How to hire a senior collector

How to hire a senior collector, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior collector hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior collector job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior collector
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your senior collector job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a senior collector for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior collector's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior collectors from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior collectors.

   Type of Senior Collector	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Collector	Bill and account collectors, sometimes called collectors, try to recover payment on overdue bills. They negotiate repayment plans with debtors and help them find solutions to make paying their overdue bills easier.	$24-69
   Account Representative	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... Show more	$12-24
   Collections/Accounts Receivable	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... Show more	$14-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Payment Arrangements
   • Past Due Accounts
   • Debt Repayment
   • Loss Mitigation
   • FDCPA
   • Credit Card Accounts
   • Collection Efforts
   • Auto Loans
   • Customer Accounts
   • Inbound Calls
   • Outbound Calls
   • Foreclosure
   • Credit Reports

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Accomplish the above in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
   • Manage re-billings for third party accounts including: commercial carriers, manage care, PPO, POS and HMO organizations.
   • Record CPT codes and ICD-9 codes on billing forms.
   • Develop and pursue collection strategies to reduce the DSO.
   • Process credit cards, purchase cards, ACH payments.
   • Used the Medicaid web portal to check claim status and eligibility.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior collector job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A senior collector can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, senior collectors' average salary in wyoming is 65% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior collectors 66% less than senior-level senior collectors.
   • Certifications. A senior collector with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a senior collector's salary.

   Average senior collector salary

   $85,626yearly

   $41.17 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior collector salary

   $50,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 29, 2026

4. Writing a senior collector job description

   A job description for a senior collector role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a senior collector job description:

   Senior collector job description example

   At Exeter Finance, we are committed to helping customers find the right financing for their next vehicle purchase. By building strong relationships with our customers and network of dealer partners we are able to give options that make sense, getting customers behind the wheel of their car.
   
   Every team member is integral to our success. Whether you're at a servicing center helping customers with their loans, in the field building relationships with dealers, or supporting the company from its corporate offices, you'll enjoy a nurturing, invigorating and positive work environment.
   
   Our vision is to be a premier finance company and lender of choice known for its People, Performance and Service.
   Job Description
   
   Job Summary:
   The Senior Collector represents the most senior level in the Collections job family. In this role you will work with customers that are 81+ days delinquent. In addition, you will work on pre-charge-offs, charge-offs, and/or recovery efforts. This person must be highly skilled in negotiation and related activities. The Senior Collector may use both an auto dialer and manual dialing to contact and negotiate with customers.
   
   Job Duties:
   Reviews and monitors delinquent accounts daily, and maintains losses at or below established guidelines for assigned job duties. Receives incoming calls and makes outbound collection calls to encourage payments and cure outstanding past due account balances to avoid further delinquency. In instances of a charge off, the Senior Collector has the ability to negotiate a settlement for less than the account balance.
   Utilizes all available methods, including on-line systems and other resources, to perform skip trace work to establish contact with account holders to avoid repossession or locate collateral. Takes action on accounts needing additional attention. Seeks manager approval as needed.
   Accurately documents all account activities and pertinent information to include, but not limited to, verifications and demographic changes.
   Takes action on accounts needing additional attention. Seeks manager approval as needed.
   May assist other related departments as required by business needs.
   Ensures compliance with Exeter's policies, procedures, safety, state and federal laws, regulations and standards.
   Other duties as required.
   
   Education and Work Experience:
   High School Diploma or equivalent is required; college degree is preferred.
   Seven (7)+ years of collections experience or equivalent education and training is required.
   Experience in the finance or credit industry is preferred.
   Familiarity with indirect loan documentation, i.e. contracts, ancillary products, certificates, bankruptcies.
   Database skills are preferred.
   A working knowledge of automobile finance, collections, loan services, and/or specialty areas preferred.
   Proficiency in SHAW Collections and SHAW Retail is preferred.
   Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel is required.
   Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required, as well as the ability to utilize appropriate analysis, judgment, and logic.
   Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.
   Self-motivated with the ability to complete multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
   High attention to detail; able to methodically review the execution of procedures and identify issues.
   For internal applicants: top 30% of the scorecard 10 of 12 months, as well as QA at 90% minimum. Manager recommends promotion and the agent has to have a minimum of three years of experience.
   
   Exeter Finance LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right senior collector for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior collector job on Zippia to find and recruit senior collector candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with senior collector candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior collector

   Once you've found the senior collector candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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