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Senior collection specialist vs account representative

The differences between senior collection specialists and account representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a senior collection specialist and an account representative. Additionally, a senior collection specialist has an average salary of $45,150, which is higher than the $36,977 average annual salary of an account representative.

The top three skills for a senior collection specialist include portfolio, customer service and past due accounts. The most important skills for an account representative are customer service, patients, and patient accounts.

Senior collection specialist vs account representative overview

Senior Collection SpecialistAccount Representative
Yearly salary$45,150$36,977
Hourly rate$21.71$17.78
Growth rate-8%-8%
Number of jobs31,192183,446
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Average age4646
Years of experience1212

What does a senior collection specialist do?

Senior collection specialists lead others by distributing and balancing workload, providing on-the-job training, and demonstrating proper work methods to employees. The specialists determine the most effective and economical means of collecting for each account, compose correspondence requiring knowledge procedure and practices in the collection, and apply standard due diligence practice to collect monies owed. They should have work leadership, know how to gather data, and analyze financial information for decision-making purposes. Also, they apply payments received to proper accounts and make necessary adjustments or corrections.

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.

Senior collection specialist vs account representative salary

Senior collection specialists and account representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Collection SpecialistAccount Representative
Average salary$45,150$36,977
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $61,000Between $26,000 And $51,000
Highest paying CityHartford, CTLos Angeles, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutCalifornia
Best paying companyJPMorgan Chase & Co.New Relic
Best paying industryHealth CareFinance

Differences between senior collection specialist and account representative education

There are a few differences between a senior collection specialist and an account representative in terms of educational background:

Senior Collection SpecialistAccount Representative
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 41%Bachelor's Degree, 52%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Senior collection specialist vs account representative demographics

Here are the differences between senior collection specialists' and account representatives' demographics:

Senior Collection SpecialistAccount Representative
Average age4646
Gender ratioMale, 40.4% Female, 59.6%Male, 33.6% Female, 66.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 3.5% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3% Asian, 3.9% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between senior collection specialist and account representative duties and responsibilities

Senior collection specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage re-billings for third party accounts including: commercial carriers, manage care, PPO, POS and HMO organizations.
  • Work comp, MV cases, Medicare, Medicaid and commercial insurances.
  • Follow Medicare guidelines, posses knowledge of ICD and CPT coding, medical and reimbursement terminology, third party billing
  • Cross train fellow agents in store support and online product matrix, and train incoming agents in software and FDCPA guidelines.
  • Participate in the Medicaid conversion project.
  • Verify correct consumer provide disclosure to ensure compliance with FDCPA regulations.
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Account representative example responsibilities.

  • 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.
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Senior collection specialist vs account representative skills

Common senior collection specialist skills
  • Portfolio, 9%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Past Due Accounts, 8%
  • Delinquent Accounts, 6%
  • Customer Accounts, 6%
  • Payment Arrangements, 5%
Common account representative skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Patients, 18%
  • Patient Accounts, 5%
  • Data Entry, 3%
  • Medicaid, 3%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 3%

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