Collections representative vs collections/accounts receivable

The differences between collections representatives and collections/accounts receivables can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a collections representative and a collections/accounts receivable. Additionally, a collections/accounts receivable has an average salary of $38,949, which is higher than the $34,015 average annual salary of a collections representative.

The top three skills for a collections representative include payment arrangements, customer service and delinquent accounts. The most important skills for a collections/accounts receivable are customer service, patients, and delinquent accounts.

Collections representative vs collections/accounts receivable overview

	Collections Representative	Collections/Accounts Receivable
Yearly salary	$34,015	$38,949
Hourly rate	$16.35	$18.73
Growth rate	-8%	-8%
Number of jobs	85,275	30,523
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age	46	46
Years of experience	12	12

What does a collections representative do?

A Collections Representative's role is to collect payment for outstanding or overdue bills through phone calls, email, mail, or sometimes personal appointments. A Collections Representative is required to have a great deal of research and communication skills in order to reach out to people and explain how to settle their debts or even negotiate a payment term or plan. Collections Representatives must also make sure that these terms are honored and met, and create reports for the creditor regarding the delinquent accounts.

What does a collections/accounts receivable do?

An officer for collections/accounts receivable is in charge of a company's financial activities, ensuring that they receive payment from clients. They primarily focus on overseeing all billing and invoices, processing and verifying all receipts and rendered services, maintaining an accurate record of all transactions, producing reports and presentations, reviewing account and payment histories, and ensuring the accuracy of all processes involving the matter. Furthermore, should there be any complex issues, it is essential to reach out to a manager or a supervisor right away.

Collections representative vs collections/accounts receivable salary

Collections representatives and collections/accounts receivables have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Collections Representative	Collections/Accounts Receivable
Average salary	$34,015	$38,949
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $42,000	Between $30,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	San Ramon, CA	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	California	Connecticut
Best paying company	University of California, Berkeley	Apollo Global Management
Best paying industry	Finance	Finance

Differences between collections representative and collections/accounts receivable education

There are a few differences between a collections representative and a collections/accounts receivable in terms of educational background:

	Collections Representative	Collections/Accounts Receivable
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 33%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Collections representative vs collections/accounts receivable demographics

Here are the differences between collections representatives' and collections/accounts receivables' demographics:

	Collections Representative	Collections/Accounts Receivable
Average age	46	46
Gender ratio	Male, 30.6% Female, 69.4%	Male, 25.3% Female, 74.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 61.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between collections representative and collections/accounts receivable duties and responsibilities

Collections representative example responsibilities.

Protect A/R assets by managing a portfolio of accounts to maximize gainful sales and reduce debt losses.
Maintain effective communication and utilize negotiation skills with internal and external customers to effect collections while maintaining customer good will.
Submit all reconsideration and appeals if need.
Conduct periodic data cleaning of queues balances deny with deny appeals.
Resolve valid or authorize NSF charges due to decline credit cards or ACH transactions.
Collect and count inventories, reconcile purchases and scan UPC's and inputting price information.

Collections/accounts receivable example responsibilities.

Plan and conduct sensitive HUMINT collection operations with an emphasis on managing and debriefing confidential sources.
Work accounts receivable for Medicaid verification and payments.
Work remittance advice from Medicaid ensuring accuracy of payments.
Research and obtain extensive knowledge of FDCPA debt recovery laws and assist in recovering commercial debt from organizations.
Communicate effectively with patients, physicians, hospital staff, and insurance representatives to ensure accuracy in claims processing.
Review claims to determine if process correctly and if necessary, direct patients to contact insurance companies regarding additional benefit questions.

Collections representative vs collections/accounts receivable skills

Common collections representative skills

Payment Arrangements, 14%
Customer Service, 13%
Delinquent Accounts, 9%
Past Due Accounts, 6%
Customer Accounts, 4%
Debt Repayment, 4%

Common collections/accounts receivable skills

Customer Service, 21%
Patients, 6%
Delinquent Accounts, 5%
Credit Card Payments, 5%
Past Due Accounts, 5%
Customer Accounts, 5%

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Collections Representative
Collections Representative vs Collections/Accounts Receivable

Updated January 8, 2025

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