Debt Recovery Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF BRENT; Wembley; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension

27 days holiday

Flexible hybrid working

Training & development

Travel schemes

Brent Rewards discounts

Brent Civic Centre

Job summary

London Borough of Brent is seeking a Debt Recovery Manager to provide strategic leadership and operational management across Council Tax, Housing Benefit Overpayments, Adult Social Care, Business Rates and Sundry Debt from a team of up to 15 officers. The role is based at Wembley Park with hybrid working (3 days in the office).

You will set and monitor performance targets, develop recovery strategies, maximise income collection, ensure compliance with legislation and council policies, and

Qualifications

• Experience within or with local authorities in debt recovery across Council Tax, Housing Benefit Overpayments, Adult Social Care, Business Rates and Sundry Debts.
• Proven ability to lead and manage a team in a local authority debt collection environment, with strong people and performance management.
• Strong organisational, communication and analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial information and legislation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day delivery of debt recovery across multiple portfolios.
• Lead a team of up to 15 officers, setting targets and monitoring performance.
• Develop and implement recovery strategies to maximise income collection and improve performance.
• Ensure compliance with legislation and Council policies, and manage complex/high-value cases including potential legal escalation.

Skills

Debt recovery experience

Team leadership

Analytical skills

Policy interpretation

Job description

Debt Recovery Manager

Salary - £57,150 - £60,393 (depending on experience as per the JD)

Hybrid Working - 3 days in the office

Location - Wembley Park

Your new organisation

At London Borough of Brent, finance is more than just producing the accounts - it’s about enabling transformation, safeguarding public resources, and helping shape the future of our borough. Working closely with colleagues across the council to ensure that financial insight is at the heart of decision-making. Their work is grounded in fairness, inclusion, and respect, and great pride is taken in creating a team environment where every voice is heard, and every success is celebrated. These values are not just aspirations- they are embedded in how they lead, how they support each other, and how they deliver for Brent’s communities.

Your new role

As the Debt Recovery Manager, you will provide both strategic leadership and operational management across a range of debt recovery portfolios, including Council Tax, Housing Benefit Overpayments, Adult Social Care, Business Rates and Sundry Debt.

Leading a team of up to 15 officers, you will oversee day-to-day delivery, develop and implement recovery strategies, maximise income collection and improve collection performance. You will set and monitor performance targets, support and develop the team, and ensure recovery activity complies with relevant legislation and Council policies.

Working closely with internal teams and external partners, you will help remove barriers, improve processes and enhance the customer journey. You will also make decisions on complex and high-value cases, including legal escalation, vulnerable resident considerations and write-off recommendations.

What you need to succeed

• Experience working within, or in partnership with, local authorities, with a strong understanding of debt recovery and collection services across areas such as Business Rates, Adult Social Care, Housing Benefit Overpayments, Council Tax and Sundry Debts.
• Experience leading or managing in a local authority debt collection environment, with the ability to manage people and performance and work effectively with a diverse customer base in a challenging environment.
• Strong organisational, communication and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial information and legislation and make sound decisions.
• Ability to manage people and performance, including coaching and developing staff.

Benefits include

• Competitive salary
• The opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Generous holiday entitlements starting from 27 days' holiday a year
• A range of family friendly policies, including generous maternity and paternity entitlements and childcare schemes
• Flexible working patterns, including hybrid working
• Training and development opportunities
• Good travel links in and out of Wembley and a range of cost saving travel schemes
• Access to My Brent Rewards, our dedicated website for staff with big brand discounts and local offers
• Work at the outstanding state-of-the-art Brent Civic Centre

The closing date will be 15th November. The salary quoted is the full salary range for the role. Starting salary will typically be appointed at a point within the range, with progression subject to performance and organisational policy