Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 167,096	$ 157,418
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	3,211,587	3,137,893
Deferred court costs, net	96,207	95,918
Property and equipment, net	117,371	115,518
Other assets	338,462	257,002
Goodwill	882,884	868,126
Total assets	4,813,607	4,631,875
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	195,686	287,945
Debt, net	3,592,906	3,490,633
Other liabilities	150,458	33,609
Total liabilities	3,939,050	3,812,187
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
Convertible preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding	0	0
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, 30,967 shares and 30,884 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively	310	309
Additional paid-in capital	208,374	208,498
Accumulated earnings	769,443	720,189
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(105,864)	(110,987)
Total Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders’ equity	872,263	818,009
Noncontrolling interest	2,294	1,679
Total equity	874,557	819,688
Total liabilities and equity	4,813,607	4,631,875
Variable Interest Entities
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	53	448
Investment in receivable portfolios, net	521,971	501,489
Other assets	10,367	9,563
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	4,661	4,556
Debt, net	456,204	445,837
Other liabilities	$ 46	$ 46