Collections Specialist Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

Collections specialists are responsible for the financial collection department of a company. They manage the correct invoicing of clients, the timely receiving of payment, and ensure that collections are done according to company policies and regulations. For this job, you should have strong analytical and report writing skills.

Typical duties and responsibilities

• Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visits to solicit payment
• Arrange for debt repayment or establish repayment schedules, based on customers’ financial situations
• Answer customer questions regarding problems with their accounts
• Develop collections methods that consistently lead to achieving or exceeding company financial goals
• Work closely with team members to create ways to bring in revenue and find success as a group
• Solve problems quickly and create resolutions that bring in revenue on a regular basis

Education and experience

• This position requires a high school diploma or GED; a bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Required skills and qualifications

• Proficient with database software and Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to overcome obstacles and get results
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Previous customer service experience preferred

ABC Company is looking for an experienced Collections Specialist with a strong sense of ownership and attention to detail. This Collections Specialist role will be based in the (city, state) region and will be a short-term contract/temporary to hire employment opportunity. If you are looking to apply your talents in a dynamic environment with a group of other talented individuals, apply today!

Responsibilities

• Pinpoint delinquent customer accounts through various means, e.g. written correspondence, phone contact, skip-tracing, and making arrangements for payment
• Update customer files to ensure data integrity
• Maintain quality customer service and a positive company image by resolving customer account inquiries
• Control inbound and outbound collections calls and correspondence
• Correctly process bankruptcy filings when received
• Guarantee the processing of payments
• Abide by all rules and regulations established by the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act
• Direct all billing and reporting activities in accordance to deadlines
• Register all customer payments to the correct reports

Requirements

• 2-3 years of prior high volume collections experience
• Prior experience working with accounting software
• Ability to analyze customer accounts and make decisions based on those analyses
• Consumer collections experience desired
• Excellent verbal, written, and social communication skills
• AA or BS/BA in Accounting preferred

Successful Collections Specialists balance their focus on business results with offering options and finding solutions to help our customers.

Duties and responsibilities

• Are able to collect on past due accounts
• Are very comfortable communicating with customers in a metrics-driven environment
• Are able to navigate multiple technologies while staying engaged with our customers
• Possess excellent negotiation and decision-making skills; in addition to strong communication skills
• Possess strong customer focus with the ability to have detailed conversations with our customers
• Treat customers with respect and respond with empathy
• Demonstrate sensitivity and compassion in difficult situations
• Demonstrate personal excellence including punctuality, integrity and accountability
• Have the ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Think critically and exercise independent judgement

Qualifications

• High School diploma/GED required
• Must be willing to work in an environment that requires 100% phone-based customer interaction
• Minimum of one year of customer interaction or customer support experience strongly preferred, either by phone or face-to-face
• Proficiency with basic computer functions, including mouse and keyboard usage, launching applications, conducting searches on the Internet, and maneuvering in a Windows-based environment, strongly preferred
• Collections experience preferred

As a Collections Specialist, you will perform collection follow-ups on delinquent and/or non-delinquent accounts for medical facilities in a high volume, inbound and outbound, call center environment. You will utilize excellent communication and customer service skills to resolve patient accounts.

What will you do in this role?

• Refer calls/accounts to appropriate parties based on customer inquiries
• Identify problem accounts and escalate as appropriate
• Update the patient account record to identify actions taken on the account
• Work with patients and guarantors to secure payment on outstanding account balances
• Maintain minimum production and quality standards
• Achieve passing quality review scores per unit requirements
• Produce acceptable unit collection volumes
• Work within company attendance guidelines
• Provide excellent customer service
• Practice and adhere to the Parallon “Code of Conduct” philosophy and “Mission and Values Statement”
• Attend Privacy and Security Training as required by the HIPAA Awareness Program and comply with all guidelines, policies and procedures to assure sensitive or confidential information is protected in accordance with the HIPAA rules and regulations

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED preferred
• Minimum one year of related experience preferred, preferably in healthcare