We have an exciting opportunity for an Income Recovery Officer to join us on a permanent, full-time basis. At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service. About you… We are looking for someone with sound experience of working in a rent or housing service and dealing with finances, ideally in the social housing sector. You will have a good understanding of best practice in management of income recovery, debt counselling and debt collection. With excellent communication skills and the ability to work to deadlines, you will be able to manage your time and resources effectively. About the team… The Housing Management team is a small but busy team providing an extensive and responsive property management service to homeless clients placed into temporary accommodation procured by the council. Sitting within the Welfare and Housing service, the team support each other by working closely together to achieve the right results by using a holistic approach with clients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Key responsibilities To provide a high-quality income management service and be responsible for the arrears management and income collection of a specified caseload. Maximising income through the effective collection of rent and service charge income, giving appropriate advice and guidance to residents in respect of rent, other tenancy charges and arrears. Take a proactive approach to recover and prevent rent arrears through the management of individual rent arrears cases. Ensuring that tenants are notified of any arrears at the earliest opportunity, including setting of arrangements, issuing statements or recommending further steps such as court action in line with agreed procedures and targets. Engage with residents in order to negotiate and sustain payment arrangements through a variety of communication methods. Contact will include home visits and working outside of core hours where necessary. Assist tenants in maximising income and give advice or where appropriate, referrals on money management matters, empowering and signposting residents to find solutions and appropriate support. Our benefits… 25 days* annual leave increasing to 28 days* after 3 years’ continuous service. The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days* annual leave per year and sell 5 days. Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance. Electric vehicle salary sacrifice for an electric car at a fixed monthly cost (subject to eligibility). An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks. Local government pension scheme. Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme) Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave. Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits such as annual leave entitlements, occupational maternity/paternity leave, and more. (Terms and Conditions apply – please refer to candidate pack for more information.) Career development through internal and external training opportunities. A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing. Sports and Social Club. Staff dental and health plans. Discounted leisure centre and gym membership. Supermarket discount. *(pro rata for part time) Our values At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you. Reasonable adjustments We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Interview date Interviews will be held on 10th June 2025. Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment. We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible. Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration. Want to ask us a question? For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact: Michelle Farrell on 01344 351612 or email michelle.farrell@bracknell-forest.gov.uk Claire Dudley-Morgan on 01344 351395 claire.dudley-morgan@bracknell-forest.gov.uk At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambition and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details. Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK. Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis. No agencies please.