Collections / Domestic Relations Specialist

Grand Traverse County is a team of passionate and incredible people who are committed to providing responsive, effective quality service to our up-north community.  We strive to be a leader in innovative, effective, collaborative, and sustainable county government.  We offer stable work environments and competitive salaries to both full- time and part-time employees.  Understanding the many challenges facing today's professionals and families, we offer a competitive compensation package including an impressive list of benefits and time off.

Job Description:

Primary functions of the job are to assist with monetary reimbursements or collections for the Court, schedule domestic relations court hearings, and provide customer assistance to the public. Requires case flow management, production of judicial documents, scheduling court proceedings, reviewing of financial records, and handling difficult customer contacts. Employees in this job have no formal supervisory role, however, may train, guide, or lead employees in the designated work unit.

Employees work as part of a team and are responsible for ensuring that the team meets its objectives.

Employees must meet the minimum requirements, conditions of employment, and be able to perform successfully all essential duties and responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (may include but are not limited to the following)

• Processes incoming court documents related to payments and collections.
• Creates notices, orders, and correspondence related to domestic relations matters.
• Provides comprehensive assistance, including establishing payment plans, enforcing payment plans, and explaining complex policies, guidelines, and standard practices, both verbally and in writing.
• Enforces the Court's scheduled deadlines and maintains settlement records.
• Processes and disseminates billings to appropriate individuals regarding monies due the County.
• Schedules and attends show cause hearings and testify as to the facts of certain cases.
• Reviews technical and legal documents, determines, and takes appropriate action within established guidelines.
• Uses a wide variety of office machines such as printers, personal computers, facsimile machine, postage machine, adding machine, scanner and copiers.

EDUCATION, FORMAL TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE (minimum requirements)

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. supplemented by advanced college coursework in Accounting or related field
• Two to four years directly related experience
• Associates degree in related field may substitute for two years experience

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT (minimum requirements - legal or contractual preemployment obligations and/or requirements, such as drug testing, background check, etc.)

A background check may be required initially and periodically for an individual hired, transferred, reclassified, promoted, or currently working in this job. Appointment to or continued employment in this job is contingent upon a satisfactory background check which may include, but is not limited to: confirmation of a persons' identity; review of criminal conviction records; verification of educational degree, license, or certificate required for the position; review of Department of Motor Vehicles records; Department of Justice fingerprint scan; and/or drug and alcohol testing as required and allowable by law. A satisfactory background check is defined as the absence of a criminal history record which bears a demonstrable relationship to the applicant's or employee's suitability to perform the required duties and responsibilities of the position.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Work involves evaluating the relevance and importance of theories, concepts, and principles to develop different approaches or tactical plans to fit specific circumstances where guidelines may not exist, but are flexible and open to considerable interpretation. Analytic skills are needed to interpret and apply guidelines. Errors at this level could cause serious, but short-term consequences involving significant financial impact or cost, reduced service to the public, and/or strong negative citizen reaction requiring intervention from a higher- level manager and could impact others outside of the department.

Compared to the Account Clerk Specialist classification, this job specializes in collections and court related procedures.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Work is performed in an office environment
• May be required to reach with hands and arms; sit; stand; talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle, or feel
• May be required to lift/move up to 50 pounds (such as a box of paper)
• May be required to work directly with criminal suspects or prison inmates.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, COMPETENCIES (minimum requirements)

• Proficiency in English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and simple mathematical functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, ratios, etc.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting and bookkeeping principles
• Working knowledge of legal terminology and court procedures, related to accounts and collections
• Skill in operation of modern office equipment such as personal computer, facsimile, copiers, andtelephones
• Skill in use of personal computer software, including spreadsheet development and word processing
• Interpersonal skills necessary to develop and maintain effective and appropriate working relationships with customers, co-workers, and representatives of other agencies
• Ability to apply and tactfully enforce complex rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Skilled in researching and resolving problems in order to ensure compliance
• Ability to comprehend, process and apply both verbal and written skills appropriate to the job
• Ability to explain complex policies and processes in layman's terms
• Ability to accurately organize and maintain paper documents and electronic files
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries
• Ability to use County resources effectively and efficiently

Compensation:

Grand Traverse County is a great place to live, work and play. Come join our team and experience what northern Michigan is all about, apply today

You really should see what we have to offer: 

• Medical: The County offers employees a high-deductible plan through Priority Health. To help cover the cost of the deductible, Grand Traverse County will deposit a contribution amount up to $2,000 into an employee Health Savings Account every year.  You may also direct deposit funds into this account every pay period.
• Vision: The County provides a no cost plan for employees. We also offer an enhanced plan through EyeMed.  
• Dental: Our dental insurance provider is Delta Dental. You will pay no costs or premium for diagnostic and cleaning services. 
• Wellness: Grand Traverse County is committed to creating a culture of health. We provide a variety of incentives and programs that allow you to live a healthy lifestyle. 
• Employee Recognition: We highly value our employees, which we show by providing our employees awards and recognition throughout the year, and on anniversary dates.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Employees are reimbursed up to $5,250 annually for enrollment in courses at an accredited college, university, or trade school. 
• Vacation: Grand Traverse County provides a generous amount of vacation days to benefitted employees so you can spend time with family and friends. 
• Holidays: The County gives you 12 days a year to celebrate holidays. Beyond these 12 days, you will receive additional floating holidays to use at your discretion. 
• Personal Leave: Employees receive up to 72 hours annually depending on contract, to use for appointments, take care of family needs and other personal reasons. Employees are paid every year for unused personal leave up to 40 hours. 
• Parental Leave: Employees may take up to 6 months of leave to begin at birth or date of adoption of their child. 
• Retirement: Grand Traverse County offers a defined contribution through MERS. The plan includes a generous match that fully vests after 6 years of employment. We also offer a deferred compensation 457b Plan.  
• Life Insurance: Benefitted employees automatically receive life insurance. 
• Short Term Disability: The County provides a plan through Mutual of Omaha, which pays two thirds of your salary or wages for a maximum of 182 days.
• Long Term Disability: The County provides a plan through Mutual of Omaha, which pays 60 percent of your salary or wages for a maximum of 24 months.