Income Collection Assistant
Location: Walsall
Contract: 3‑6 months initially, hybrid basis up to 3 days onsite per week.
Salary: £14.82 per hour.
Responsibilities
* Maximise and secure income due to the Council by undertaking all aspects of income and debt recovery activity in an effective and timely manner and in accordance with relevant policies, processes and procedures. Methods of recovery will include, but are not limited to, outbound telephone, letter, email collection activities and the referral of debts to collection agents.
* Evaluate the financial position of debtors, provide practical support and advice regarding payment options, including instalment arrangements and where appropriate refer customers to internal and external support/advice agencies.
* Provide training, support and information relating to income collection and debt recovery policies, processes and procedures to colleagues and other stakeholders as appropriate including attending and actively participating in working groups and other meetings as appropriate.
* Prepare accurate, clear and concise casework records/notes and identify/enter key action points/outcomes/dates (incl. diary entries) on relevant systems (including debt collection agency systems) to ensure timely monitoring of arrears cases in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
* Review outstanding cases on a regular basis, including interrogating corporate and department systems and where appropriate prepare relevant notes/documents for handover of cases to senior colleagues where legal recovery activity is required.
* Ensure the accurate and timely processing, validation and despatch of financial transactions and documents (including credit notes, invoices and write‑off requests), and dealing with matters on non‑compliance in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
* Assist in providing a high‑quality, cost effective, best in class customer focused service, working with customers to focus on the prevention of debt, whilst ensuring their needs are met.
* Providing support to senior colleagues in dealing with customer disputes and complaints and identifying/implementing appropriate service improvements.
Abilities / Skills
* Ability to evaluate the financial position of a debtor and provide advice and support regarding payment options, including agreeing instalment arrangements.
* Ability to use IT systems to process transactions, enter case notes, produce reports, and monitor and reconcile financial information.
* Able to show a flexible approach to working and manage own workloads including monitoring and reviewing allocated cases on a regular basis and providing updates to senior manager and colleagues as required.
* Able to show understanding of Health and Safety issues.
Knowledge / Experience
* Substantial experience of debt recovery processes and methods to maximise income, including the use of various income recovery techniques plus experience in recording clear and concise records/notes to ensure timely monitoring of arrears.
* Experience of processing and validating transactions and control documents and understanding matters of non‑compliance of processes and procedures.
* Knowledge and understanding of objectives and targets.
* Experience of providing a customer focussed service and ability to communicate effectively.
* Experience in the use of financial systems and processes, and experience of reviewing those systems and processes to identify and develop improvements and implement new ways of working, including any service improvements identified from customer disputes and complaints.
Colbern Limited along with our clients is an equal opportunities employer.
#J-18808-Ljbffr