County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, to perform a wide variety of duties to facilitate collection on current and delinquent accounts; to effect collection through personal and telephone contact, correspondence and/or legal action; to prepare accounts for legal enforcement and attend court proceedings; to maintain collection records and documents; and to do related work as required. Classes include in this series are:

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

These positions are located in the Central Collections Division of the Office of the Auditor-Controller; and in the Treasurer-Tax Collector's Department. Collection Enforcement Deputy II positions are flexibly staffed from Collection Enforcement Deputy I, based on meeting defined job performance standards. Collection Enforcement Deputy I's are distinguished from Collection Enforcement II's in that the latter are required to perform at higher job productivity levels for revenues collected, numbers of paying accounts, numbers of court actions, and the percentage of accounts over 120 days delinquent. Both classes are distinguished from the next higher class series of Collection Supervisor, in that positions in the latter classes act as working-level supervisors.


DEFINITION OF LEVEL

Positions at this level perform initial research on debtor accounts and related inside collections of such accounts. Incumbents verify information relating to the whereabouts, employment, earning, assets, liabilities and ability to pay of persons owing monies to the County. As necessary, they also prepare cases for legally enforced collections and appear in Court.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Collect monies due the County from an assigned group of current and/or delinquent accounts.

2. Using a variety of skip tracing resources, including communications with various agencies and the public, establish debtors' and responsible relatives' present whereabouts.

3. Explain legal obligations and possible penalties for nonpayment of monies owed to the County; may attempt to persuade debtors to make voluntary payments and to establish repayment plans.

4. Utilize a variety of sources to obtain and verify information relating to debtor's employment, earnings, property, liabilities, applicable insurance coverages, assets and ability to pay.

5. Prepare accounts for legal enforcement, including: Developing case summaries, obtaining testimony and evidence, plus consulting with attorneys, claim adjusters, other County departments and outside agencies.

6. File legal actions for court-enforced collections; may appear in various courts throughout the County representing the County or as a witness.

7. In the Tax Collector's Department, seize, secure, inventory and arrange for sale of properties due to delinquent taxes.

8. Maintain records related to all activity on each assigned account.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

The equivalent of one year's experience as a Specialist Clerk or in an equivalent or high class in the Alameda County classified service (non-classified includes District Attorney's Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts), involving collection assignments.

Or II

The equivalent of one year's experience in collection work with responsibility for a collection file of at least 500 delinquent accounts.

License:

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• General principles of collections enforcement and procedures.
• Federal and California laws and regulations pertaining to a wide variety of debt collection.
• Legal requirements for collection of delinquent accounts.
• Basic arithmetic to perform calculations and understand financial records.
• The English language (including spelling, vocabulary, sentence and paragraph structure) sufficient to prepare and edit reports, letters and other written communications.


Ability to:

• Research legal, financial and other records sufficient to obtain data needed to secure and enforce a wide variety of debt collection.
• Communicate effectively in writing (including spelling, vocabulary, sentence and paragraph structure).
• Communicate with persons from a wide variety of ethnic and social backgrounds sufficiently to explain legal processes and obligations and/or penalties for nonpayment of debts.
• Elicit information from hostile and/or uncooperative individuals.
• Organize work and establish priorities according to departmental operating requirements.
• Effectively manage time to perform multiple tasks.
• Work cooperatively with other staff, outside agencies and public so as to maximize collections in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Operate standard office equipment, including a computer terminal.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

Old document: BKA:ba
Revised: 8/82
MSU/p/1/A11-14
New document: Jobspecs/1420, 1425
ys/12/00
SG:cs Revised 3/31/10
CSC Date: 4/7/10

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees) 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.