Finance Professional

Colbern Limited; London Borough of Lambeth; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Colbern Limited in Lambeth is seeking an experienced Assistant Finance Officer - Exchequer Services to join a busy local authority finance team. The role includes Sundry or ASC debtor collection, housing benefit overpayments recovery, and training in-office for two weeks with a 3 days remote arrangement.

You will manage over 900 accounts, prioritise workloads, and liaise with customers, the DWP, enforcement agents, and internal stakeholders to maximise recovery outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in Housing Benefit overpayment recovery and related legislation.
• Proven ability to analyse customer circumstances and decide on recovery actions.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills to handle difficult conversations.

Responsibilities

• Manage over 900 accounts and prioritize workloads.
• Liaise with customers, DWP, enforcement agents and internal stakeholders.
• Apply Housing Benefit legislation and recovery procedures to progress recovery.

Skills

Housing Benefit recovery knowledge

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Debt collection experience

Tools

MS Office

Housing benefit systems

Job description

Assistant Finance Officer - Exchequer Services

Lambeth

Contract

£20.55 per hour PAYE or £26.77 per hour limited paid via umbrella company inside IR35

Our client is looking for an experienced Assistant Finance Officer - Exchequer Services

3 days remote, 1-2 day in the office.

Initial training 2-3 days in the office for 2 weeks.

Sundry or ASC debtor collector with more than 3 years of recent experience.

Manage over 900 accounts.

Pro‑active. Team player.

Experience

• A minimum of three years' recent collect experience within a local authority.
• Experience of independently managing a Housing Benefit Overpayment caseload, prioritising workloads and progressing recovery action with minimal supervision.
• Experience of applying Housing Benefit legislation, recovery regulations and departmental procedures when determining and progressing appropriate recovery action.
• Experience of liaising with customers, the Department for Work and Pensions, enforcement agents and internal stakeholders to maximise recovery and resolve complex cases.
• Experience of independently managing an Adult Social Care debt portfolio, prioritising workloads and progressing cases to resolution with minimal supervision.
• Experience of recovering charges arising from financial assessments, care charges and deferred payment agreements, applying relevant legislation, policies and recovery procedures.
• Experience of working with vulnerable customers, their representatives and partner organisations to achieve appropriate debt recovery outcomes.

Essential Skills

• Sound knowledge of Housing Benefit Overpayment recovery legislation, regulations and recovery methods including PDP, DEA, BTR etc.
• Ability to analyse customer circumstances and make informed decisions on appropriate recovery action in accordance with legislation and policy.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage difficult conversations and achieve positive recovery outcomes.
• Competent IT skills, including Microsoft Office and housing benefit, revenues or financial management systems.

Basic DBS required

Colbern Limited along with our clients are an equal opportunities employer