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What does a Collection Specialist do?

Photo of Brenna Goyette
Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 3 min read

A collection specialist is a professional who is responsible for collecting debts owed to a company. This may involve contacting debtors, negotiating payment plans, and taking legal action if necessary.

Collection Specialist job duties include:

  • Locate and notify customers of delinquent accounts by telephone, mail, or in person
  • Establish contact with customers and perform customer service to collect payments
  • Investigate and resolve customer inquiries
  • Update account status information
  • Prepare monthly reports
  • Generate computerized lists of delinquent accounts
  • Forward accounts to credit bureau and collection agencies
  • Perform skip tracing to locate customers with delinquent accounts
  • Negotiate payment arrangements with customers

Collection Specialist Job Requirements

Most employers prefer to hire collection specialists who have at least a high school diploma. However, some jobs may require postsecondary education, and many employers prefer to hire candidates who have completed some college coursework. Certification is not typically required for entry-level positions, but it may be beneficial for career advancement. Collection specialists typically need at least one year of experience working in customer service or a related field.

Collection Specialist Skills

  • Communication
  • Active listening
  • Problem solving
  • Critical thinking
  • Negotiation
  • Persuasion
  • Organizational
  • Time management
  • Research
  • Data analysis
  • Collection strategies

Related: Top Collection Specialist Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become a Collection Specialist

A Collection Specialist is a professional who is responsible for collecting payments on behalf of a company. This individual must have excellent communication and negotiation skills in order to successfully collect payments from customers. In addition, a Collection Specialist must be well-organized and detail-oriented in order to keep track of customer accounts and payment history.

If you are interested in becoming a Collection Specialist, there are a few things that you will need to do. First, you will need to obtain a high school diploma or equivalent. Next, you will need to complete some formal training, which can be obtained through a vocational school or community college. Finally, it is important to have some experience working in customer service or collections in order to be successful in this role.

Related: Collection Specialist Resume Example

Related: Collection Specialist Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Editorial staff

Photo of Brenna Goyette, Editor

Editor

Brenna Goyette

Expert Verified

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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