Collection Specialist

About TEGNA

TEGNA Inc. helps people thrive in their local communities by providing the trusted local news and services that matter most. With 64 television stations in 51 U.S. markets, TEGNA reaches more than 100 million people monthly across the web, mobile apps, streaming, and linear television. Together, we are building a sustainable future for local news.

TEGNA, one of the most geographically diverse broadcasters in the U.S., is seeking a Collections Specialist to join our Shared Services team. This position will be part of the TEGNA corporate team with company-wide responsibility but will be physically located at our NBC Affiliate in Indianapolis, WTHR. The Collections Specialist is responsible for contacting customers to ensure timely payments of accounts receivables for an assigned portfolio and working with station personnel to minimize the risk of incurring write-offs and/or credit adjustments. This individual will ensure appropriate contact with customers and station personnel is followed per policy and all relationships are appropriately maintained for assigned portfolio.

Additional responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Perform collection activity including reviewing accounts receivable reports, performing daily analysis of balances, payments, and making customer service calls leading to sound decisions to minimize risk and implement effective solutions.
• Engage in the investigation and resolution of customer issues/inquiries in a prompt, effective, and professional manner.
• Plan and execute periodic calls with station personnel to review account balances, update status, and make decisions regarding next actions.
• Prepare reporting and analysis as needed for review by others.
• Communicate with the Credit team regarding updates needed to credit profile status/ratings.
• Submit appropriate information to third-party collection agencies upon assignment.
• Identify and communicates cash-in-advance accounts with debit balances
• Makes appropriate notations on accounts in WideOrbit

Responsibilities:

• High School Diploma or GED
• 2 years of customer service or business-to-business collections experience
• Keen ability to determine which accounts require attention and ability to prioritize actions needed each day
• Excellent written and verbal skills including superior customer service skills
• Understanding of ‘soft’ collection methods and helping customers resolve issues and set dates for action with timely follow-up
• Strong organizational skills to plan one’s day without being provided specific actions by the supervisor
• High-level of customer service skill with the ability be seen as someone helping TEGNA customers resolve balance issues and providing high-quality service to our stations
• Good Excel skills with history of exporting to Excel with minor formatting of results
• Ability to run and command remote meetings with sales and local finance to review accounts

Benefits:

TEGNA offers comprehensive benefits designed to safeguard the physical, mental and financial health of our employees and their families. TEGNA offers two medical plan options for full and part-time employees through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, as well as access to dental and eye care coverage; fertility, surrogacy and adoption assistance; disability and life insurance.

Our 401(k) program offers full, part-time and temporary employees the opportunity to contribute 1% - 80% of their pay on a pre-tax basis to TEGNA’s 401(k). Contributions made up to the first 4% of pay are eligible for a 100% match from the company and are 100% vested from day one.

Regardless of participation in TEGNA medical plans, ALL employees and their eligible family members receive nine free virtual doctor’s appointments with a physician through Teladoc, and 12 free annual therapy sessions with a licensed clinician through Spring Health.

TEGNA offers a generous Paid Time Off (PTO) benefit as well as nine paid holidays per year.

• Some jobs are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and thus some or all of the benefits described herein may not apply. For example, some newsroom bargaining unit employees receive health and retirement benefits under plans administered by the union.