Debt Controller

Teaching Vacancies; Sutton; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational organization is seeking a Debt Controller to manage and recover outstanding debts. The role involves liaising with Local Authorities, ensuring timely collections, and maintaining accurate records. The ideal candidate will have a background in credit control, strong knowledge of accounting principles, and excellent communication skills. This role offers opportunities for progression, a robust pension scheme, and employee wellbeing support. Commitment to safeguarding is essential.

Benefits

Pathways for progression

Pension Scheme

Employee Wellbeing Support

Employee Discounts

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

Qualifications

• Experience in credit control or debt management, preferably within education.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial processes.
• Excellent communication skills to liaise with Local Authorities.

Responsibilities

• Manage Trust-wide debtor ledger and implement credit control processes.
• Serve as the main contact for Local Authority finance teams.
• Ensure accurate invoicing and reconcile aged debt reports.

Skills

Debt management

Stakeholder management

Invoicing

Analytical skills

Job description

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are looking for a Debt Controller to join our central finance team. In this role, you will be responsible for managing and recovering outstanding debts, working closely with Local Authorities on funding arrangements and pupil-related income such as EHCP support, alternative provision, top-up funding, as well as other income streams including lettings and farm activities. The ideal candidate will be proactive, detail-oriented, and confident in building strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure timely collections, maintain accurate records, and support the Trust’s overall financial stability and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Debt Management and Income Collection - Proactively manage the Trust-wide debtor ledger, implement consistent credit control processes, maintain accurate records, and elevate high-risk or persistent debts with recommended actions.
• Local Authority Liaison - Serve as the main contact for Local Authority finance and SEND teams, monitor expected funding streams (EHCP top-ups, alternative provision, grants, SLAs), and reconcile allocations against pupil-level data.
• Invoicing and Reconciliations - Ensure accurate, timely invoicing, reconcile aged debt reports, and investigate and resolve discrepancies with internal and external stakeholders.
• Reporting and Compliance - Produce regular reports on debtor balances, collection performance, and aged debt trends; ensure all debt recovery activities comply with Financial Regulations, GDPR and accounting standards.
• Internal Collaboration and Process Improvement - Work closely with academy and central finance teams to support reconciliations, cashflow, audits, and guidance on income processes, contributing to system and process improvements.

Key Requirements

• Experience in credit control or debt management, preferably within education, public sector, or multi-site organisations.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and financial processes, including invoicing, reconciliations, and reporting.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to liaise confidently with Local Authorities, school staff, and internal teams.
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail, able to manage multiple accounts, monitor aged debt, and elevate issues appropriately.
• Proactive and analytical mindset, with the ability to identify trends, recommend improvements, and support process and system enhancements.
• Willingness to travel to academies and Local Authority offices on occasion if required.

What the school offers its staff

OHC&AT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme).
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme.
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more).
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme).

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.