Collection Officer

Collection Officer

The Collection Officer is responsible for developing a payment plan based on various collection methods to ensure that offenders pay court-imposed fees, costs, fines, and restitution in a timely manner and in accordance with the Court Order. Criminal background check is required.

Essential Duties

• Manage approximately 1,000 accounts involving fines, costs and restitution owed by adult probation and parole clients.
• Use a collection software package to monitor payments, correspondence, notation of contacts and all relevant documents.
• Assess and review the financial status of all clients in order to establish appropriate payment arrangements within the Order of the Court.
• Develop payment plans, as appropriate.
• Maintain and monitor payments made by offenders and apply collection methods such as personal contacts, dunning letters, wage attachments, hearings and civil judgements, etc.
• Research and review victim restitution information to ensure that the appropriate victims will be compensated for their loss in a timely manner.
• Report the particulars of payment plan compliance statuses and case histories to the Court at contempt hearings, as necessary.
• Perform other duties, tasks and special projects, as required.

Qualifications/Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Associate's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to manage large sums of money from offenders for the payment of fines, costs, and restitution.
• Knowledge of General Accounting Practices
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently, and proceed with objectives.
• Easily adapts to changes in the work environment.
• Ability to maintain confidential information and handle confidential matters.
• Strong customer service experience and skills.
• Ability to multi-task and establish priorities.
• Accurate and detail oriented.
• Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems.
• Knowledge and skill with modern office equipment (fax, copier, calculator, etc.).
• A valid driver's license is required.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or Criminal Justice.
• One years of collections experience with a financial or government agency.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice field.
• Public relations knowledge and skills.
• Strong financial background.
• Strong professional ethics.
• Ability to follow office protocol.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to establish priorities (remain focused on daily operations).
• Able to carry tasks to completion.
• General knowledge and understanding of County of Chester policies and procedures.
• Able to use common sense understanding to carry out written or verbal instructions.

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy. Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have: Basic Word skills, Basic Excel skills, Basic Access skills, Basic Outlook skills (Email and Calendar), Basic Internet skills, Knowledge and skill or the ability to learn the department collection software package.