Bill and Account Collectors
Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visit to solicit payment. Duties include receiving payment and posting amount to customer's account, preparing statements to credit department if customer fails to respond, initiating repossession proceedings or service disconnection, and keeping records of collection and status of accounts.
Sample of reported job titles:
Account Representative, Accounts Receivable Specialist (AR Specialist), Collection Agent, Collection Specialist, Collector, Credit Clerk, Debt Collector, Patient Access Specialist, Patient Account Representative, Telephone Collector
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Receive payments and post amounts paid to customer accounts.
- Locate and monitor overdue accounts, using computers and a variety of automated systems.
- Record information about financial status of customers and status of collection efforts.
- Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by mail, telephone, or personal visits to solicit payment.
- Confer with customers by telephone or in person to determine reasons for overdue payments and to review the terms of sales, service, or credit contracts.
Technology Skills
- Access software:CU Connect processing software
- Accounting software:ADP Drive DMS for Accounting,Intuit QuickBooks,Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne,Sage 50 Accounting
- Categorization or classification software:Diagnostic and procedural coding software
- Customer relationship management CRM software:ADS Advantage,Adtec Agency Manager,Austin Logistics CallSelect,Collection Data Systems CollectOne-Tiger,Columbia Ultimate Archive,Columbia Ultimate RPCS,Data-Tel Ceasar,Debt account management and collection software,Microsoft Dynamics,Ontario Systems FACS,Quantrax Intelec
- Data base user interface and query software:Relational database software
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Working with Computers:Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work:Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Documenting/Recording Information:Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates:Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others:Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
Detailed Work Activities
- Collect deposits, payments or fees.
- Discuss account status or activity with customers or patrons.
- File documents or records.
- Interview employees, customers, or others to collect information.
- Maintain financial or account records.
Work Context
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled:96% responded"Every day"
- Contact With Others:94% responded"Constant contact with others"
- Telephone:80% responded"Every day"
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People:78% responded"Every day"
- Frequency of Decision Making:77% responded"Every day"
Worker Requirements
Skills
- Active Listening:Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking:Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Persuasion:Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Social Perceptiveness:Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Writing:Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Knowledge
- English Language:Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Customer and Personal Service:Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Mathematics:Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Economics and Accounting:Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
- Law and Government:Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
- 48%High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
- 27%Some College Courses
- 21%Bachelor's Degree
Worker Characteristics
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension:The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression:The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Speech Clarity:The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition:The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Written Comprehension:The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Interests
- Conventional:Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Enterprising:Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Work Values
- Relationships:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
- Support:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Achievement:Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Work Styles
- Integrity:Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Attention to Detail:Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Dependability:Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Independence:Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Cooperation:Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
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