Collections Specialist Resume examples & templates

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Copyable Collections Specialist Resume examples

Ever thought about how companies recover the money they're owed without burning bridges? That's where Collections Specialists come in—the financial detectives who balance persistence with professionalism. These professionals serve as the critical link between organizations and their accounts receivable, requiring a unique blend of analytical skills and interpersonal finesse. In today's economy, with consumer debt reaching $17.3 trillion in early 2024, the role has evolved far beyond the stereotypical "bill collector" image of decades past.

Modern Collections Specialists now leverage sophisticated software systems, employ data-driven strategies, and often work remotely—a trend accelerated by the pandemic that's stuck around. The most successful collectors don't just secure payments; they maintain customer relationships and provide financial guidance. With regulatory changes like Regulation F reshaping communication practices, specialists must stay current on compliance while mastering new digital collection tools. For those with the right temperament—patient yet persistent—this field offers stable career growth opportunities as businesses will always need skilled professionals to manage their cash flow.

Junior Collections Specialist Resume Example

Morgan Taylor

Phone: (555) 743-2198 | Email: mtaylor92@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/morgantaylor | Seattle, WA

Entry-level Collections Specialist with 1+ year of experience in accounts receivable and collections. Proven track record of reducing outstanding receivables by implementing organized follow-up processes. Strong communication skills used to negotiate payment arrangements while maintaining positive customer relationships. Quick learner who adapts to new collection software systems and company policies.

EXPERIENCE

Collections Specialist | Northwest Financial Services | Seattle, WA | November 2022 – Present

  • Manage 175+ delinquent accounts with balances ranging from $500-$25,000, recovering an average of $42,000 monthly
  • Contact customers via phone, email, and written correspondence to resolve past-due balances
  • Negotiate payment arrangements and settlement offers, achieving a 31% increase in collected funds during Q2 2023
  • Document all collection activities in company database (CollectMax) for compliance and tracking purposes
  • Collaborate with accounting department to ensure accurate reporting of payments received

Accounts Receivable Clerk | Cascade Medical Supply | Tacoma, WA | June 2022 – October 2022

  • Processed customer payments averaging $15,800 daily through various payment channels
  • Generated and mailed 200+ monthly statements to customers with outstanding balances
  • Performed initial outreach to accounts 30+ days past due, successfully bringing 27% back to current status
  • Maintained accurate customer account information in QuickBooks

Customer Service Representative (Part-time) | Emerald Bank | Seattle, WA | January 2022 – May 2022

  • Assisted customers with account inquiries, balance discrepancies, and basic banking transactions
  • Explained payment options and helped customers set up automatic payment plans
  • Directed escalated collection issues to appropriate departments for resolution

EDUCATION

Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration
Seattle Central College | Seattle, WA | Graduated: December 2021
Relevant Coursework: Accounting Principles, Business Communication, Consumer Credit

FDCPA Compliance Certification | ACA International | Completed March 2023

SKILLS

  • Collection Software: CollectMax, Collect!, QuickBooks
  • Skip tracing techniques
  • Payment negotiation & settlement strategies
  • Dispute resolution
  • FDCPA compliance knowledge
  • Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook)
  • Data entry (65 WPM)
  • Written & verbal communication
  • Basic accounting principles
  • Spanish (conversational)

Mid-level Collections Specialist Resume Example

Jessica Ramirez

Portland, OR 97205 • (503) 555-4127 • jramirez.collections@email.com • linkedin.com/in/jessicaramirez

Dedicated Collections Specialist with 5+ years of experience recovering delinquent accounts and negotiating payment arrangements. Skilled in skip tracing techniques and managing high-volume accounts. Known for maintaining 94% collection rate while building positive client relationships. Looking to bring my proven track record in reducing DSO and improving cash flow to a challenging role with growth potential.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Collections Specialist – NorthWest Financial Services, Portland, OR
May 2021 – Present

  • Manage portfolio of 400+ commercial accounts with outstanding balances ranging from $5,000 to $175,000
  • Reduced days sales outstanding (DSO) from 57 to 43 days within first 8 months, improving company cash flow by approx. $1.2M
  • Negotiate payment plans with delinquent customers, maintaining 94% successful resolution rate
  • Train and mentor 2 junior collectors on effective communication techniques and dispute resolution
  • Collaborate with legal team to prepare documentation for accounts requiring litigation (roughly 3-5 accounts quarterly)

Collections Specialist – Pacific Credit Recovery, Eugene, OR
August 2019 – April 2021

  • Managed 250+ consumer accounts with average balance of $3,700
  • Implemented new skip tracing methods that improved contact rates by 27%
  • Recovered $387,000 in previously written-off debt during my first year
  • Maintained detailed account notes and payment histories while ensuring FDCPA compliance
  • Won “Collector of the Month” award 4 times for exceeding monthly targets

Accounts Receivable Clerk – Green Valley Medical Supplies, Eugene, OR
June 2018 – July 2019

  • Processed daily payments and maintained aging reports for 150+ customer accounts
  • Made outbound calls to customers with past-due balances exceeding 30 days
  • Reconciled payment discrepancies and researched billing disputes
  • Assisted with month-end close process and financial reporting

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR – 2018

Certifications:

  • Certified Credit and Collection Professional (CCCP) – 2021
  • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) Compliance Certification – 2019

SKILLS

  • Account Resolution & Recovery
  • Payment Plan Negotiation
  • Skip Tracing Techniques
  • FDCPA & TCPA Compliance
  • Litigation Support
  • SAP & QuickBooks
  • Microsoft Excel (Advanced)
  • Collection Management Software (Collectly, Debt Manager Pro)
  • Dispute Resolution
  • Bilingual: English/Spanish

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Member, American Collectors Association (ACA) – Since 2020

Senior / Experienced Collections Specialist Resume Example

MARGARET “MAGGIE” CONWAY

Sacramento, CA 95814 | (916) 555-8176 | mconway.collections@email.com | linkedin.com/in/maggieconway

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Collections Specialist with 8+ years of progressive experience in B2B and consumer collections environments. Reduced DSO by an average of 17.3 days across multiple employers through persistent follow-up and relationship building. Known for recovering “impossible” accounts and negotiating payment plans that work for both clients and the company. Proficient in multiple collection software platforms with a track record of training junior staff and implementing process improvements.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Collections Specialist – Emerald Financial Services, Sacramento, CA | March 2019 – Present

  • Manage a portfolio of 175+ commercial accounts with balances ranging from $25K to $1.2M, maintaining a recovery rate of 78% (15% above team average)
  • Reduced Days Sales Outstanding from 47 to 31 days within first year by implementing a new contact schedule and personalized outreach strategy
  • Negotiated complex payment arrangements for 45+ high-risk accounts, resulting in $3.7M in recovered revenue that had been written off by previous collectors
  • Train and mentor 4 junior collectors on effective communication techniques, resulting in team-wide improvement of 22% in first-call resolution rates
  • Collaborate with legal team on litigation-bound accounts, preparing documentation that led to successful judgments in 14 of 16 cases

Collections Specialist – Western Medical Billing, Roseville, CA | June 2016 – February 2019

  • Managed 250+ healthcare provider accounts with 45-120 day aging buckets, achieving 82% recovery rate
  • Built relationships with accounts payable contacts at major insurance companies, reducing payment cycle times by 9-12 days on average
  • Identified $247K in incorrectly rejected claims through detailed account analysis, coordinated with billing team to correct and resubmit
  • Developed a spreadsheet tracking system (later adopted company-wide) that improved visibility of account status and reduced duplicate work
  • Selected to participate in the implementation and testing of new collections software, becoming the go-to trainer for 12 team members

Collections Assistant – Pacific Credit Associates, Sacramento, CA | August 2014 – May 2016

  • Supported 3 senior collectors with account research, documentation, and preliminary outreach calls
  • Monitored payment plans for 400+ accounts, promptly following up on missed payments to maintain agreement compliance
  • Processed daily payment receipts averaging $45K and reconciled weekly bank deposits
  • Created a filing system for physical documentation that reduced retrieval time from 15 minutes to under 3 minutes

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance Concentration
California State University, Sacramento – 2014

Certifications:

  • Certified Commercial Collections Specialist (CCCS) – 2018
  • ACA International Professional Collection Specialist – 2017
  • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) Compliance Certification – 2015, renewed 2021

TECHNICAL SKILLS

  • Collection Software: Collect! MAX, Experian eOscar, Ontario Systems, Collection-Master
  • Credit Reporting: TransUnion, Experian, Equifax business reporting tools
  • MS Office Suite (advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and macros)
  • Payment Processing Systems: ACH, Lockbox, PayPal for Business
  • Skip Tracing Tools: Accurint, TLO, LexisNexis
  • CRM: Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

  • Aging Bucket Management & DSO Reduction
  • Payment Plan Negotiation & Structuring
  • Legal Collections & Documentation
  • Dispute Resolution & Customer Retention
  • Team Training & Process Improvement
  • Regulatory Compliance (FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA)

How to Write a Collections Specialist Resume

Introduction

Landing that perfect Collections Specialist job starts with a resume that showcases your debt recovery skills, negotiation abilities and financial acumen. I've reviewed thousands of collections resumes over my career and I can tell you firsthand that hiring managers typically spend just 7-8 seconds scanning your resume before deciding whether to continue reading. Your resume needs to quickly communicate that you're the solution to their collections challenges—whether that's reducing DSO (Days Sales Outstanding), improving recovery rates, or maintaining positive customer relationships while getting the money in.

Resume Structure and Format

Keep your resume clean and scannable. Collections managers are detail-oriented people who appreciate organization (it's literally part of the job!). Here's what works:

  • Length: 1 page for juniors, 2 pages max for experienced specialists
  • Font: Standard business fonts like Calibri, Arial, or Garaday at 10-12pt
  • Margins: 0.75-1 inch on all sides
  • Sections: Contact info, summary, experience, skills, education/certifications
  • File format: PDF (maintains formatting) unless the job posting requests Word

Skip the fancy graphics and columns—they confuse ATS systems and can make your resume harder to read. Remember, collections is about clarity and precision, not creative design.

Profile/Summary Section

Your summary should be 3-4 lines that highlight your collection experience, recovery rates and industry specialization. This is your "elevator pitch" that frames everything else.

Pro Tip: Customize your summary for each job application. If the position emphasizes medical collections, highlight your healthcare revenue cycle experience. If it's B2B collections, showcase your business account management background.

Example: "Collections Specialist with 5+ years resolving complex commercial accounts and reducing DSO by 17%. Skilled in skip tracing, payment negotiations and maintaining 98.7% compliance with FDCPA regulations. Consistently exceed monthly targets while preserving valuable client relationships."

Professional Experience

This is where the rubber meets the road. Don't just list job duties—show results! Collections is a metrics-driven field, so numbers matter.

  • Start bullets with strong action verbs: Recovered, Negotiated, Resolved, Managed
  • Include recovery percentages, call volumes and dollar amounts when possible
  • Highlight your payment plan negotiation success rate
  • Mention specific collection software you've mastered (Columbia Ultimate, Ontario, etc.)
  • Note any cross-functional collaboration with sales, customer service, or legal teams

Weak: "Responsible for collecting on past-due accounts"
Strong: "Recovered $879K in delinquent accounts by implementing a tiered contact strategy, reducing 90+ day receivables by 31% in six months"

Education and Certifications

Collections doesn't always require advanced degrees, but certifications can set you apart:

  • ACA International certifications (Professional Collection Specialist, etc.)
  • Credit Business Associate (CBA)
  • Certified Receivables Compliance Professional (CRCP)
  • Relevant coursework in finance, accounting, or business administration

List your education after experience unless you're a recent graduate or your degree is more impressive than your work history.

Keywords and ATS Tips

Most collection agencies and financial institutions use ATS software to filter resumes. Include these terms (where truthful):

  • Skip tracing
  • Payment arrangements
  • Accounts receivable
  • FDCPA/FCRA compliance
  • Debt recovery
  • Credit analysis
  • Collection calls
  • Cash application

Industry-specific Terms

Show you speak the language by naturally incorporating industry terminology:

  • Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)
  • Aging reports
  • Charge-offs
  • Payment arrangements
  • Third-party collections
  • First-party collections
  • Recovery rate

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Being vague about results (collection is all about the numbers!)
  • Focusing only on calls made rather than accounts resolved
  • Omitting compliance knowledge (huge red flag in collections)
  • Using aggressive language that suggests intimidation tactics
  • Forgetting to mention customer service skills (collections requires diplomacy)

Before/After Example

Before: "Made collection calls to customers with past due accounts."

After: "Conducted 60+ daily outbound calls to delinquent accounts, negotiating realistic payment plans that reduced write-offs by 23% while maintaining a customer retention rate of 76% on resolved accounts."

Your collections resume should demonstrate that you're not just persistent in recovering money, but also skilled in preserving customer relationships and respecting legal boundaries. That balanced approach is what top employers are looking for in today's collections professionals.

Soft skills for your Collections Specialist resume

  • Conflict resolution and de-escalation – able to navigate heated conversations with past-due customers while maintaining professional demeanor
  • Active listening skills that help identify underlying payment issues and find workable solutions (rather than just following scripts)
  • Negotiation tactics refined through 5+ years of creating payment arrangements that satisfy both customers and company requirements
  • Emotional intelligence to recognize when to push for payment versus when to show flexibility with customers facing legitimate hardships
  • Team mentoring – regularly help train newer team members on complex account situations while maintaining personal collection goals
  • Time management – consistently juggle 75+ active accounts at various stages of the collections process without missing follow-up deadlines

Hard skills for your Collections Specialist resume

  • Advanced proficiency in Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics CRM for account tracking
  • Experience with Experian FACTS software for credit analysis and reporting
  • Ability to interpret FDCPA and FCRA compliance regulations
  • Working knowledge of Oracle Financials and SAP AR modules
  • Proficiency in skip-tracing techniques using LexisNexis and TLO
  • Experience with Fiserv and FIS collection management systems
  • Strong Excel skills including VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and macros for aging reports
  • Knowledge of bankruptcy codes and legal collection procedures
  • Certification in Fair Debt Collection Practices (might be completing or recently finished)