What Is a Credit Associate and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

A credit associate or analyst determines whether or not clients are good candidates for credit cards, loans, or financing options. Credit associate jobs are found in the banking industry and other corporate settings that provide financial services, like vehicle dealerships. Job duties include gathering data about potential clients, analyzing their financial information, and making a recommendation about their credit risk. The qualifications for this career are a bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, experience in the financial industry, and quantitative analysis skills.

To start a career as a credit associate, you need a bachelor’s degree with at least some accounting coursework and some prior job experience with duties related to finance, such as a banker or loan specialist. You can sometimes enter this career with no formal education if you have several years of relevant professional experience. Other qualifications include excellent mathematical and problem-solving skills, customer service skills, and verbal and written communication skills. You also need organization and self-motivation. Some positions prefer candidates who have a Certified Financial Accountant (CFA) credential or who intend to receive the credential within their first few months of employment.