DEBT COLLECTIONS OFFICER:

Summary: This function requires a special skill in explaining NAECs tuition payment policies to student or parents; monitoring potentially risky accounts, and taking pro-active steps in the collection of tuition payments owed before accounts become delinquent. When accounts are past-due, the incumbent will adopt a vigorous, no-nonsense, uncompromising, persistent and politely aggressive attitude in attempting to collect past-due amounts, all within the policies, procedures and guidelines set by NAEC. The channels for enforcing the collection of debt will require taking all actions necessary to get students to pay tuition on time and also to pay arrears owed to NAEC. This includes but not limited to preventing students from entering the school premises – in extreme delinquent cases; removing students from class, making telephone calls to students and parents; arranging to meet students and parents on campus, at the residence of parents and students or the work places of the students or parents. These tasks will include but not limited to the following:

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

•   At the time of enrollment, advising parents and students of tuition payment policies, default consequences of payment arrangements and debt repayment policies for students or parents with arrears;
•   Thorough familiarity with outstanding balances in the accounting records of students;
•   Identifying potential at-risk accounts and devising an effective strategy to collect all those amounts before they go into default;
•   Preparation of statements of overdue accounts, reaching out to parents and students with overdue balances and making every effort to collect the amounts. This function also requires that the Debt Collections Officer ensures that the information NAEC depends on to contact and collect tuition from students and parents is accurately maintained and updated regularly;
•   Using the telephone as the primary tool for debt collection – not emails, letters, faxes, etc. The Goal is to call every delinquent customer by the time the account is 5 days past due and follow up calls should be placed daily once the student or parent has been contacted. When telephone contacts do not yield desired results, the Debt Collections Officer must pursue other means of debt collection including but not limited to arranging to meet students or parents on campus, at the residences of parents or students or at the work places of students or parents;
•   Meeting or exceeding NAEC targets on the collection of arrears and remaining compliant with NAEC policies, procedures and guidelines in the collection of tuition owed. For example, it is important that the Debt Collections Officer maintains a professional appearance and wears a NAEC official photo ID at all times. It is also important for the Debt Collections Officer to get approval from the Director of Finance before agreeing to extended payment plans or making unusual payment arrangements. When funds are collected on campus, during visits to the homes or work places of students and parents, the collection of these funds must be immediately reported and handed over to the Director of Finance. It would be a gross violation of NAEC policies, which could result in the termination of employment, to take those funds home without the prior approval of the Director of Finance;
•   Noting and carefully documenting promises made by students or parents, but always attempting to negotiate for better commitments. In other words, unless the student or parent offers immediate payment in full, the incumbent will ask for a better commitment and expect to get it;
•   Be assertive, persistent and politely aggressive while remaining professionally courteous during collection calls with students or parents;
•   Persuading parents or students to resolve their accounts according to the payment and settlement criteria set during enrollment or as arranged with the Business Office. While speaking with students or parents, the Debt Collections Officer shall seek to identify additional contact information to increase the effectiveness of the collections process;
•   The Debt Collections Officer will periodically compile reports on delinquent accounts for management and would endeavor to respond to all written inquiries from the Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer (EVP -COO), and the President and Chief Executive Officer, within one business day;

B. OTHER FUNCTIONS

Administrative Duties:

•   Correspondence; monitoring attendance of faculty, students, employees;
•   Periodically assisting with the typing of NAEC examination papers;

Marketing and Promoting NAEC:

•   As a first point of contact, at the Front Desk, the incumbent must be extraordinarily pleasant over the phone; Knowledgeable and well-informed about the programmes offered by the school, tuition rates, tuition payment arrangements, and facilities that distinguish NAEC from other institutions;
•   Possess extraordinarily strong power of persuasion to get callers not only to visit the school but also to buy forms and enroll as students;

Reception and Customer Service;

•   Receive guests to the school, accord them excellent professional courtesy, regardless of looks or social status;
•   To perform other tasks as assigned by Director of Finance;

Qualification Required & Experience

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

•   EDUCATION: Higher National Diploma (HND).
•   EXPERIENCE: Min. of three years of experience in Debt Collections and proficiency in performing basic and routine Accounting functions.

MAJOR SKILLS/CHARACTERISTICS REQUIRED FOR THE POSITION

•   Exceptional interpersonal and demonstrated negotiation skills;
•   Incumbent must have Problem solving skills, must be solutions-driven, results-oriented and must always be attentive to detail;
•   Ability to communicate effectively and professionally in both English and in principal Ghanaian dialects;
•   Strong written, verbal, active listening and phone communication skills;
•   Ability to negotiate (i.e. ability to use full and complete information to negotiate best arrangement for NAEC);
•   Ability to work in a team environment but independently when necessary;
•   Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and multi-task;
•   Proficient in basic math skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages);
•   Proficient computer skills and thoroughly familiar with Microsoft Word and Excel. Knowledge of Microsoft Access is a plus;
•   Knowledge about accounting principles, practices and methods;
•   Ability to analyze and interpret data;
•   Thorough understanding of the fact that tuition is the principal source of revenue for the business and how the survival of NAEC as a business depends on a prompt payment of tuition or in cases of default, an ability to devise effective mechanisms to collect outstanding balances;
•   Quick learner, easily adaptable to changing circumstances and ability to work with deadlines and remain calm under pressure;
•   An absolute requirement for this position is a thorough familiarization of Kasoa and its immediate and extended environs as the Debt Collections Officer will be required to periodically travel to meet parents or students at their places of work and residence;

Location: Kasoa

How To Apply For The Job

As much as we appreciate your desire to work for North American Educational Center, the employee professional standards we wish to maintain require that we hire only the most qualified candidates for the position advertised. For this reason, we will contact ONLY those who meet the standards specified above and urge you to refrain from applying for this position unless you meet each and every one of the qualifications and job requirements. Otherwise you will simply be wasting your time.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

If you are interested and are qualified for the position listed above, please do the following to apply for the position:

•   Submit a CV/Resume and a Cover Letter detailing your qualification for the position.
•   The application package must be sent to the following email address:

naec.financejob@northau.org

•   North American Educational Center will start reviewing applications as soon as they are submitted. However, the position will remain open until the ideal candidate is hired.
•   The earlier you get your application in, the better the chances for securing an interview and getting hired.
•   NO PHONE CALLS OR UNANNOUNCED VISITS, PLEASE!

Closing Date: 30 September, 2013