Collection Officer

Collections specialists are responsible for resolving overdue bills and collecting payments from the individuals or businesses responsible for the debt. 

They must locate those responsible for unpaid bills and set up acceptable terms of repayment to protect the financial assets of their employer. 

Common responsibilities for a collections specialist include

• Processing customer payments, account adjustments and customer refunds where appropriate
   
• Reviewing records for accuracy and handling disputes to make sure that account information is entered and maintained appropriately
   

• Communication: These professionals must know how to focus, respond politely and carefully address sensitive topics related to personal financial situations. Their communication style should include respectful and professional phone etiquette. 
  
   
• Negotiation: Negotiations often take place as collections specialists are working out payment plans with their clients and their debtors. These professionals must be able to negotiate successfully and come to agreements that benefit all parties.
  
   
• Problem-solving: Managing collections requires problem-solving when finding the best way to manage clients and debtors. Collections specialists should be comfortable investigating complex issues to better understand these matters.
  
   
• Computer literacy: Depending on the role’s responsibilities, some collections specialists may work with word processing and spreadsheet software, such as those in the Microsoft Office suite. These may be used for data organization and processing to track debtor progress.