Collections Officer II - Self Pay Collections - Bilingual Required

County of Ventura; Ventura (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Ventura Health Care Agency seeks a Collections Officer II to manage hospital and clinic accounts, apply collection strategies, and recover delinquent charges for medical services.

The ideal candidate is bilingual (English/Spanish), demonstrates strong customer service, and uses Excel and Cerner to analyze accounts and prepare routine reports. This is a full-time, on-site role in Ventura County.

Qualifications

• Two years medical account collections experience.
• Substitution: two years related education/training may substitute for one year of experience.
• Must be bilingual English/Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Manages a caseload of hospital and clinic accounts, reviews records, and recovers delinquent charges for medical services.
• Reviews self-pay accounts, payment histories, balances, debtor information and financial status changes.
• Locates and contacts debtors to explain obligations, negotiates payment arrangements, and adjusts plans as needed.
• Analyzes patient accounts to determine appropriate collection actions and documents activity in the patient accounting system.
• Maintains payment records, prepares routine correspondence and reports, monitors aging, and processes discount adjustments.
• Resolves billing inquiries, processes payments by phone and mail, and reviews credits within required timeframes.
• Updates accounts with insurance information, verifies addresses, and confirms balance accuracy before statements.
• Collects payments while maintaining confidentiality and escalates when necessary.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Skills

Bilingual English/Spanish

Microsoft Excel

Cerner EHR

Customer service

Financial analysis

Education

Two years medical account collections experience

Tools

Cerner EHR

Microsoft Excel

Job description

THE POSITION

Collections Officer II within Patient Financial Services with the Health Care Agency. Under general direction, the Collections Officer II collects monies owed the County for services rendered and/or taxes/fines/ fees levied; and performs related duties as required.

Description

Collections Officer II is the journey level classification of this series. Incumbents manage a full caseload within an area of account specialization (e.g., medical collections); and may return cases to court or initiate property liens for failure to pay.

The ideal candidate

is bilingual (English/Spanish) and will possess excellent customer service skills and the ability to communicate effectively with clients, coworkers, and other stakeholders while exercising sound judgment and professionalism in sensitive financial situations. They will have experience analyzing financial information to determine appropriate collection actions, evaluating eligibility for self-pay and financial assistance programs, and processing related recommendations and account adjustments. The ideal candidate will also maintain accurate records, prepare routine correspondence and reports, identify opportunities to improve collections, and demonstrate strong attention to detail while managing multiple priorities in a high-volume environment. Experience handling high-volume phone calls, working with Microsoft Excel reports, and using electronic health record systems such as Cerner is highly desirable.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT

Health Care Agency - Administration

Collections Officer II is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

OPENING DATE

8/20/26

CLOSING DATE

Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when we receive enough qualified applications to meet business needs. It is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible.

Examples Of Duties

• Manages a caseload of hospital and clinic accounts by reviewing patient financial records, establishing collection strategies, and recovering delinquent charges for medical services;
• Reviews assigned self-pay accounts, payment histories, and financial information to determine balances, verify debtor information, and assess changes in financial status;
• Locates and contacts debtors to obtain updated information, explain payment obligations and consequences of non‑payment, negotiate payment arrangements, and modify payment plans as appropriate;
• Analyzes patient accounts to determine appropriate collection actions and accurately documents all account activity in the patient accounting system;
• Maintains accurate manual and automated payment records, prepares routine correspondence and reports, monitors account aging, and processes qualified discount program adjustments;
• Resolves patient billing inquiries, processes payments received by phone and mail, and reviews patient accounts to identify and process credits within required timeframes;
• Updates patient accounts with insurance information, verifies patient addresses, and confirms account balance accuracy before statement generation;
• Collects patient payments while maintaining confidentiality and identifies accounts requiring escalation or additional review; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and ensure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, And EXPERIENCE

Collections Officer II: Two (2) years medical account collections experience.

Substitution: Two (2) years of related education/training may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Must be bilingual (English/Spanish)

Desired

• Experience in health care patient collections
• Intermediate skills working with Microsoft Excel
• Experience working with Electronic Health Records (EHRs), such as Cerner

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, And ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of:

• Collection practices for delinquent accounts, including financial assessment, debtor location techniques, and applicable laws, and regulations, strong communication and problem‑solving skills
• Applying financial interviewing techniques and account processing procedures to screen patients for financial assistance eligibility
• The functions and operations of the Cerner (or similar EHR) patient accounting system and healthcare revenue cycle
• Insurance denials, self pay workflows and financial assistance programs

Working Ability To

• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, professional standards, and hospital and clinic billing practices governing collections
• Analyze financial information, exercise sound judgment, and determine appropriate collection actions while maintaining professional and compassionate customer service
• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals from diverse backgrounds using tact, diplomacy, and de‑escalation techniques to resolve patient concerns respectfully
• Establishes effective working relationships, collaborates with clinic and hospital staff to resolve account issues, and handles difficult or stressful situations professionally
• Maintain accurate records and prepare routine correspondence and reports. Identify opportunities for increased collections
• Understand self pay program guidelines and evaluate financial assistance applications by analyzing financial information to determine eligibility and process appropriate recommendations and adjustments
• Organize and prioritize work, perform routine mathematical calculations, and produce accurate written work using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Maintain the confidentiality of patient medical and financial information in accordance with applicable policies and regulations

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.