Debtors Officer

Lewisham Council; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

LGPS

Flexible working

Season ticket loan

Staff discounts

Staff networks

Job summary

Lewisham Council is seeking a Corporate Debt Collection Officer to manage sundry debts, investigate accounts and arrange payments. The role involves recovery action, working with external agencies, and preparing legal cases.

The position is based at Laurence House, Catford, with a hybrid working pattern. Salary is £41,739–£43,014 per annum (SO1), with broad benefits and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Experience in debt collection or similar customer-facing environment.
• Basic knowledge of recovery legislation and court procedures.
• Strong communication, negotiation, organisational and IT skills.
• Ability to handle challenging enquiries sensitively and work accurately to tight deadlines.
• Ability to interpret legislation, analyse data and prepare reports.
• Commitment to customer care, equality and a high-quality service.

Responsibilities

• Manage outstanding sundry debts and investigate accounts.
• Agree payment arrangements and resolve complex enquiries and disputes.
• Maintain accurate records and work with council services and external agencies.
• Maximise income through appropriate recovery action and prepare legal cases.
• Represent the Council in court if required.

Skills

Debt collection

Communication

Negotiation

Organisational skills

IT skills

Tools

IT knowledge

Job description

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!

We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Introduction

Join Lewisham Council as a Corporate Debt Collection Officer and help deliver an effective, customer-focused service. You will bring debt collection experience or relevant transferable skills, a basic understanding of recovery principles, and strong communication, negotiation and organisational skills. You must work accurately under pressure and respond sensitively to individual

What’s the role?

You will manage outstanding sundry debts, investigate accounts, agree payment arrangements, resolve complex enquiries and disputes, and maintain accurate records. Working with council services and external agencies, you will maximise income through appropriate recovery action, prepare legal cases and represent the Council in court if required.

What’s in it for you?

Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

What we’re looking for:

Individual that will bring experience in debt collection or a similar customer focused environment, with basic knowledge of recovery legislation and court procedures. Strong communication, negotiation, organisational and IT skills are essential, alongside the ability to handle challenging enquiries sensitively and work accurately to tight deadlines. You will be confident interpreting legislation, analysing data and preparing reports, with a commitment to customer care, equality and a high-quality service.

Location

The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU, but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

Special Condition

This job is subject to a Basic Disclosure.

Salary

£41,739 - £43,014 per annum (SO1)

N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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