Finance & Accounting
A collections specialist contacts customers with overdue invoices, negotiates payment and keeps accounts moving toward resolution. The role brings in cash that is already earned and spots accounts that need escalation or credit holds.
Ways to hire
4options
contract, contract-to-hire, full-time and executive search
The role
Employers hire one when past-due balances grow, when aging reports show older invoices piling up, or when AR staff lack time to follow up consistently.
Typical responsibilities
Core skills
Tools and systems
Related titles
Typical background
Generally one to three years in collections or accounts receivable; no specific degree is required, though communication skills are essential.
At a glance
The essentials for planning the hire: level, background, how you can hire and what the role typically pays.
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What happens next
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Takes about two minutes. A specialist recruiter will call you back within one business day.
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Send your resume once and a finance and accounting recruiter will match you to collections specialist roles that fit your experience, pay expectations and the way you want to work. We only put you forward for roles you have said yes to, and it is always free.
FAQ
Straight answers to the questions employers and candidates ask about this role.
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A collections specialist contacts customers with overdue invoices, negotiates payment and keeps accounts moving toward resolution. The role brings in cash that is already earned and spots accounts that need escalation or credit holds. Typical responsibilities include: contact customers about past-due invoices by phone and email; negotiate payment dates and structured payment plans; document every collection contact and promise to pay.
Look for collections calls, negotiation, AR aging review, account documentation, dispute resolution and customer communication. Experience with NetSuite, Versapay, HighRadius, Excel and QuickBooks is common in this role.
Yes. A collections specialist is one of the roles employers most often hire on contract, for projects, busy periods, leave cover and vacancies. Contract-to-hire is also an option if you want to work together before making a permanent offer.
In-house collectors know your customers and protect relationships, which matters for ongoing accounts. Outside agencies make more sense for older, written-off balances. Many companies keep early-stage collections internal and refer only long-delinquent accounts.
Look for calm, persistent follow-up and clear documentation. Strong collectors find the real reason for non-payment, such as a billing error or missing purchase order, rather than only repeating requests. Ask for a past example of a stalled account they resolved.
Related roles
Every role in the practice is recruited by the same specialist team.
