Finance, Benefit and Debt Adviser

The Growth Company; Manchester; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in Manchester seeks a Finance, Benefit, and Debt Adviser to assist individuals in accessing benefits and managing debt. The role involves building relationships with participants and providing tailored guidance to help them achieve financial stability. Successful candidates will have strong communication skills and a good understanding of the local labor market.

Qualifications

• Experience in training, advice & guidance, especially with vulnerable groups.
• In-depth knowledge of the current benefits system and debt issues.

Responsibilities

• Help participants access benefits and resolve debt issues.
• Build strong relationships and provide tailored support.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Rapport-building

IT Skills

Education

Accredited qualification in information, advice, and guidance

Job description

The Growth Company’s (GC) Support to Succeed team is seeking a Finance, Benefit, and Debt Adviser. This role involves maintaining high performance levels, ensuring compliance, and upholding customer service standards for the Support to Succeed (STS) service. Additionally, the adviser will support the Service Manager in achieving both service and business objectives.

We help to make a lasting difference to the lives of people throughout Greater Manchester by supporting individuals to gain meaningful employment. Our highly skilled advisers and keyworkers work with a range of individuals, from those recently out of work to those with complex barriers such as physical disabilities, mental health issues, and debt.

This role will be working across Manchester.

Key responsibilities:

1. Work with participants to help them access benefits and adhere to claim responsibilities.
2. Resolve debt issues and establish repayment plans for debt and rent.
3. Provide guidance on personal spending and budgeting skills.
4. Act as a liaison between participants and various parties like landlords, utility suppliers, and creditors.
5. Build strong relationships with participants to help them make informed choices and develop action plans.
6. Offer support tailored to participants' learning styles, including face-to-face, digital, video, and telephony-based interventions.
7. Follow up on participants' actions to ensure timely progress, such as making repayments or responding to correspondence.
8. Liaise with Keyworkers and accurately record interactions and management information.

About you:

1. Excellent knowledge of the local labour market, recruitment methods, and growth industries.
2. Good understanding of welfare-to-work and its customer base.
3. Familiarity with training, education, and employment opportunities.
4. Knowledge of guidance and national standards.
5. Warm and pleasant demeanour.
6. Strong rapport-building skills.
7. Effective negotiation skills.
8. Professional and articulate communication.

Skills Required:

1. Experience in training, advice & guidance, and counselling environments, especially with vulnerable customer groups.
2. Previous experience working with economically inactive, marginalized, or demotivated individuals, and working to targets.
3. In-depth knowledge of the current benefits system and issues related to debt and personal finance mismanagement.
4. Excellent communication skills and an accredited qualification in information, advice, and guidance.
5. Ability to work under pressure in high-performance environments, with a strong personable approach to service users.
6. Well-developed IT skills, including MI systems, spreadsheets, diaries, and email, with a flexible approach to work and willingness to travel.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone, including vulnerable adults and young people. All appointments are subject to Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check conducted by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd) on behalf of GC. The successful candidate will not be required to pay for this.

If you are on the Barred List, it is against the law to apply and be hired for roles involving regulated activity with the concerned group.

We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and provide a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential requirements for a role, especially candidates with disabilities or from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

As part of our application process, you can request consideration under this scheme if you are from an ethnic community or have a physical or mental impairment that significantly affects your daily activities. If you meet the essential criteria, you will be invited for an interview. Your guaranteed interview application will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and our Internal Recruitment Team.

We are a member of the national campaign Ban the Box, which aims to provide opportunities for people with convictions to compete for jobs by removing conviction questions at the application stage.

GC promotes a culture of flexibility and agile working. We are transitioning to a work environment where full agile working is a feature of many roles. We also recognize the need for flexible working arrangements, which can be discussed during the interview process.

If you need support with the recruitment process, please contact our Internal Recruitment Team at [e-mail] or call 0161 237 4447.

All GC colleagues will work in line with the Health & Safety at Work Act and the GC Health & Safety Policy.