Collections Specialist

<h3>Accountabilities</h3><li>
<strong>Manage Accounts Receivable and Collections</strong>
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<li>Maintain an assigned portfolio of outstanding receivables and monitor account activity to ensure timely resolution.</li><li>Review accounts receivable aging reports and prioritize collection efforts based on overdue balances, financial risk, payment history, and established collection procedures.</li><li>Monitor invoice due dates and initiate appropriate collection activities in accordance with internal policies and timelines.</li><li>Track accounts throughout the collection lifecycle, ensuring consistent follow-up until balances are resolved.</li><li>Identify accounts requiring additional collection measures and escalate delinquent cases when standard recovery efforts have been exhausted.</li><li>
<strong>Communicate with Customers and Coordinate Payments</strong>
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<li>Contact customers by telephone, email, written correspondence, and other approved communication channels to address outstanding balances.</li><li>Issue payment reminders and delinquency notices professionally and respectfully.</li><li>Explain account balances, invoice details, payment expectations, and available resolution options clearly.</li><li>Obtain payment commitments, establish payment arrangements, document agreed-upon terms, and monitor adherence to payment schedules.</li><li>Follow up promptly on missed payments, broken commitments, and unresolved accounts.</li><li>
<strong>Investigate and Resolve Account Issues</strong>
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<li>Research billing discrepancies, disputed charges, unapplied payments, missing documentation, and other issues preventing timely collection.</li><li>Collaborate with internal departments, including billing, accounting, cash application, academic services, and administrative teams, to resolve account problems.</li><li>Coordinate with external sponsors, businesses, government agencies, and other stakeholders to clarify billing requirements and facilitate payment.</li><li>Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of collection activities, customer interactions, correspondence, payment commitments, and account status.</li><li>Ensure account documentation is complete and that collection activities comply with established procedures.</li><li>
<strong>Deliver Excellent Customer Service and Support Continuous Improvement</strong>
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<li>Serve as a primary point of contact for customers with outstanding financial obligations, providing timely, courteous, and solution-oriented assistance.</li><li>Build constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders while balancing customer needs with collection objectives.</li><li>Apply sound judgment and problem-solving skills to address complex account situations and determine appropriate next steps.</li><li>Identify opportunities to improve collection workflows, documentation practices, and the overall customer experience.</li><li>Complete at least 19 hours of professional development annually and perform other duties as assigned.</li><h2>Requirements</h2><li>
<strong>Education and Experience</strong>
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<li>An associate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, combined with at least two years of experience in accounts receivable, billing, collections, customer account management, or a related area.</li><li>A bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related discipline is preferred.</li><li>Experience in higher education, third-party receivables, or similar financial services environments is advantageous.</li><li>Experience using Workday or other enterprise financial systems is preferred.</li><li>Bilingual or multilingual proficiency is considered an asset.</li><li>Official academic transcripts must be provided.</li><li>
<strong>Technical and Financial Skills</strong>
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<li>Solid understanding of accounts receivable procedures, collection practices, and payment recovery methods.</li><li>Strong account research and reconciliation skills, with the ability to interpret invoices, review account histories, and identify discrepancies.</li><li>Proficiency in spreadsheets and financial systems, with the ability to maintain accurate records and manage account information.</li><li>Strong analytical and critical-thinking abilities to assess payment issues, determine appropriate collection actions, and support effective resolution.</li><li>Excellent documentation skills and a high level of attention to detail when recording correspondence, payment commitments, and account updates.</li><li>Ability to manage a high-volume portfolio, prioritize competing deadlines, and maintain consistent follow-up across multiple accounts.</li>