What is a Billing Specialist?
The billing specialist manages billing processes, usually for an insurance company or medical facility. Their list of responsibilities includes managing medical billing for patients, updating patient information, generating invoices, and processing payments. They can also be responsible for coordinating payment schedules for self-pay customers, following up on insurance claims, consulting with patients’ families, posting payments in a timely manner, helping resolve client billing issues, and assisting patients with applying for healthcare credit programs.
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Average Salary and Compensation
Billing specialist salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for a Billing Specialist is:
$44,700
How to Hire a Billing Specialist
Consider the following when hiring a billing specialist:
- Recruiting: Do you have the internal resources and tools to source and recruit for this role successfully?
- Complexity: Do you need a senior professional, or will mid, or even junior-level skills suffice?
- Duration: Is this a one-time project, or an indefinite need?
- Management: Can you effectively direct the work effort?
- Urgency: Are there any deadlines associated with this need?
- Headcount: Do you have the budget and approval for an internal employee, or should you consider alternate options?
Answering these questions will help determine the best course of action for your current hiring need. Fortunately, various great options exist for every scenario, no matter how unique. When hiring a billing specialist, we recommend the following options:
1. Use 4 Corner Resources (or another professional recruiting firm)
The heavy lifting is done for you when working with a top-tier staffing company like 4 Corner Resources. We source, screen, recruit, and deliver only the most qualified candidate(s), saving you significant time and effort throughout the hiring process while you remain focused on your core business. Understanding your needs and ensuring the right candidate for the position is the key to our success.
This is the best route to take when:
- You need to fill the position quickly
- You want access to a vast talent pool of high-quality, prescreened candidates
- You intend to hire on a temporary, contract, or contract-to-hire basis and direct the work activity
- You are hiring a direct employee but aren’t able to recruit effectively or efficiently with your internal staff
- You aren’t familiar with current salary rates, market trends, and available skill sets
2. Advertise your opening on a top job board
Your best option may be to advertise your opening on a proven job board. There are many widely used job sites out there that draw visits from qualified candidates. If you have someone internally who can dedicate the time and energy to sort through applications and screen individuals effectively, this can be a great choice.
We recommend using a job board when:
- Your internal recruiting team has the knowledge and experience to assess candidate qualifications
- You are hiring a direct employee and have time to manage the entire recruiting effort
- You have a process for receiving, screening, and tracking all resumes and applications
- You are prepared to respond to all applicants
There are many career sites out there. Here are the two we recommend for a billing specialist opening:
LinkedIn is a social network for job seekers, professionals, and businesses. With this popular job site, you can enhance your brand and advertise your open position to a wide audience of motivated, qualified candidates. Job postings on LinkedIn are also extremely streamlined and user-friendly, making it even easier for candidates to apply. Additionally, applicants can use their LinkedIn profile instead of a resume to expedite the process.
CareerBuilder
CareerBuilder has been a trusted source for hiring since 1995. Reach 80+ million unique, diverse U.S. job seekers annually by posting your jobs through their talent acquisition channels. Through CareerBuilder, you can engage candidates and drive them into your sourcing pipeline. We recommend using CareerBuilder for hiring when you have the internal resources and processes to review, screen, and reply to all applicants.
3. Leverage your internal resources
You can utilize your own website, social media, and employees to assist in your search for top candidates.
A company website posting should be the first step in notifying prospective candidates that you are hiring. Social media can also be a powerful tool for spreading the word about your new opening. As far as exposure is concerned, this option can be as good as some job boards when you have a large enough following across various platforms, like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.
Current employees are every organization’s greatest asset. Encourage your internal team to promote job openings to their network by offering cash and other incentives.
We recommend these options when:
- Your brand has great name recognition
- You can consistently monitor and respond to candidate activity through your website and social media accounts
- You have a process in place to quickly and broadly communicate job openings and requirements
- You have an effective employee referral program in place
If you aren’t sure which path is best, schedule a discovery call today with our seasoned recruiting professionals. The 4 Corner team is on standby to help you find the best option for your unique hiring need.
Sample Job Descriptions
Example 1
Responsibilities
- Perform in-depth analysis of PO-related invoices for contract compliance (rates, task estimates, supporting documentation) and Non-PO -related invoices for proper documentation and correct calculations
- Obtain accounting distribution and code invoices
- Resolve billing discrepancies or missing supporting documentation
- Monitor invoice workload daily to ensure invoices are processed timely, and discounts are availed
- Monitor SAP workflow and follow up with invoice approvers regarding pending invoices
- Respond to vendor/contractor invoice payment inquiries
- Collaborate with invoice approvers and vendors/contractors to ensure proper invoice billing format and contract compliance
- Work closely with accounts payable and supply management to resolve invoice/PO issues impacting timely payments
- Use Smartsheet and SharePoint tools to track invoice processing and maintain contract files
Qualifications
- BS/BA degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or equivalent experience
- A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience required
- Construction contract billing experience preferred
- Works with minimal supervision and direction
- Can communicate complex technical information in a clear and concise manner to technical and non-technical audiences
- Good knowledge of “generally accepted accounting principles”
- Must have the ability to interpret accounting and financial theories and apply them in problem-solving
- Must have the ability to identify issues, analyze data, develop, recommend, and implement solutions
- Must possess initiative, decision-making skills, and problem-solving abilities
- Proficient in Office 365, SAP, Process Director, CCMS, SharePoint, ECM, and SmartSheet Forms
Example 2
Duties include
- Generate bills and invoices specific to customer accounts
- Deliver invoices to clients via digital and client-required methods
- Identify inconsistencies
- Manage Billing ticketing system
- Customer service to internal and external customers
- Assist with AR inquiries as it relates to billing, as needed
Requirements
- Experience in a weekly deadline environment
- Ability to multitask
- Problem-solving
- Detailed and professional
- Excellent communication skills
- Take responsibility for individual and team projects
- Work against a deadline
- Microsoft Office 2010 – Excel, Word, and Outlook (including, but not limited to, formatting, inserting, formulas, vLookups)
- High School diploma or equivalent
- Experience in the temporary staffing industry is a plus
- Bullhorn experience is a plus
Example 3
Responsible for supporting order management and customer billing. Manages customer account set up for billing in compliance with contract terms and conditions for accuracy, processing of orders in a timely and accurate method. Interfaces with multiple operational groups across the business unit and with outside clients to obtain and secure accurate data for billing and customer service requests. Works with moderate supervision/guidance. Is accountable for individual results and impact on the team.
Core responsibilities
- Process billing set-up for customers accurately and timely for invoice runs
- Adjust billing parameters as needed in case of contract changes
- Research and resolve customer disputes and complex customer escalations
- Accurately process sales tax, fees, and other miscellaneous charges. Process, track, and maintain account records accurately
- Communicate billing details to high-level customer representatives
- Prepare billing reconciliations and root cause analysis
- Meet or exceed departmental key performance indicators
- Professionally interact and engage multiple operational groups across the company and outside clients
- Represent the company in a professional and positive manner in all facets
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Education
- High School Diploma / GED
Relevant work experience
- 2-5 Years of billing and invoicing in a corporate setting
Sample Interview Questions
- Are you familiar with accounting software? Which applications?
- How would you handle collecting payment on a delinquent account?
- Do you think accuracy or efficiency is a more important skill for a billing specialist to possess? Is there a way to balance the two? How?
- Walk me through the kinds of transactions that take place in your typical billing process.
- Do you have experience with Microsoft Excel or other billing software?
- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a hostile customer when attempting to collect payment. How did you resolve it?
- Have you ever had to prepare a company you worked with for the audit process?
- How long have you worked in the medical billing field?
- Are you familiar with ICD or IPT?
- What is the average daily number of invoices you deal with?
- Do you think customer service is important for a billing specialist?
- How do you ensure minimal errors in your work?
- Are you bilingual or multilingual?
- Which billing specialist certifications do you have?
- How do you stay organized?
- What data analyst skills do you possess?
- How do you feel about working with others? Do you prefer to work alone?
- Why should we hire you as a billing specialist?
- What will you do to stay motivated in such a repetitive job?
- What are your long-term career goals?