Collections & Accounting Specialist

Description

Linn County is committed to creating a Customer-Center Culture placing our internal & external customers at the center of everything we do! Why do we do this? We get that question a lot. The answer is simple: We want our customers to have a positive experience. Our co-workers are customers too. Exceptional internal customer satisfaction leads to exceptional customer satisfaction for the public!

Why work at Linn County?

Competitive wages with annual pay increases & annual cost of living increase (depending on budget)

Medical, dental, vision, short & long term disability, and supplemental life insurance

Iowa Public Employee's Retirement Pension Plan (IPERS)

Wellness program offering credit on insurance premiums to eligible employees

On-site fitness centers for $15 per year

100% County paid basic life insurance

12 paid holidays per year

Training & professional development opportunities

Hourly Wage:

New Hire: $24.74/$25.73* · 90 days: $27.13 · 1 year: $28.49 · 2 years: $30.02 · 3 years: $31.66

*Wages effective 7/1/25

About Collections & Accounting Specialist:

Performs specialized accounting, collections and administrative work involving the independent application of accounting and administrative principles and practices in the administration of financial and other Sheriff Office records and information and the collection of delinquent funds. Incumbents of this class exercise independence in work and decision making within guidelines, systems, and procedures.

Essential Functions

Calculates unpaid fines. Researches wage, personal and legal histories, and prior compliance of person seeking repayment. Develops and negotiates collection efforts and plans with customer for successful payment. Collaborates with other County Attorney’s offices to collect their debt within negotiated plan. Administers and verifies associated legal processes and information utilizing court, state and County systems and contact. Establishes payment plans and schedules within automated systems. Determines compliance to initiate legal proceedings such as wage garnishments, vehicle registration releases, and driver’s license suspension. Collects court fine payments in person with cash/check, via mail, automatic payments through authorize.net or credit card payments in person/telephone.

Calculates, verifies, administers, posts, and reconciles payments and processes deposits. Creates journal entries in the accounting system.

Processes on-line transactions for the jail inmate commissary funds, room & board, court fines or other assigned funds.

Responds to telephone and in person inquiries from the public regarding court debt collection, scheduling jail time or other inquires. Researches and advises on the requirements of various systems and agencies, payment plans, status of cases, actions and available options.

Researches and prepares warrants for parties who have not scheduled their jail time including calculating credit for any previous time served and thoroughly analyzing court orders. Notifies appropriate officers if warrant is issued.

Obtains and verifies receipts with a county procurement credit card for accuracy, adjusts as necessary, collects overage as needed, and processes in the County Software.

Prepares daily and monthly reports as assigned. Reviews and reconciles work of other staff to ensure accuracy of information and procedures.

Provides input to management regarding processes and procedures. May train new employees and serve as a lead worker.

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.

Four (4) years of accounting, customer service, courts and/or collections experience in a related field required; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Shift

Monday - Friday

7:42 a.m. - 4:12 p.m.

Read the full description here: Collections & Accounting Specialist Job Description