Recovery Officer - Castle Point Borough Council

Essex County Council are delighted to be advertising the role of Recovery Officer on behalf of Castle Point Borough Council. To see full job advert and apply, please click HERE.

Recovery Officer

Location: Castle Point Council Offices, Kiln Road

Salary: Grade 5 SCP 17-21 £30,060 to £32,115

Working Hours: 37 hours per week

Number of Positions: 4

DBS Check: Enhanced

Recovery Officers

Benfleet, Essex

Permanent, full time

Hybrid (1 day per week in office)

Salary: 5 SCP 17-21 (£31,022 to £33,143 per annum)

Looking for a career with a competitive salary, training, mentoring from an experienced team and an opportunity to get a professional qualification?

Do you have private or public sector debt recovery or credit control experience?

Why Castle Point? Castle Point Borough Council is a statutory body responsible for employing nearly 350 staff, and delivering over 150 council services, both statutory and for the community's well-being and benefit. Castle Point Borough Council aims to provide high-quality and financially sustainable services while prioritising outstanding customer service, transparency in decision-making, and promoting local democracy. Additionally, the council seeks to transform, modernise, and improve its performance, as well as support and enable the communities within its jurisdiction to be strong, healthy, and thriving.

Our values: Trust, Respect, Improving and Learning, and Customer Focus

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our successful Recovery Team collecting outstanding Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Rents and other income owed to the Council. This role is interesting and varied and we are looking for an enthusiastic team player who can support us with negotiating payment from customers, maintaining accurate records, deciding appropriate recovery actions amongst other responsibilities. You will also need excellent communication skills to liaise with the public, other Council departments, Enforcement Agents and advice agencies.

Experience of a revenues IT system is desirable but not essential.

Accountabilities

• To assist with the administration of systems reports and a wide range of recovery methods, including reminders, Final notices, Summonses, 14-day notices, enforcement, and insolvency.
• Assessing customers income/expenditure, making special payment arrangements at all stages of recovery, reviewing and monitoring as necessary. Liaise with other stakeholders such as Peabody and CAB.
• Responding to enquiries by letter, email, and in person, as required with a preference to digital communications where available.
• Instigating and reviewing Attachment of Earning Orders and deductions from DWP benefits and ensuring payments are received and allocated correctly.
• Providing support both before and at Court, preparing paperwork, dealing with customer queries and making payment arrangements.
• Tracing absconded customers, using internal and third-party systems.
• Identifying irrecoverable debts, undertake all relevant checks, and prepare documentation to recommend write off.
• Through training and mentoring, gain a detailed knowledge of procedures, legislation and case-law, relating to the recovery and enforcement of debts.
• Ensuring accurate case selection for Enforcement, liaising with Enforcement Agents, and updating revenues systems.
• Checking and actioning monthly reports at various stages of recovery to maximise collections

To be successful in this role you must:

• Have recent experience and knowledge in a debt recovery or collections environment in the public or private sector
• Have experience of Microsoft Office and a revenues or collection system.
• Have good verbal and written communication skills, as well as the ability to support and negotiate with customers and stakeholders in a calm and sensitive way in difficult situations
• Can demonstrate awareness and understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs

Castle Point Borough Council is proud to be a disability confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants if they meet the minimum requirements of the role. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

Castle Point Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

When completing the statement of suitability please refer to the full job description and how you meet each of the criteria and attach an up to date CV with your application

How to apply:This role is being advertised on behalf of Castle Point Borough Council therefore all applications must be submitted via the Castle Point Borough Council website. Please note any applications submitted via the Working for Essex ‘apply’ button will be advised to reapply via the Castle Point Borough Council website.