Billing Coordinator vs. Billing Specialist: What Are the Differences?

Many businesses need employees who can handle billing and invoicing. The titles billing coordinator and billing specialist are two positions that may be available to you. But what’s the difference between these positions? In this article, we compare the job duties, responsibilities and qualifications of billing coordinators and billing specialists. We also provide information on the average salary you can expect to earn in each role.

What is a Billing Coordinator?

Billing Coordinators are responsible for ensuring that a company’s customers are billed correctly and in a timely manner. They work closely with accounting and finance staff to reconcile invoices and account for payments. Billing Coordinators review customer accounts to make sure that all charges are accurate and that payments are applied correctly. They also generate invoices and process customer payments. In some cases, Billing Coordinators may also be responsible for collections. To be successful in this role, Billing Coordinators must have strong attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.

What is a Billing Specialist?

Billing Specialists are responsible for ensuring that their company receives payments for goods and services rendered. They work with customers to set up billing arrangements, process invoices and track payments. Billing Specialists also reconcile account discrepancies and research and correct errors on customers’ accounts. They may also process refunds and credits. Billing Specialists typically work in accounting or finance departments and use computers to track and manage customer information. They must have strong math skills and be detail-oriented to accurately process customer invoices and payments.

Billing Coordinator vs. Billing Specialist

Here are the main differences between a billing coordinator and a billing specialist.

Job Duties

Billing coordinators typically have more varied job duties than billing specialists. They may manage the entire billing process for an organization, from receiving patient information to processing payments and sending out bills.

Billing specialists often perform tasks related to a specific part of the billing process. For example, a billing specialist who works in a medical facility may only input patient information into the system and ensure that the correct insurance information is available. A billing coordinator might handle other aspects of the process, such as communicating with patients about their bills or ensuring that payment goes through successfully.

Job Requirements

Billing coordinators and billing specialists typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the field. However, some employers prefer candidates who have an associate degree in business administration or a related field. Many professionals in this field also pursue certifications through organizations like the American Medical Billing Association (AMBA) or the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). These certifications can help billing coordinators and specialists stay up-to-date on industry changes and show potential employers that they are committed to their career.

Work Environment

Billing coordinators and specialists typically work in an office setting. They may spend their days sitting at a desk, typing information into a computer or on paper forms. Depending on the company they work for, billing coordinators and specialists may also travel to meet with clients and attend meetings.

Billing coordinators usually have more managerial responsibilities than billing specialists. This means that they often oversee other employees’ work and help them complete projects. Billing coordinators may also manage the workflow of their department by delegating tasks to team members and scheduling deadlines.

Skills

Both billing coordinators and billing specialists use customer service skills when they are working with clients to answer questions about invoices, process payments and provide other assistance. They also need to have strong organizational skills to keep track of deadlines, manage paperwork and maintain accurate records.

Billing coordinators may need additional skills, such as supervisory skills if they are overseeing a team of billing specialists. They may also be responsible for training new employees, so instructional skills can be beneficial. Billing coordinators may also be involved in developing departmental policies and procedures, so writing skills can be helpful.

Billing specialists typically need to have strong attention to detail to catch errors on invoices and input data accurately into billing software. They may also need to research discrepancies, so research skills can be beneficial.

Salary

Billing coordinators earn an average salary of $52,985 per year, while billing specialists earn an average salary of $46,932 per year. Both of these salaries may vary depending on the size of the company, the location of the job and the level of experience the employee has prior to taking the job.