Collections Administrator

Application close date: 22 June 2026

The Position

The Collections Administrator is responsible for contacting current and former students to collect outstanding fees, set up payment arrangements, and recover bad debt while maintaining a professional, supportive, and student-centric approach. The role ensures accurate account management, effective follow-ups, and compliance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Debt collection and account management

• Make outbound calls, send emails, and send SMS and WhatsApp messages to recover overdue student accounts.
• Engage with students to negotiate sustainable payment plans in line with institutional policies.
• Prioritise accounts based on ageing categories, payment history, and risk levels.
• Follow up on incomplete arrangements and escalate when needed.
• Manage collection workflows using CRM or student management systems.

2. Bad debt recovery

• Work designated portfolios of aged debt (>90–360 days).
• Apply appropriate predefined recovery strategies for difficult or high-risk accounts.
• Recommend accounts for external handover where applicable.

3. Student engagement and support

• Explain account balances, payment terms, interest, and financial policies clearly.
• Show empathy and guide available financial support options where appropriate.
• Maintain a positive and respectful student experience while driving collection outcomes.

4. Compliance and record keeping

• Ensure every interaction is accurately captured in the system.
• Follow POPIA, internal governance requirements, and collections compliance standards.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism at all times.

5. Collaboration and reporting

• Collaborate with Finance, Recruitment, and Student Support teams to resolve account queries.
• Provide input on high-risk accounts and trends to team leads.
• Contribute to process improvements and enhancements to the student payment journey.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Grade 12 / Matric
• 1–2 years’ experience in a contact centre or debt collections environment (education sector beneficial)
• Proficient in MS Office and MS Teams, with intermediate-level Excel skills.
• Fluency in English (additional South African languages an advantage)

COMPETENCIES

• Negotiation and influencing skills: Engages constructively to reach appropriate outcomes while maintaining professionalism.
• Handling difficult conversations: Manages challenging interactions calmly and professionally.
• Communication skills: Communicates clearly, professionally, and courteously in writing and verbally across multiple channels, email, chat, in-person interactions, and especially telephonically.
• Resilience: Maintains effectiveness and composure in demanding or high-pressure situations.
• Systems literacy: Familiarity with CRM or student management systems is advantageous.
• Compliance awareness: Demonstrates an understanding of POPIA and collections-related compliance requirements.
• Attention to detail and accuracy: Consistently produces accurate work and maintains high standards.
• Service orientation: Demonstrates a strong commitment to quality service, with a focus on student needs and satisfaction.
• Time management: Manages workload effectively, prioritises tasks, and performs well under pressure.
• Cultural sensitivity: Interacts respectfully and inclusively with South Africa’s diverse student population.

By submitting your personal information and application, you hereby confirm:

• That you have read and understood our Privacy Policy/Notice. To access, copy and paste the link into your web browser:

https://resource.milpark.ac.za/public/downloads/Milpark%20Education%20Applicant%20and%20Employee%20Privacy%20Notice.pdf

• That you have no objection to us reviewing and processing any personal information provided in the course of your application, as well as any information that you have provided in support of your application.
• That you have no objection to us retaining your personal information in our database for future employment opportunities that might arise.

Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups, and appointments will be made in line with our EE requirements.