BUDGET & FINANCE DEPARTMENT - FINANCIAL RECOVERY SPECIALIST

Acceptable Experience and Education

High school diploma or equivalent and two (2) years of general office/customer service and cashiering experience; Basic college level courses preferred.

Or any equivalent combination of education, experience, and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Certificates and Licenses Required

Must have or obtain by date of hire a valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso.

Essential Duties

Reviews and interprets court documents such as: judgments, terms and conditions, revocation orders, modifications of probation orders, bond and inmate trusts, warrants orders, child support orders, protective orders, non-suits and dismissal orders; 

Interviews litigants for eligibility of payment plans; determines terms of payment, financial status, calculates fees, and negotiates methods and schedules of payments for collection purposes; completes interview forms and documents; enters information into the County database; completes all necessary paperwork;

Verifies data collected from individuals as part of determining eligibility;

Collects payments from litigants, issues receipts, and reconciles daily cash accounts and deposits collected funds;

Performs data entry into internal cash report to log incoming funds, and prepares collections reports on a daily basis;

Contacts litigants that breach their scheduled payments, processes delinquent cases for non-compliance action prepares reports to document progress;

Responds to inquiries relating to collection operations; 

Provides services to all customers in person and by phone;

Performs collection calls; prepares correspondence/collection notices; monitors responses in the collection of delinquent payments; monitors payment activity on assigned cases; performs follow-up phone calls; maintains daily case load on delinquent cases;

Enters and retrieves information and data to and from automated data bases; activates or dismisses warrants based on the status of individuals;

Assists management in coordinating presentations, trainings and meetings;

Participates in the preparation and/or filing of warrants, affidavits, judgments and other legal documents;

Prepares and maintains office files; prepares daily activity reports;

Attends and participates in meetings, trainings, and information sessions; provides support, mentors, transfers knowledge and skills to staff at all levels in a team environment to meet established goals and objectives; 

Meets critical deadlines;

Maintains equipment, and stays vigilant on waste in an effort to reduce cost;

Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field; to include research on statutes of law and the guidelines for the courts;

Commits to providing excellent customer service and demonstrates commitment through cooperative team and individual efforts; and

Creates a high quality work culture through participation in and emphasis on training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, and technical skills in self and all employees, including safety related training and skills.

Depending on area assigned:

Assists in: preparing case files and attends court hearings; reporting money recovered to the courts; initiating warrant paperwork; recalling warrants when payment has been made; refers litigants to community service when ordered by a judge;

Assists in performing internal audit for packets processed on prior day, logging errors to spreadsheet; stamps, initials and scans packets; ensuring packets are accurate and complete;

Cashiers; handles and counts monies daily, logs, prepares deposits for all offices; accepts receipts and cash delivered by armored car from satellite offices; provides distribution to appropriate personnel; verifies the balancing of daily receipts to cash; verifies credit card receipts to credit card batch summary totals; prepares daily deposits for satellite and contracted offices; records data on log sheets;

Greets and directs incoming traffic; provides application to all individuals; answers incoming calls; checks faxes; 

Assists in caseloads for collections from departments;

Checks negative amounts, web payments, and insufficient funds; and

As directed assists with special projects.

Other Important Duties*

Performs such other related duties as may be assigned.

May be required to travel to satellite offices.

As members of the County of El Paso Emergency Response System, all El Paso County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to train on emergency response and/or perform certain emergency services at the direction of their supervisor. 

Summary of Position

The Financial Recovery Specialist under general supervision is responsible for conducting and interviewing litigants on their financial status for payment of assessed fees; and determining eligibility for payment plans. The incumbent also assists in recovering all costs, fines, and fees owed to the County.

Organizational Relationships

Reports to: Administrative Specialist, Senior

Directs: This is a non-supervisory position.

Other: Has frequent contact with department heads and/or staff, county employees, lawyers, judges, legal staff, law enforcement personnel, other public agencies and the general public in order to coordinate and complete assigned responsibilities. 

Minimum Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: the principles and practices of accounting; the methods and practices of collections; the court system; Excel Proficient; legal terminology; the principles and practices of effective customer service; principles and practices of effective employee supervision; County organization, operations, policies and procedures; English usage, grammar, punctuation and spelling; techniques for effective interpersonal communications; modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment to include Windows and Microsoft based products. Skill/Ability to: balance general ledgers, reconcile accounts and make journal entries; operate a personal computer and various software applications; conduct research, develop appropriate documentation, assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects and demands to meet scheduled requirements; establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers and customers to promote and support a productive work environment; work efficiently, independently and in a team environment to meet established goals and objectives; communicate effectively in verbal and written forms to respond effectively to customers and staff; exercise initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines in performance of daily duties; respond effectively to customers; prepare and maintain records, maintain filing systems, compile and organize information; and pass a background investigation. 

Each and every county position requires the following professional skills and abilities as key and necessary elements of performance: 

• Demonstrate regular and reliable attendance;
• Work well with others and participate fully in a team oriented environment;
• Interface with other employees and customers in a courteous and respectful manner;
• Maintain strict confidentiality;

• Project positive support of their department and all organizations receiving El Paso County service      at all times; and,

• Maintain and enhance the County’s commitment to customer service excellence.