Collection Officer

County of Chester • Justice Center - West Chester, PA

13d

About The Position

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. A criminal background check is required.

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.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree