A billing clerk is responsible for sending invoices to clients and processing payments. Various billing clerk jobs can be found in many different industries, and the complexity of the specific job dictates the level of training required. Billing clerk positions are commonly found at hotels, utility providers, insurance companies, and telecommunication companies.
Many billing clerk jobs are entry-level positions that require a high school diploma and some prior customer service experience. Clerks are responsible for printing out invoices that detail the goods and services provided to each customer. The clerk provides the customer the invoice and then processes the payment. Invoices for insurance companies and other financial firms are often complicated to prepare, and these companies usually require billing clerks to have a background in the financial services field or a business or finance related degree. Successful billing clerks move into supervisor positions and can eventually become billing managers.
Hotels and travel companies employ billing clerks to work at hotel reception desks, kiosks at airports, and railway stations. These clerks sell tickets and take reservations. Most companies also expect the clerks to provide customers with basic information about services provided, and some employers expect clerks to proactively promote excursions and products. Clerks are normally given some basic customer service training and are instructed on how to handle customer complaints. In situations where clerks cannot resolve a billing matter or other customer complaint, clerks must refer the matter to a supervisor.
Billing clerks employed by insurance companies must liaise with medical facilities, automobile repair shops, and other service providers to determine the cost of the services being provided to the insured. Clerks are responsible for providing insurees with a detailed breakdown of the expenses that are covered under the insurance contract and the expenses that the insuree must pay out of pocket. Medical billing clerks normally need to have some knowledge of medical procedures to ensure that the company and the insuree are only billed for medically necessary procedures.
Utility companies employ billing clerks to process payments for electricity, water, and gas services. Many utilities are owned by municipalities, which means billing clerks are government employees. These clerk positions are normally entry-level jobs, and customer complaints are usually handled by a separate department.
Satellite providers, communication companies, and other service providers employ billing clerks who are responsible for both processing payments and soliciting new clients. Many companies give billing clerks discretion to offer discounted rates to disgruntled customers in order to save existing contracts and to offer deals to prospective customers in order to induce sales. The actual sales are normally handled by sales specialists, but billing clerks often receive some kind of commission for making referrals. Billing clerks also handle complaints and questions related to service invoices but not technical questions related to services provided.
