You would be responsible for recovering unpaid money from businesses or individuals. If you are a good communicator with a tactful manner, and would like to work in finance, this job could suit you. In this job you would need to keep calm under pressure. You would need to be assertive. You would also need good number skills, and the ability to explain financial matters clearly.

Tasks:

• contacting individuals or business customers when payment is overdue
• asking them to settle their account and explaining the terms of their credit
• using specialist computer databases to check credit records
• re-negotiating repayment plans if people are in financial difficulties
• setting up and maintaining customer files
• processing payments
• visiting debtors to collect payments (known as 'field collection')
• tracing missing debtors
• starting legal proceedings if debts are not paid within an agreed time
• arranging for goods to be repossessed to cover the outstanding debt
• liaising with solicitors, bailiffs and debt counsellors where necessary.

Key skills:

• good spoken and written communication skills
• an assertive but tactful manner
• calmness under pressure
• an organised and methodical approach
• the ability to work to strict deadlines
• good negotiation skills
• the ability to explain financial matters firmly and clearly
• good mathematical skills
• administrative and computer skills.

Average salary (2014):

The United Kingdom: £16,000 and £22,000 a year.

Qualifications and training required:

Employers will expect you to have a good standard of general education and confidence with numbers, and using spreadsheets and computerised accounts packages. Previous experience of office administration or customer service work can also be useful.

Some employers may prefer you to have some GCSEs (A-C) including maths, and you may have an advantage with qualifications in bookkeeping or accounts. See the Related profiles for more about these. You would also need a driving licence for field collection work. You should check with individual employers about the qualifications and experience you need for each job.

Source: nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk