What Does a Document Processor Do?

A document processor handles incoming documents and data entry to keep operations running smoothly. Financial institutions, law firms, insurance companies, and health care providers, use document processors, among others. No special training is required for positions in this field, unless people have an interest in advanced supervisory roles. Some employers may require college degrees or special certifications from supervisors so they can perform their jobs more effectively, while others may promote experienced personnel without special training.

When documents arrive on site, the document processor reviews them to make sure they are accurate and complete. If they are not, they can be sent back to the originating customer or staff member. At a bank, for example, the loan officer is responsible for turning in a complete loan package. If documents are missing or not accurate, the document processor can return them to the loan officer to fix the problem before continuing the loan application process.

Complete documents can be entered in databases, either by manually transferring information or scanning them. Document processors file the originals, using the company’s filing system and making sure the digital file includes notes about physical location, or shred them after producing legally acceptable facsimiles. After all the information is verified, the document processor can release it into the system for use by other personnel. People can seek out the physical documents for reference, or look at the digital records to collect information to support activities like originating insurance payments or confirming a client’s status with a law firm.

This job requires comfort and familiarity with filing systems, handling of sensitive material, and working with databases. Some document processors have special training to handle tasks like medical billing and coding, or preliminary review of mortgage applications. Others focus on data entry and storage and may not need special skills. Customer interaction opportunities are usually limited for a document processor, unless tasked with contacting customers to ask them to address incomplete documents.

The work environment is typically similar to that of most offices. Document processors may spend long hours in front of the computer and need to be able to handle some bending and lifting to access records. Breaks are usually structured into the day and the work may be more self-directed, as people do not need direct supervision at all times when handling basic tasks associated with processing documents. People with an interest in management roles may need to pursue extra training or certification, as well as demonstrating competency and willingness to learn in the workplace.