Billing & Collections Specialist

Position Function

Ensures the accurate and timely billing of member accounts and leads collection activities to reduce delinquency, maintain regulatory compliance, and protect the Cooperative’s financial health while delivering a positive member experience.

• Assumes primary responsibility of preparing for and processing monthly billing, final bills, automatic payments, late fees, and month-end activities in accordance with cooperative policies and procedures to ensure financial requirements are met.
• Administers prepaid and budget billing programs, ensuring compliance with program requirements and timely member payments.
• Performs billing adjustments in accordance with cooperative policy and escalates exceptions as required.
• Maintains strong working knowledge and understanding of the Cooperative’s rate tariffs and billing structures.
• Reviews billing and collections practices, policies, and procedures; analyzes collection performance, delinquency trends, and billing outcomes; identifies and recommends process improvements, policy changes, and corrective actions to enhance billing accuracy, compliance, financial performance, and member payment success.
• Exercises independent judgment in evaluating billing exceptions, collection strategies, payment arrangements, account disputes, and member resolutions, ensuring compliance with Cooperative policies, regulatory requirements, and business objectives.
• Manages delinquent accounts, including issuing notices and conducting member outreach in compliance with cooperative policy and regulatory requirements.
• Initiates service disconnections and coordinates reconnections in accordance with all applicable rules and policies, including regulatory requirements.
• Maintains accurate and complete documentation of all collection, disconnection, and account activity to support audit readiness and legal compliance.
• Responds to escalated billing and collections inquiries, analyzes complex account situations, interprets applicable policies and regulations, and resolves member issues through independent evaluation and sound business judgment.
• Supports after-hours collections and reconnection activities as needed.
• Assists with write-offs of uncollectible accounts and coordination with collection agency.
• Maintains current knowledge of applicable regulations, including Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) requirements, and cooperative policies related to billing, collections, and service disconnections.
• Prepares and analyzes reports related to billing performance, collections effectiveness, delinquency trends, and regulatory compliance; provides recommendations to support operational performance and financial decision-making.
• Attends and participates in cooperative events to maintain a positive cooperative presence and to build positive relationships with members, community leaders, vendors and the communities served by the Cooperative.
• Stays informed of and supports energy assistance programs and related reporting requirements.
• Keeps supervisor informed of work in progress and escalates issues involving safety, financial, service, or compliance risks as appropriate.
• Assists with outage calls and other operational or administrative tasks as needed.

• Demonstrates strong computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office applications, with the ability to effectively use data, perform basic analysis, and produce reports.
• Possesses a strong understanding of accounts receivable processes, delinquency management strategies, payment arrangements, and collection procedures.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) rules and Cooperative policies governing billing, collections, disconnections, and member protections.
• Must possess or obtain general utility knowledge related to utility operations, rate structures, and member programs.
• Demonstrates solid knowledge of standard office practices, documentation standards, recordkeeping, and internal controls to support accuracy, audit defensibility, and efficient workflow management.

• Demons…