP software company that has a niche market in manufacturing companies.
  • Manage SBA construction/tenant improvement projects submit until project is completed.
  • Partner with small and entrepreneurial business to develop business plans and assist business owners with achieving payroll.
  • Review clients file for compliance with: CIP, OFAC, HMDA, CRA and red flag activities.
  • Audit applications for HUD and IHDA compliance.
  • Show more

Credit director vs credit officer skills

Common credit director skills
  • Credit Policy, 6%
  • Oversight, 6%
  • Credit Card, 5%
  • Process Improvement, 5%
  • Receivable Portfolio, 4%
  • Credit Risk Management, 4%
Common credit officer skills
  • Risk Management, 10%
  • Credit Risk, 7%
  • Credit Analysis, 5%
  • Real Estate, 4%
  • Credit Approval, 4%
  • Portfolio Management, 4%

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