Financial Services Representative

Penn Foster Group; United States; Remote; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn Foster Group is seeking a Financial Services Representative to support learners with payment questions and help them stay on track with their programs. You will handle inbound and outbound calls, explain account status, discuss payment options, and process payments from home.

The role emphasizes phone-based interaction in a fast-paced environment, with training on inbound calls and later outbound dialing while learning the position. Overtime may be available during busy periods.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Collections experience preferred; call center or customer service experience is valuable.
• Ability to stay calm and empathetic during challenging conversations.

Responsibilities

• Handle inbound calls and outbound dialer campaigns to support payments.
• Ask thoughtful questions to understand each learner’s payment situation and discuss options.
• Explain account status and potential consequences of late payments.
• Discuss options like changing the payment due date, an eligible deferment, or a late-fee waiver.
• Process payments and document account interactions accurately.
• Follow privacy, call-recording disclosure, do-not-call, and other department procedures.
• Meet service, quality, schedule-adherence, and performance expectations.

Skills

Communication

Active listening

Problem solving

Phone etiquette

Microsoft Outlook

Multi-system navigation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Position Summary:

Financial Services Representatives support learners at important moments in their education by helping them address payment concerns and stay on track with their programs.

In this role, you’ll connect with learners by phone, listen to understand what is affecting their ability to pay, explain account status and available options, and help them take a clear next step. You’ll also help learners who call to make a payment. This position is a good fit for someone who enjoys helping others, can speak confidently about payments, and stays calm and focused in a fast-paced, goal-driven environment.

Most of your day is spent handling calls rather than email, chat, or ticket queues. A typical day may include about 125 inbound and outbound call activities, including unanswered calls and voicemails; inbound volume may average around 70 calls. Call volume varies

Compensation:

• $17 per hour, plus performance incentives. Incentive amounts vary based on the program and results and are not guaranteed.

Location and Schedule:

• US-based, 100% remote role. Monday-Friday from 11:30 AM-8:00 PM Eastern time.

Training Period:

• The first month focuses on inbound calls. Dialer training is introduced in the second month so you can build confidence before adding outbound calls.
• Performance measures are introduced gradually during the first four months as you learn the role.

Ongoing Schedule:

• Inbound calls are prioritized, with outbound auto-dialer calls handled as availability allows
• Dialer activity can include unanswered calls and hang-ups. You’ll need to be ready to respond when a learner answers and keep a steady, professional approach throughout the day.
• Voluntary overtime may be available during busier periods.

Essential Job Functions:

• Support learners through inbound calls and outbound auto-dialer campaigns, prioritizing inbound calls.
• Ask thoughtful questions to understand each learner’s situation and discuss payment options when appropriate.
• Explain account status and potential consequences of falling further behind, including late fees, loss of study access, or referral to a collection agency.
• Discuss available options within department guidelines which may include changing the payment due date, an eligible deferment, or a late-fee waiver.
• Process payments, document account interactions accurately, and select the appropriate call disposition.
• Follow privacy, call-recording disclosure, do-not-call, and other department procedures.
• Meet service, quality, schedule-adherence, and performance expectations, and contribute to team goals.
• Work with team leads and peers to resolve questions and support a collaborative remote team.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Collections experience preferred; call center or customer service experience is also valuable. Direct collections experience is not required.
• Strong communication, active listening, probing, and problem-solving skills.
• Professional phone presence and the ability to stay calm and empathetic during challenging conversations.
• Comfort handling a high volume of calls, asking for payment, and working toward clear performance goals.
• Strong computer skills, including the ability to navigate multiple systems and Microsoft Outlook.
• Dependable, punctual, open to coaching, and willing to learn as part of a team.

Working Conditions & Hiring Process:

• Role Assessment: Candidates will be required to complete a role-specific assessment as the first step in the hiring process. Assessment results will be used to evaluate alignment with the position and determine next steps in the process.
• U.S. Work Location Requirement: All employees must reside in and perform work within the United States. We do not support international remote work arrangements for this role.
• Travel Expectations: While this is a remote position, occasional travel may be required for team meetings, company events, conferences, summits, etc. Candidates must be willing and able to travel as needed.
• On-Camera Work Environment: We operate in a highly collaborative, remote, on-camera culture. Employees are expected to be on camera during meetings unless extenuating circumstances apply.
• Recorded Video Interviews: All video interviews conducted during the hiring process will be recorded to support internal hiring consistency and process improvement.
• Background Checks: Employment with Penn Foster Group is contingent upon successfully completing applicable pre-employment screening requirements, which may include verification of employment history, education, and criminal background, where permitted by law.
• Identity Verification (Form I-9): As part of our onboarding process, all hires must complete employment eligibility verification in compliance with federal law. This includes remote Form I-9 verification, which may require an in-person identity verification step with an authorized representative.

About Us:

At Penn Foster Group, we are transforming online learning to help learners by uniting Penn Foster, CareerStep, Ashworth College, James Madison High School, the New York Institute of Photography, the New York Institute of Art and Design, and other education platforms. Together, we create an accelerated path to greater economic mobility through real-world skills and knowledge that enable them to achieve long-term success in the workplaces of the future. Our history dates back to 1890 when our founder, Thomas Foster, pioneered distance education by offering training by mail for coal miners to get the necessary skills for safer jobs. Today, with the partners who use our education and training programs, we continue that mission of providing accessible training and education for in-demand skills and are building a workforce that’s prepared for the future job market.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

We strive toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Penn Foster Group by intentionally building teams that are diverse – in identities, lived experiences, and ideas to create a culture where people feel connected to each other and have a sense of belonging. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion because it is the foundation that enables us to achieve what we set out to do as an organization – from maximizing the number of learners who can reach their goals while giving them the kinds of experiences we want them to have, to becoming the type of company we want to work in.

What We Offer:

We offer a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending, generous paid time off, sponsored volunteer opportunities, a 401K with a company match, plus free access to all of our online programs.