Collections Specialist

Careers At National Student Clearinghouse

Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.

By joining the National Student Clearinghouse, you can be sure that the work you do now will help shape the future of education and the workforce in the U.S. As the trusted source for higher education data since 1993, the Clearinghouse is the leading provider of transcript and data exchange services, automated enrollment and degree verifications, learner insights and research, and compliance solutions for schools, businesses, and learners nationwide.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Clearinghouse works with nearly 3,600 postsecondary institutions to meet their compliance needs and with thousands of high schools and districts to provide continuing collegiate enrollment, progression, and completion statistics about their alumni. In addition, the Research Center publications inform policymakers and business leaders about student educational pathways. Using our unique combination of data, analytics, and software to drive our mission, security and privacy is paramount.

Join us as we continue to invest in our talent and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data on behalf of all learners.

The Specialist I, Collections is responsible for managing a high volume of accounts receivable to ensure the timely collection of payments from customers. This role plays a key part in supporting strong cash flow by monitoring aging reports, maintaining accurate account status, and conducting proactive outreach to resolve outstanding balances.

The position partners closely with Account Managers and internal teams to provide visibility into collection risks, addressing customer collection issues, and supports the resolution of billing or funding discrepancies. In addition, the Collections Specialist manages the shared collections inbox, ensuring timely responses, proper prioritization, and consistent communication with customers, internal stakeholders, and leadership.

Success in this role requires strong attention to detail, persistence, and excellent communication and customer service skills. The ideal candidate demonstrates sound judgment in navigating complex revenue streams while maintaining trust with customers and balancing the need to collect past-due funds. They are adept at organizing high-volume workflows, maintaining accurate documentation, and identifying opportunities to streamline or automate collection practices in ways that enhance both efficiency and the customer experience.

Currently, this is a remote-first position, and this position may be required to periodically work on-site at our office and the frequency would depend on the department/division's requirements. Therefore, candidates must either reside within a reasonable distance to commute to our office or be willing to travel to our office in Herndon, when required.

• Demonstrate the Clearinghouse's core competencies:
  Customer Focus, Optimizes Work Processes, Collaborates, Communicates Effectively, and Be Open and Authentic.
• Review and manage accounts receivable aging reports to identify overdue invoices and prioritize collection efforts across contracts, institutions, commercial accounts, and grants.
• Conduct proactive outreach via email and phone to follow up on past-due balances, resolve payment delays, and maintain positive internal and external customer relationships.
• Manage a high-volume shared collections inbox, ensuring timely responses, accurate documentation, and appropriate escalation to the Finance Operations Manager, Controller, or Account Managers as needed.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date collection notes and payment statuses within tracking tools and the accounting system.
• Collaborate with Account Managers to align on customer status, dispute resolution, and collection strategies.
• Partner with the Finance Operations Manager to provide regular visibility into collection performance, risks, and trends to support informed decision making.
• Work closely with Billing Specialists and customers to resolve billing discrepancies and ensure timely payments.
• Prepare and distribute regular aging reports, collection updates, and follow-up summaries for Accounting and business stakeholders.
• Ensure all collection activities adhere to contract terms, internal policies, and applicable regulations.
• Identify trends in overdue payments or recurring issues and recommend improvements to strengthen collection processes.
• Analyze current collection workflows and propose more efficient, automated, or scalable approaches based on high-volume collections experience.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing collection efficiency, reducing Days Sales Outstanding (DSO), and enhancing the customer experience.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support Finance Operations and cross-functional needs.

Position may be required to perform other duties as required. These essential functions are representative of those…