Collections Representative chez Chisago County

Apply online at Minnesota Merit System: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mnmeritsystem
Closing Date: September 18, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.
$28.44 to $37.46 DOQ

Position Objective

Performs intermediate work overseeing Agency Collections for all of Health and Human Services Department, continually monitoring and tracking outcomes and compliance, sending letters and maintaining communication with residents of the County to pay debts. Collects funds owed from out of home placement, detox, medical assistance overpayments and fraud cases.  Works with with wide variety of County representatives and programs. Performs related work as apparent or assigned, work is performed under the general supervision of Fiscal /Operations Division Manager.

Essential Functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

            Agency Collections – Income Maintenance Programs             Discretion  A        %  50

• Accepts referrals for collection activity/information from the IM Unit.
• Opens collection case within five working days. Files and records maintained with current information readily available.
• Works with Accounting Department to ensure bills and addresses are accurate and payments credited to proper accounts, reviews payment status monthly.
• Compiles information on whereabouts, earnings, assets, and related issues for persons owing money to the agency. May contact other government offices, local police and sheriff personnel, etc
• Contacts persons who are delinquent paying money owed and recommends appropriate action to receive payments including judgments garnishments, conciliation court, etc.
• Interviews persons owing the agency money, negotiates payment arrangements, settlements, stipulations. Works with Corrections to establish payment arrangements for fraud cases.  May send letters to establish contact and claims.
• Prepares cases for Conciliation and County Court and testifies in court as appropriate.
• Attends appeals and other hearings on claims, probates, health insurance benefits, payments, etc., as appropriate with other public and private agencies and companies.
• Receives complaints regarding collection activities, responding and advising supervisor as appropriate.
• Assists in planning policy and procedures to be used in the collection of debts.
• May consult with other County personnel regarding debts owed to other County departments.
• Prepares monthly activity and result reports for Agency management and Human Services Board.
• Works with DHS to screen cases appropriated for Federal Tax Off-Set Program.
• Prepares cases for Judgement by Operation of Law when appropriate.

Foster Care (IV-E and Non IV-E) –                                      Discretion  A                 %  20

Provides information related to out-of-home placement and respite of children, including the programs of MFIP, Medical Assistance, General Assistance, Minnesota Supplemental Assistance, and IV-E, CSSA, and related Child Support (IV-D) to agency staff, clients, and their relatives, service providers and outside agency persons, and to the general population.       

• Promptly responds to program information requests and specific applications.
• Notifies parents, regarding parental contributions for funding of foster care and/or respite services.
• Maintains excellent working knowledge of IV-E and appropriate public assistance program requirements and MAXIS computer system.
• Assures that Social Service staff, Income Maintenance staff, Corrections staff, providers, and parents have timely and appropriate information regarding placement dates, required PA programs, changes and payments, respite costs.
• Advises agency staff, management, on most cost effective payment sources, placement policies, and arrangements as appropriate.
• Initiates and pursues collection of federal, state, and county monies owed to the agency for out-of-home placements. Legal action to be initiated as appropriate.

1. From responsible relatives (child, parents, spouse) through enforcement of the relative contribution orders and agreements.

                        Agency Collections – General                                     Discretion  A                 %  20

• Accepts referrals for Collection Activity/information from all units within the Human Services and Court Services offices.
• Works with Accounting Department to ensure bills and addresses are accurate and payments credited to proper accounts, review payment status monthly.
• Compiles information on whereabouts, earnings, assets, and related issues for persons owing money to the agency. May contact other government offices, local policies and sheriff personnel, etc.
• Contacts persons who are delinquent paying money owed and initiates appropriate action to receive payments including judgments, garnishment, conciliation court, etc.
• Interviews person owing the agency money, negotiates payment arrangements, settlements, stipulations.
• Prepares cases for conciliation and County Court and testifies in court as appropriate.
• Attends appeals and other hearings on claims, probates, health insurance benefits, payments, etc., as appropriate with other public and private agencies and companies.
• Receives complaints regarding collections activities, responding and advising supervisor as appropriate.
• Assists in planning procedures and policy to be used in the collection of debts.
• May consult with other County personnel regarding debts owed to other County departments.
• Prepares monthly activity and results reports for agency management and Human Services Board.
• Assures all collections efforts as well as collection letters are in compliance with County, State, and Federal guidelines, rules regulations statutes, policies, and service level agreements governing the collection of debts.

Agency Collections – Public Health                             Discretion  A                 %  5

• Work with fiscal officer in Public Health in collection of client fees that are delinquent.
• Assist Public Health Director in determining fees for certain services and developing policies and procedures for collecting such fees.
• Develop a system of reporting back to the Public Health Director of the collection activity for this division on a monthly basis.

                        County Burials   %5

• Conducts research as to deceased assets and income.
• Prepares applications for Board review.
• Works with internal staff and outside vendors to coordinate application process.
• Submits affidavits of collections and invoices when necessary.
• Works with Fiscal Technician to submit funeral services invoices.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of federal and state laws, rules and regulations pertaining to Health and Human Services programs.
• Considerable working knowledge of the values and principles of the delivery and mission of public Health, Veterans and social services programs.
• Contract negotiation skills.
• Conflict resolution skills
• Ability to analyze and interpret technical programmatic data.
• Ability to organize work effectively and efficiently.
• Ability to show initiative in resolving complex problems.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
• Ability to prepare clear and comprehensive reports.
• Ability to deliver information in a verbal presentation.
• Knowledge of the process of contract negotiation and monitoring
• Employee must have demonstrated ability to work effectively and efficiently in a wide variety of computer programs and systems.
• Ability to attend work regularly and in a timely manner.
• Ability to be flexible and perform duties of Department interest as assigned or apparent.
• Computer/word processing skills.
• Must be extremely detailed orientated and have strong organizational skills.
• Ability to compile, analyze facts, weigh possible outcomes.
• Knowledge of Minnesota State Statues, Minnesota State Revenue Tax Laws as it pertains to collection, seizure of property and garnishments.
• Ability to follow County Policy and Safety Policies.
• Must have the initiative to invest time in making crucial decisions that directly effects Chisago County and Debtor.
• Thorough knowledge of State/County Tax & Collection Statutes.
• Demonstrates adherence to and knowledge of HIPAA and Data Practices in work assignment.

Desired Minimum Qualifications:

            High school diploma or equivalent and two years of experience in collections work in a loan company, bank or credit union, or as an investigator for an insurance company or law enforcement agency; or three years of clerical or account clerk experience in work involving billing or accounts receivable, or

            Two years of college with coursework emphasis in accounting, business or closely related fields.

Preferred:

Experience working in MAXIS, MMIS, and /or previous county Health and Human Service positions.

Working Conditions

The characteristics listed below are representative of the physical demands, physical agility, sensory requirements, and environmental exposures required by an individual to successfully perform the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• This classification occasionally involves physical agility requirements such as: climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, pushing, pulling, repetitive motions and manual dexterity.
• Sensory requirements include standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; and hearing is required to receive detailed information through oral communication and/or to make fine distinctions in sound.

Applicants for appointment to this position will be required to submit a formal application and may be subject to rating of education and experience, oral interview and/or reference check, background investigation, criminal history check, drug testing.  Job related tests may be required of any applicant.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee as is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.