Collector at Farmers Home Furniture – LAWRENCEVILLE, Georgia

The purpose of this classification is to perform technical and clerical work functions associated with collection of delinquent accounts within the Profit and Loss Department, skip tracing and contacting customers, making telephone collection calls, sending letters or initiating legal filings during collection follow-up, and maintaining detailed collection records and files.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Assimilates and reviews delinquent account records and relative information to determine which customers must be contacted for collection of overdue accounts; verifies accuracy of accounts using calculator and computer.
• Organizes collection workload according to degree, type, and amount of delinquency; prepares necessary documentation; decides action required to collect accounts.
• Follows proper collection policy, procedures, and guidelines; ensures collection activities are in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
• Locates customers to collect installments, overdue accounts, or non-payable checks; obtains copy of customers' credit bureau reports; utilizes the Internet and Credit Bureau Investigation (CBI) machine to skip-trace/locate missing debtors.
• Reviews customer credit reports to reveal current payment status with other creditors, to determine customers' ability to pay in the future, to obtain information that may assist with locating and/or collection of customer debt.
• Communicates with customer via telephone or by mail; attempts to persuade customer to pay amount due or arranges for payment at later date; sets up payment schedules for customers.
• Writes letters or completes form letters for use in collection attempts and/or during follow-up efforts.
• Refers accounts to supervisor for authorization to proceed with repossession of merchandise or legal actions against debtors as a result of non-payment; handles legal accounts; initiates legal filings as appropriate.
• Receives and posts customer correspondence and/or payments resulting from collection efforts; maintains record of collection effort on each account for future reference.
• Compiles monthly collection reports; balances outstanding accounts with money collected.
• Answers the telephone; provides information, guidance and assistance; takes and relays messages and/or directs calls to appropriate personnel; returns calls as necessary.
• Performs data entry functions by keying collection information into GERS computer system which may include noting contact dates, posting responses and payments, and maintaining account records; retrieves, reviews or modifies data in computer database; verifies accuracy of entered data; makes corrections as appropriate.
• Attends departmental meetings, seminars, and training courses as required to remain current with acceptable collection techniques.
• Receives various documentation and forms; reviews, processes, responds, distributes, forwards, files, maintains, and/or takes other action as appropriate.
• Operates a computer terminal, printer, CBI machine, calculator, copy machine, telephone, or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, or other system software.
• Upholds and promotes our H.O.M.E. values: Helping others, developing Ordinary people to do extraordinary things, being a Motivated owner that cares, and Ensuring that excellence is a habit personally and for those entrusted to them to lead.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

• Performs administrative tasks such as preparing and maintaining files, opening mail, typing, and completing spreadsheets.
• Substitutes for co-workers in temporary absence of same.
• Performs other related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma or GED plus appropriate required certification; three (3) years of experience in payment collection, customer service, collection-related clerical work; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES

Data Utilization: Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to act as a first-line supervisor, including instructing, reviewing work, maintaining standards, and coordinating activities.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

Farmers Furniture is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Company is committed to maintaining an environment free of harassment and discrimination.

ADA COMPLIANCE

Physical Ability: Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate sounds and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Farmers Furniture is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Farmers Furniture will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.