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Collection clerks

OaSIS code 14202.00

Collection clerks collect payments on overdue accounts and bad cheques and locate debtors to make collection arrangements.

Overview

Also known as

  • Bill collector
  • Collection clerk
  • Collection officer (except taxation)
  • Collections investigation officer
  • Collector
  • Credit and collection clerk
  • Locator - collection
  • Skip tracer - collection

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Notify debtors of overdue payments and accounts by telephone, mail, and registered mail, and continue the notification process if reply is not received
  • Resolve collection issues by making payment arrangements by telephone or visit to debtor
  • Recommend further action or discontinuation of service in cases where payment is not forthcoming
  • Trace and locate debtors, and may contact debtors' friends, neighbours, relatives and employers to obtain information
  • Answer correspondence, prepare reports and maintain records and files related to collection work
  • May work with on-line accounts and systems.

Additional information

  • Progression to senior or supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Collection supervisor (in 12011.00 Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers)
  • Tax collection officer (in 12104.01 Excise tax revenue officers)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

1 – Business, finance and administration occupations

TEER

4 – Occupations usually require a secondary school diploma; or several weeks of on-the-job training

Major group

14 – Administrative and financial support and supply chain logistics occupations

Sub-major group

142 – Financial, insurance and related administrative support workers

Minor group

1420 – Financial, insurance and related administrative support workers

Unit group

14202 – Collection clerks

Occupational profile

14202.00 – Collection clerks

Work characteristics

Work characteristics gathers the various components describing the work environment of each occupation, such as employers, work activities, and the work context. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of complexity (for Work Activities) or other measurement dimensions (for Work Context), and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Work Activities

Proficiency or complexity level
Analyzing Data or Information
3 - Moderate Level
Clerical Activities
3 - Moderate Level
Making Decisions
3 - Moderate Level
Planning and Organizing
3 - Moderate Level
Processing Information
3 - Moderate Level

Work Context

Structural Job Characteristics

Structured versus Unstructured Work
Degree of freedom to determine tasks and priorities
2 - Low amount of freedom
Work Week Duration
Worked hours in a typical week
2 - Between 35 to 40 hours

Physical Work Environment

Physical Proximity
Physical distance from others
3 - Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Physical Demands

Sitting
Duration
4 - More than half the time
Standing
Duration
1 - Very little time
Bending or Twisting the Body
Duration
1 - Very little time

Interpersonal Relations

Contact with Others
Frequency
4 - Every day, a few times per day
Duration
5 - All the time, or almost all the time
Work with Work Group or Team
Importance
2 - Somewhat important
Frequency
2 - Once a month or more but not every week

Workplaces/employers

  • Banks
  • Collection agencies
  • Credit unions
  • Department stores
  • Financial and licensing departments within governments
  • Loan companies
  • Utility companies

Skills and abilities

This section displays the various competencies required for an occupation. Each category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency (for Skills and Abilities) or importance (for Personal Attributes) and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Abilities

Proficiency or complexity level
Mathematical Reasoning
3 - Moderate Level
Memorizing
3 - Moderate Level
Near Vision
3 - Moderate Level
Numerical Ability
3 - Moderate Level
Pattern Identification
3 - Moderate Level

Skills

Proficiency or complexity level
Persuading
4 - High Level
Critical Thinking
3 - Moderate Level
Monitoring
3 - Moderate Level
Negotiating
3 - Moderate Level
Numeracy
3 - Moderate Level

Personal Attributes

Importance
Analytical Thinking
4 - Highly important
Attention to Detail
4 - Highly important
Collaboration
4 - Highly important
Independence
4 - Highly important
Stress Tolerance
4 - Highly important

Interests

The OaSIS uses the Holland Codes to describe the work-related interests. According to the Holland model, people work best in work environments that match their preferences, which means that people and work environments can be matched for a best fit. Occupational environments in Holland’s theory are described according to a combination of main interests and the activities they represent. There are six interests in the Holland typology: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional. All occupations in OaSIS have up to three interests assigned to them.

Interests

Preferences for work environments and outcomes.

Interests profile: CEI

Conventional (C)

Conventional occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail following sets of procedures and routines. These activities may include systematic manipulation of data, such as keeping records, filing materials, reproducing materials, organizing written and numerical data according to a prescribed plan, and operating business and data processing. They often require following a clear line of authority and usually involve working with data and details more than with ideas.

Enterprising (E)

Enterprising occupations are characterized by the dominance of action-oriented activities to attain organizational or self-interest goals. They frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects, influencing, leading or mobilizing people, making decisions, and sometimes require risk taking and dealing with business.

Investigative (I)

Investigative occupations are characterized by the dominance of activities that entail the observation and systematic or creative investigation of physical, biological, or cultural phenomena. These occupations require an extensive amount of thinking and frequently involve working with ideas, searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Employment requirements

Employment requirements includes the education, training, certifications and the knowledge required to work in each occupation. The Knowledge category displays up to 10 descriptors in descending order based, firstly, on their attributed ratings by the level of proficiency, and secondly, in alphabetical order. The whole list of Knowledge descriptors and their ratings can be expanded at the bottom of each page.

Education, certification and licensing

  • Completion of secondary school is required.
  • A business college diploma may be required.
  • A period of on-the-job training is often provided for collection clerks and collection officers.
  • A collections licence issued by the province or territory of employment is usually required.

Knowledge

Knowledge level
Clerical
2 - Intermediate Level
Client Service
2 - Intermediate Level
Mathematics
2 - Intermediate Level
Accounting
1 - Basic Level
Languages
1 - Basic Level

Skills for success

 
Skills for Success Model
 
Skills for Success are skills that help you in a quickly changing world. Everyone benefits from having these skills. They can help you to get a job, progress at your current job or even change jobs. The skills also help you become an active member of your community and succeed in learning.
 
 
Linkages Between ESDC Skills Models and Frameworks
 
ESDC makes available a dictionary of over 300 terms (or descriptors) and definitions, known as the Skills and Competencies Taxonomy (SCT). Descriptor information from the Taxonomy is used in the Occupational and Skills Information System (OaSIS).
 
While there is general commonality of meaning between the descriptors in the SCT and the Skills for Success model, there are some differences in their definitions due to their distinct purposes. The Skills for Success Model [9 broadly defined skills] identifies the skills that are universally applicable. The SCT displays specific skills and competency requirements for 900 occupations. Users of the Skills for Success Model and Essential Skills content may find competency information from the Taxonomy and the OaSIS to be complementary.
 
Stay tuned to this section for more information and updates regarding linkages between the Skills for Success model and the OaSIS.

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

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