Collection Agency Examiner

Find a rewarding career making a difference: Join the Office of the Attorney General!

 
WHO WE ARE
The Office of the Attorney General/Department of Law is the “People’s Lawyer.” The Attorney General, Phil Weiser, was elected by the people of Colorado and is the State’s chief lawyer and law enforcement official. Our vision for the Department of Law is: “Together, we serve Colorado and its people, advancing the rule of law, protecting our democracy and promoting justice for all.” Our core values and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, drive our actions and demonstrate our focus on being principled public servants who are innovative and better together.

Visit our website to learn more: https://coag.gov/.

Description of Job

This position is open only to residents of Colorado.

The Consumer Credit Unit exists to enforce the Colorado Uniform Consumer Credit Code (UCCC), the Deferred Deposit Loan Act (DDLA), the Colorado Consumer Equity Protection Act (CCEPA), the Colorado Rental Purchase Agreement Act (RPAA), the Credit Services Organization Act (CSOA), the Colorado Uniform Debt Management Services Act (DMSA), the Colorado Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (CFDCPA), the Colorado Student Loan Servicers Act, and the Colorado Student Loan Equity Act (CSLEA). The work unit licenses, registers, examines, and investigates creditors and other companies for compliance, and protects consumers from unlawful actions.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

This position serves to investigate and examine potential violations of Colorado Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“CFDCPA”), the Child Support Collection Consumer Practices Act (“CSCCPA”) and the Colorado Consumer Credit Reporting Act (“CCCRA”), and related state and federal statutes.  These duties include but are not limited to preparing and conducting compliance examinations of debt collection agencies, including coordinating mail-in examinations; investigating consumer complaints; preparing examination and investigation reports; reviewing and making final determinations regarding both initial and renewal license applications; conducting licensing investigations; communicating with collection agencies and other external parties as needed.

The Collection Agency Examiner works under the direction of the Compliance Specialist V to perform the following duties:

Conduct Compliance Examinations

• Examine collection agencies’ financial records, reports, and policies to ensure collectors abide by relevant statutes, rules, regulations, and principles of collection agency regulation
• Calculate timing of disclosures, fees, and other financial calculations to ensure compliance with relevant statutes, rules, and regulations
• Coordinate in-person and mail-in compliance examinations while ensuring that examinations are completed accurately, timely, and consistently
• Follow up on overdue examination responses and recommends action to the Compliance Specialist V for failure to respond
• Draft and assist in drafting examination reports for Compliance Specialist V and Deputy Administrator review
• Prepare memos for Deputy Administrator requesting additional legal analysis or legal action for Compliance Specialist V review
• Coordinate with Compliance Specialist V, Deputy Administrator and Unit’s legal staff to provide assistance during litigation, such as written memos, analysis of spreadsheets, or restitution calculations
• Coordinate with Compliance Specialist V to formulate public and stakeholder outreach where results of exams reveal systemic issues
• Recommend changes to examination processes, correspondence, and documentation

Complaint Investigations

• Review and investigate consumer complaints, including gathering information by examining a debt collectors’ files and financial records, interviewing complainants, witnesses, and respondents
• Identify potential violations of applicable statutes and rules while reviewing documentation submitted with consumer complaints
• Communicate with collection agencies when necessary to obtain additional responses as part of the complaint investigation process
• Refer complainants to other governmental agencies as necessary
• Determine whether misrepresentations and deceptive acts may have occurred by working with other Consumer Credit Unit (CCU) staff and Assistant Attorneys General
• Draft closure letters to consumers, and otherwise communicates with consumers, to explain findings after investigation completion
• Recommend adjustments or changes to complaint intake forms or investigation procedures

Licensing Investigations

• Review CAR Program Assistant’s recommendations regarding initial and renewal license
• Conduct investigations of applicants for all initial and/or renewal collection agency applicants or licensees
• Recommend adjustments or changes to licensing applications, forms, or investigation procedures

Litigation support and Administrative support

• Assist on complex investigations
• Prepare exhibits as requested by Assistant Attorney Generals
• Evaluate compliance with discovery requests
• Testify in hearings
• Administrative tasks related to regulatory work

Salary note: Although a salary range is listed, salary will be set commensurate with the successful candidate’s qualifications and in compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.

This recruitment may be used to fill other highly similar positions at the Department of Law, Consumer Protection Section. 

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
 
Minimum Qualifications and Substitutions: Please document all relevant experience in detail on your application. Experience will not be inferred or assumed. Any part-time experience listed will be prorated. 

• Five years of professional experience in consumer finance, auditing, and regulatory analysis and other closely related duties.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution AND one year of professional experience in consumer finance, auditing, regulatory analysis and other closely related duties.

OR

• Master’s in public administration, business administration, economics or accounting/finance.

Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the minimum qualifications, if you possess any of the following specifically include the details on your application, as this information will be used to assess your qualifications and may be used to determine a top group of applicants.

• Strong analytical skills
• Audit certification
• Demonstrated strong writing, reviewing and editing skills
• Professional experience with report writing
• Experience conducting compliance exams
• Experience working with student loans or student loan borrowers
• Experience in interpreting and analyzing statutes, regulations and proposed legislation
• Proficiency with MS Excel
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with the public and regulated entities
• Professional demeanor
• Demonstrated commitment to public service
• Relevant State of Colorado work experience

Required Competencies:

• Requires proficiency with MS Office Suite

Note: Candidates possessing a foreign degree must submit a translation (evaluation) of their degree from an accredited institution, such as The National Association of Credential Evaluations Services in order to be given credit for the degree.

Conditions of Employment:

• Applicants must pass a thorough background investigation prior to appointment.
• Must have a valid CO driver’s license and may be required to travel within and outside the State of Colorado.
• This position will travel up to 25% of the time in and out of state to conduct examinations.

Please view the full job announcement for more information, including information about compensation and benefits, and to apply online.