A credit authorizer is a clerical professional who reviews applications for credit to determine if they should be granted. Many people can seek positions in this field with just a high school diploma, although some employers may ask for accounting certifications. Training is typically provided on the job to familiarize people with a company's standards for creditworthiness and to teach them the procedures for processing credit applications.
When a person or business applies for credit, a credit authorizer looks over the application and the information provided. This person can also request a credit score from a rating agency. Supporting documentation may be needed from the applicant, such as proof of income, and applicants for credit can also be subjected to background checks, where the goal is to identify risk factors that might make them dangerous choices of people to extend credit to.
Credit authorizers have strict guidelines they work with to determine if someone is eligible for credit and to decide how much credit should be offered. In addition to looking over new applications, they can also be called in to review applications for a larger line of credit. Credit authorizers in facilities where things like store credit are extended review individual customers to see if they should be offered credit, and they may be required to authorize purchases made on account for safety. They can also prepare bills for these customers and suspend accounts of people who are late with payments.
Depending on the company, a credit authorizer may have direct customer contact or may work remotely. This job requires good observational skills, as people need to be able to catch problems with a credit application, and they have to look out for issues that might not be readily apparent, such as discrepancies between data suggestive of identity theft or falsification of credit information. Credit authorizers can be audited by internal finance departments and if they are found offering credit to poor credit risks, they may be penalized.
Job listings for credit authorizer positions can be found in a number of publications and directly on the job websites of many major companies. People usually need to have a resume available with references to apply for such jobs, and it can help to have certifications and prior experience in the financial industry. The ability to handle confidential and sensitive data is also required for a credit authorizer, and people may need to pass a security check to confirm that they are not a risk.
