What does an account representative do?
Account representatives are employees who manage client accounts and act as the main contact of the clients they are handling. They maintain existing accounts by updating client details regularly. They also check up on clients to see if they are still satisfied with the products or services of the company. They also create new accounts by welcoming new clients and assisting them in their needs. Account representatives manage client inquiries and process client requests. They also address complaints and ensure that any challenges are mitigated and that clients remain with the company.
Account representative responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real account representative resumes:
- Manage all billing accounts including Medicare/Medicaid, HMO and individual accounts.
- Manage the daily correspondence from assign practices with keeping doctor/patient confidentiality under consideration along with HIPPA regulations.
- Manage and maintain an internal database system to generate reports and produce accurate account information for patients and insurance companies.
- Educate physicians to use current ICD-9 diagnostic coding and preparation to begin ICD-10 coding requirements.
- Analyze health care insurance/litigation patient account files to resolve outstanding and delinquent accounts due to the healthcare client.
- Promote ThermoCool SmartTouch ablation catheter device to electrophysiologists.
- Verify eligibility with Medicare, Medicaid and other government and commercial insurance companies.
- Process all bankruptcy and probate filings.
- Create delivery tickets with HCPCS codes classifications.
- Dedicate energy, compassion, and commitment to being part of the team.
- Key UB92 and HCFA1500 using the correct revenue and HCPCS codes prior to submitting claims.
- Review HCFA 1500 and UB-04 claims to determine the next step to receive full reimbursement.
- Add ICD-10 codes to all claims and fill out accurate description of service for insurance companies.
- Collect insurance claims to maintain low A/R days and monitor insurance payments to ensure correct contract reimbursement.
- Handle month end reporting - balancing sales to GL, issue customer statements; maintain aging summaries and DSO history.
Account representative skills and personality traits
We calculated that 21% of Account Representatives are proficient in Customer Service, Patients, and Patient Accounts. They’re also known for soft skills such as Organizational skills, Negotiating skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Account Representatives that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 21%
Managed existing accounts in highly competitive territory (Downtown NYC) via face-to-face customer service to increase customer retention levels.
- Patients, 18%
Managed and maintained an internal database system to generated reports and produce accurate account information for patients and insurance companies.
- Patient Accounts, 5%
Reviewed accounts aging and performing collection procedures according to company policy, shared aspects of collection with the patient account representative.
- Data Entry, 3%
Resubmitted and appealed claims by accurately inputting alpha and numeric information, identifying & correcting coding and data entry errors.
- Medicaid, 3%
Determined presumptive Medicare and/or Medicaid eligibility.
- Customer Satisfaction, 3%
Hired in to successfully transition contracted service to a company-managed mileage program which significantly improved customer satisfaction and resulting program growth.
Most account representatives use their skills in "customer service," "patients," and "patient accounts" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential account representative responsibilities here:
Negotiating skills. Another essential skill to perform account representative duties is negotiating skills. Account representatives responsibilities require that "the main aspects of a collector’s job are reconciling the differences between two parties (the debtor and the creditor) and offering a solution that is acceptable to both parties." Account representatives also use negotiating skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "worked with liability insurance claims: review, investigate, negotiating with attorneys, reducing, and opening claims for the hospital"
Speaking skills. account representatives are also known for speaking skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to account representative responsibilities, because "collectors must be able to speak to debtors to explain their options and ensure that they fully understand what is being said." An account representative resume example shows how speaking skills is used in the workplace: "have eob experience and am bilingual speaking. "
Listening skills. account representative responsibilities often require "listening skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "collectors must pay attention to what debtors say when trying to negotiate a repayment plan." This resume example shows what account representatives do with listening skills on a typical day: "managed insurance claims and communicated with the insurance companies to ensure correct payment was secured per contract specifics. "
The three companies that hire the most account representatives are:
- Mariner Finance174 account representatives jobs
- Oracle125 account representatives jobs
- Cintas81 account representatives jobs
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Compare different account representatives
Account representative vs. Customer service representative
Customer service representatives are the first point of contact of the customers, acting as the frontiers of the company and help in driving customer loyalty and retention by leaving a great impression and resolving all of their concerns. They accommodate customer queries by providing useful and comprehensive information about any products or services. Some would use that as an opportunity to market and promote more sales. The most challenging issues they use to handle are customer complaints and processing of refunds and returns. They also assist in basic troubleshooting or accounts and payment setup with the use of specific guidelines or step by step procedures. At most, they help and solve customer issues on their own, but sometimes they would need support from supervisors or other departments.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between account representatives and customer service representative. For instance, account representative responsibilities require skills such as "patient accounts," "cpt," "medical terminology," and "medical billing." Whereas a customer service representative is skilled in "cleanliness," "pos," "sales floor," and "home health." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Customer service representatives tend to make the most money working in the insurance industry, where they earn an average salary of $34,074. In contrast, account representatives make the biggest average salary, $38,433, in the finance industry.The education levels that customer service representatives earn slightly differ from account representatives. In particular, customer service representatives are 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an account representative. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Account representative vs. Insurance representative
An insurance representative serves as a client's point of contact in insurance companies. Their responsibilities include researching client opportunities, reaching out to potential clients to offer products and services, discussing terms and policies, providing detailed advice, and assisting in every procedure, ensuring convenience and client satisfaction. Aside from securing sales, an insurance representative may also process applications and claims while adhering to the company's policies and regulations. Furthermore, they may also perform clerical tasks such as handling calls and correspondence, arranging appointments, and maintaining records of all transactions.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that account representative responsibilities requires skills like "customer satisfaction," "medical terminology," "financial assistance," and "telephone calls." But an insurance representative might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "health insurance," "auto insurance," "medical insurance," and "appeals."
On average, insurance representatives earn a lower salary than account representatives. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, insurance representatives earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $38,752. Whereas account representatives have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $38,433.In general, insurance representatives achieve similar levels of education than account representatives. They're 0.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Account representative vs. Call center representative
Call center representatives are employees who take customer calls in the company's contact center. They answer incoming calls related to their account. Call center representatives are trained on the company's products, policies, and guidelines. They are expected to know the ins and outs of every company product under their account before they are assigned to the operations floor. Once they are deemed efficient enough to handle calls, they begin to take customer inquiries and try to resolve them during the call. Call center representatives are expected to follow company policies and procedures and to meet the goals set by the company.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, account representatives are more likely to have skills like "patient accounts," "cpt," "medical terminology," and "medical billing." But a call center representative is more likely to have skills like "strong customer service," "troubleshoot," "bartending," and "inbound phone calls."
Call center representatives make a very good living in the finance industry with an average annual salary of $32,660. On the other hand, account representatives are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $38,433.Most call center representatives achieve a similar degree level compared to account representatives. For example, they're 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Account representative vs. Customer representative
A customer service representative is an individual person who establishes communication between customers and the organization by answering questions, resolve complaints, and address emergency issues about the products and services he/she sells. He/She must possess an approachable personality, a passion for customer service, and work with his/her fellow workmates. The minimum educational requirement for a customer service representative is a high school diploma; however, a candidate must complete on-the-job training. A Customer Service Representative should also possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
Types of account representative
Updated January 8, 2025
