Collections Associate

OEC; Fairlawn (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits starting Day 1

401(k) with company match

Professional development programs

Tuition assistance

Employee discounts

Job summary

OEC is seeking an experienced Accounts Receivable Specialist in Ohio to manage past-due customer accounts, monitor aging, and negotiate payment plans while maintaining accurate records for monthly and quarterly reporting.

You will contact customers by phone, email, and letter, document promises-to-pay, and escalate when needed, ensuring compliance with FDCPA and internal policies. Strong Excel skills and clear communication are essential to balance collections with customer relationships.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in collections, AR, or credit support with payment negotiation experience.
• Experience handling past-due accounts and negotiating payment plans.
• Strong knowledge of FDCPA and collections best practices.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP) for aging analysis.

Responsibilities

• Monitor AR aging daily and prioritize outreach by risk, balance, and delinquency.
• Contact customers to secure payment, negotiate and document payment plans, resolve disputes.
• Maintain detailed collection notes and account histories; prepare aging summaries and bad debt exposure reports.
• Escalate past-due accounts with appropriate documentation; coordinate with Sales and Customer Service as needed.
• Track monthly write-offs, update terms, and manage billing/statements per contract terms.

Skills

Collections

Excel

FDCPA

Communication

Organization

Multitasking

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Drive down delinquency and protect company cash flow by managing past-due customer accounts. You'll monitor AR aging, resolve outstanding balances, negotiate payment plans, and serve as the primary contact for customers on billing disputes and payment status — all while maintaining accurate records to support monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting.

What You'll Do

• Account Monitoring: Review AR aging daily, prioritizing outreach by risk, balance, and days delinquent. Code and post payments and reconcile related accounts.
• Collections: Contact customers by phone, email, and letter to secure payment; negotiate and document payment plans. Resolve billing discrepancies, short pays, and disputes, coordinating with Sales and Customer Service as needed.
• Documentation & Reporting: Maintain detailed collection notes and account histories for every contact and promise-to-pay. Prepare month/quarter/year-end aging summaries and bad debt exposure reports, researching data to resolve discrepancies.
• Escalation: Send past-due notices and demand letters, escalating per collection stage. Recommend and document chronically delinquent accounts for agency or legal referral. Process credit card payments via RBS.
• Billing & Compliance: Track monthly bad-debt write-offs, update payment terms, process billing/statements per contract terms, and manage the billing system's subscription database.
• Credit Management: Recommend and coordinate credit holds, releases, and restrictions, balancing collections with customer relationships alongside Sales and Account Management.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all activity follows applicable debt collection laws (e.g., FDCPA) and internal policies.
• Team Support: Provide clerical support, assist with special projects, and back up teammates during absences.

What You Bring

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 3+ years in collections, AR, or credit support, with experience in payment negotiation and past-due account management.
• Working knowledge of FDCPA and collections best practices.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP) for aging and account analysis.
• Comfort with high-volume outbound calls and firm, professional payment conversations.
• Strong communication, organization, and relationship-building skills across teams and stakeholders.
• Ability to juggle multiple deadlines simultaneously.

What We Offer:

• Full benefits starting Day 1: Medical, Dental, and Vision
• 401(k) with company match
• Professional development programs and tuition assistance
• Employee resource groups and exclusive employee discounts