Housing Debt Recovery Officer

About the role

We are looking for a motivated and customer-focused Housing Debt Recovery Officer to join our Housing Finance Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting tenants, former tenants and leaseholders. Reporting to the Senior Housing Finance Officer, you will manage a caseload of former tenant arrears and other housing-related debts, balancing a supportive approach with effective recovery action.

The Housing Finance Team is made up of experienced finance, debt recovery and administration professionals who work closely together across our offices in Corby and Kettering. As part of Housing Services, you will contribute to our vision of delivering visible, supportive and responsive services that put residents at the heart of what we do.

No two days are the same. You'll have the opportunity to make a real difference by helping customers manage their finances, preventing debt where possible, and taking appropriate action to recover money owed to the Council.

What will you be doing?

As a Housing Debt Recovery Officer, you will:

• Manage a portfolio of former tenant arrears, garage rents, service charges, rechargeable repairs and other housing-related debts.
• Contact customers by telephone, email, letter, office interview and home visit to discuss outstanding debts and agree affordable repayment arrangements.
• Carry out financial assessments and provide practical budgeting and debt advice to help customers sustain repayments and maximise their income.
• Promote welfare benefits, grants and other support available to residents experiencing financial hardship.
• Investigate and trace debtors, maintain accurate records and identify the most appropriate recovery action.
• Prepare and present small claims cases through the County Court and monitor compliance with court orders.
• Work closely with housing colleagues, legal services, external agencies and community partners to achieve positive outcomes for customers.
• Contribute to service improvements and support the delivery of excellent services to tenants and residents.

About you

We are looking for someone who is confident, resilient and passionate about providing excellent customer service.

You will have:

• A minimum of three years' experience in a debt recovery, income management or similar housing-related role.
• Experience working within a local authority, housing association or registered provider environment.
• Knowledge of housing legislation, debt recovery processes and County Court small claims procedures.
• Excellent communication, interviewing and negotiation skills, with the ability to build positive relationships and achieve successful outcomes.
• The ability to manage a varied workload, work independently and meet performance targets.
• Strong IT, analytical and report-writing skills.
• Experience of supporting customers who may be vulnerable or experiencing complex financial circumstances.
• A proactive and solution-focused approach, with the confidence to make decisions and drive improvements.
• GCSEs (or equivalent) including Maths and English
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle for business use.

In return, you'll join a supportive team environment with opportunities to develop your career within Housing Services and the wider Council.

Our Benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.

You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

We offer a vibrant working environment with:

• a competitive salary
• a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.
• lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council
• generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days
• hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

About us

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

Customer-focused
Respectful
Efficient
Supportive
Trustworthy

Our key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.

Disability Confident Employer

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Our Employment and Disability Service provides bespoke support to individuals facing barriers to employment, helping them work towards their goals to start, stay and succeed in employment. For further information please click here The Employment and Disability Service (EADS) | North Northamptonshire Council

Armed Forces Community

The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).

Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)