OR121551 – Assistant Finance Officer – Exchequer Services (SC6 – SO1) – Financial

London Borough of Lambeth; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrying out financial and administrative support within a local authority’s Finance and Exchequer Services, you will manage debt recovery for Housing Benefit Overpayments and Adult Social Care debts. The role involves contacting customers, applying recovery procedures and ensuring compliance with legislation, while liaising with DWP and enforcement agencies.

You will handle a large caseload, produce reports and contribute to process improvements, with a mix of remote and office-based work as

Qualifications

• 3 years’ recent experience in local authority finance, debt collection or recovery.
• Experience recovering Housing Benefit Overpayments debts.
• Experience managing Adult Social Care debt portfolios.
• Knowledge of Housing Benefit recovery legislation and regulations.
• Understanding of recovery methods (PDP, DEA, BTR).
• Strong IT and Microsoft Office skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of Housing Benefit Overpayments and Adult Social Care debts.
• Contact customers to arrange repayments and resolve debts.
• Apply relevant legislation and recovery procedures.
• Liaise with customers, DWP, enforcement agents and internal departments.
• Process financial transactions and complete account reconciliations.
• Produce financial reports and monitor debt recovery performance.
• Maintain accurate financial records and ensure audit trails.
• Identify issues and improve financial processes.

Skills

Debt recovery

Housing benefit recovery

Customer service

Negotiation

IT skills

Education

DBS check

Tools

Microsoft Office

Financial management systems

Job description

Work Pattern: 3 days remote, 1-2 day in the office. Initial training 2-3 days in the office for 2 weeks.

PAYE Pay Rate: £20.55 per hour

Main Purpose of the Role

To provide financial and administrative support within the Council’s Finance and Exchequer Services team. The role involves managing debt recovery, processing financial transactions, maintaining accurate records and providing advice to customers and internal departments.

The postholder will help ensure debts are recovered efficiently, financial procedures are followed and excellent customer service is delivered.

Typical Day Overview

• Managing a caseload of Housing Benefit Overpayments and Adult Social Care debts.
• Contacting customers to arrange repayments and resolve outstanding debts.
• Applying relevant legislation and recovery procedures.
• Liaising with customers, DWP, enforcement agents and internal departments.
• Processing financial transactions and completing account reconciliations.
• Producing financial reports and monitoring debt recovery performance.
• Maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring audit trails are in place.
• Identifying issues and finding ways to improve financial processes.

Key Skills & Responsibilities

• Debt Recovery: Managing approximately 1,000 accounts and progressing outstanding debts.
• Housing Benefit: Experience recovering Housing Benefit Overpayments.
• Adult Social Care: Managing care charges, financial assessment debts and deferred payment agreements.
• Legislation: Understanding recovery regulations and methods, including PDP, DEA and BTR.
• Customer Service: Confidently handling difficult conversations and negotiating repayment arrangements.
• Communication: Liaising with customers, vulnerable individuals, DWP and enforcement agencies.
• Financial Administration: Processing transactions, reconciliations and maintaining accurate records.
• IT Skills: Confident using Microsoft Office and financial management systems.
• Reporting: Producing financial reports and monitoring collection performance.
• Teamwork: Proactive, personable and able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Essential Requirements & Qualifications

Essential:

• Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in a relevant local authority finance, debt collection or recovery role.
• Experience managing Housing Benefit Overpayment debt recovery caseloads.
• Experience managing Adult Social Care debt portfolios.
• Knowledge of Housing Benefit recovery legislation and regulations.
• Understanding of recovery methods, including PDP, DEA and BTR.
• Strong IT and Microsoft Office skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and customer service skills.
• Ability to manage a large caseload and prioritise workloads independently.
• Proactive, organised and a strong team player.
• Basic DBS required.