Collections Agent 2
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- 26142559 Requisition #
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- 9 hours ago Post Date
Note: Employees for the State of Montana must reside within Montana. All applications and required application documents must be submitted through the MT Careers site at: https://mtstatejobs.taleo.net/careersection/200/jobdetail.ftl?job=26142559&tz=GMT-06%3A00&tzname=America%2FDenver
Make a meaningful impact for Montana workers and businesses as a Collections Agent in our Central Services Division. In this role, you will help safeguard the unemployment insurance system that workers rely on during periods of job loss. Every account you help resolve strengthens Montana’s unemployment insurance program. Your work helps maintain the resources available to eligible workers during difficult transitions while ensuring businesses are treated fairly and held to the same standards.
MISSION STATEMENT:
Empowering all Montanans through work and opportunity.
It's about the people and the impact we make in our communities every day. We are proud of our open, team-based, supportive, and collaborative work environments. Learn more about DLI here.
POSITION OVERVIEW:
The CSD collections team recovers unemployment insurance taxes that employers have not paid or have paid incorrectly. This keeps the state's unemployment insurance program financially sound and compliant with state and federal law. In this role, you will start and maintain regular contact with employers, district courts, and other sources to gather information, set up payment arrangements, and prepare and file legal documents. By resolving unemployment insurance tax accounts, you will support a financially sound program, help ensure eligible workers can receive benefits when they need them, and promote fair, consistent treatment of employers across Montana.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU:
- Meaningful public service: Your work helps make sure Montana workers who lose their jobs get the unemployment benefits they're eligible for. It also helps keep the system fair for employers who pay what they owe.
- Practical legal and regulatory experience: You'll learn unemployment insurance law and collection procedures firsthand, including how to prepare and file legal documents with district courts.
- Stronger negotiation skills: You'll build a strong set of skills in negotiating, resolving conflicts, and handling hard conversations. Every day you'll work with employers to find payment solutions that work for them.
- Financial and case management expertise: You'll gain hands-on experience with account research, payment plans, and case management systems. These skills carry over to careers in finance, tax, compliance, and public administration.
- Room to grow: Working with employers, courts, and agency staff gives you a solid base for moving into advanced collections, compliance, audit, or lead roles.
- Supportive team: You'll work alongside colleagues who value accuracy and respectful service. They'll help you learn the work and keep building your professional skills.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Manage delinquent accounts: Reviews, researches, and manages a caseload of delinquent unemployment insurance tax accounts so balances are collected on time and accurately.
- Communicate with employers: Contacts employers by phone, mail, and email to explain what they owe, the reasons for the balance, and the payment options available to them.
- Negotiate and monitor payment plans: Sets up payment agreements that follow agency policy, tracks whether employers are keeping to them, and follows up when payments are missed.
- Prepare and file legal documents: Prepares, files, and tracks legal documents with district courts and other entities to secure and recover unpaid taxes.
- Coordinate with outside sources: Works with courts, employers, and other relevant parties to get the information needed to resolve accounts.
- Ensure regulatory compliance: Applies state and federal unemployment insurance laws, rules, and collection procedures consistently and fairly.
- Document case activity: Records every contact, agreement, and action clearly and thoroughly in the case management system so records are accurate and ready for audit.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:
- Regulatory knowledge and application: Learn, interpret, and apply unemployment insurance laws, regulations, and collection procedures to individual employer accounts.
- Customer service and conflict resolution: Give respectful, solution-focused service while resolving disagreements and finding workable outcomes with employers.
- Empathetic professional communication: Handle sensitive financial conversations with empathy, tact, and professionalism, and explain complex requirements in plain language.
- Negotiation and problem solving: Assess an employer's situation and negotiate payment arrangements that balance what the business can pay with what the agency requires.
- Accuracy and documentation: Keep careful attention to detail and maintain complete, accurate, well-organized case records.
- Caseload and time management: Prioritize a high volume of cases, meet deadlines, and follow through on commitments with little supervision.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (Education and Experience)
- Experience in collections, accounts receivable, billing, tax, or financial customer service, or in another setting where resolving account balances or payment issues was a main part of the job.
- Experience interpreting and applying laws, rules, policies, or procedures, and balancing regulatory requirements with practical customer or business needs.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience explaining financial or technical information to a range of audiences, sometimes in difficult conversations.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook (email and calendar) and office software, and the ability to learn and use case management or electronic records systems.
- Experience handling confidential records and sensitive financial information, following privacy rules and using sound judgment.
- Experience managing a large workload with competing deadlines while staying accurate and following up.
A degree in business, accounting, finance, public administration, or a related field may supplement relevant professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above. Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered.
HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY:
A complete state application is not required; however, you will need to initiate the application and attach the resume, cover letter or other required documents at time of application to be considered for this position. Resume will auto fill the application, but the application will not be scored or reviewed.
Failure to attach the cover letter and resume will result in your application being considered incomplete and will not be considered further. Materials submitted but not requested will not be considered in the selection process.
Tip: When attaching your resume, cover letter or other required documents you must mark the attachments as “RELEVANT” or we will be unable to view your documents.
Required application materials:
- Cover Letter - Your Cover Letter should explain how your experience and education meet the identified required skills and competencies, with examples that demonstrate your qualifications.
- Resume - include all work experience you have held that would help you qualify for this position, including duties, dates of employment.
Only online applications will be accepted. By applying online, you can receive updates and monitor the status of your application.
All documents for Veteran or Disability preference must be received or date stamped by the closing date. You will receive an application confirmation email with instructions on acceptable preference documents and how to submit such documents.
If you need an accommodation with the application process, please contact the HR office.
BENEFITS:
Being able to enjoy the quality of life in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Our mountains, waterways and open spaces provide not only beautiful scenery but year-round recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, biking, fishing, boating, hunting, skiing and snowmobiling. Montana boasts a high-quality education system and a variety of entertainment including fairs, rodeos, and theaters. Read more about our great state here.
See our other incredible benefits here. These are some of our benefits just to name a few:
- Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
- 38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
- Military leave: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
- Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
- Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP - click here to learn more.
- Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan - click here to learn more.
- Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73% - 9.07% of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available. – Click here to learn more.
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- click here to learn more!
- Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
- State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.
*This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)
E-Verify: This agency is participating in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility. After accepting a job offer and completing Form I-9, your information will be submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration for verification. For more information about E-Verify, please visit the E-Verify website found here, https://www.e-verify.gov/
