The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.
Salary
£39,152 to £44,075 Per year
Region
Permanent / Full-Time
Job category/type
Adult Services, Finance, Managerial, Social Services, Social Work/Care
enior Income and Recovery and Charging Officer.pdf
This is an exciting opportunity for a finance or social care professional who has experience in income recovery, client charging, debt management or financial assessment services and is ready to take on a senior role supporting service delivery, complex case management and continuous improvement.
Working closely with the Charging, Monitoring & Recovery Manager, you will play a leading role in ensuring that vulnerable people receive the right support while maintaining effective charging, invoicing and debt recovery processes across Adult Social Care services.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.
About The Role:
As Senior Income, Recovery & Client Charging Officer, you will play a leading role in delivering high-quality client charging, invoicing and debt recovery services within Adult Social Care, ensuring that vulnerable residents receive the support they need while meeting their financial obligations.
Acting as a senior technical specialist and escalation point within the team, you will manage complex cases, support and mentor colleagues, oversee recovery and prevention activities, maintain accurate financial records and management information, and build effective relationships with service users, carers, social care professionals and health partners.
Working closely with the Charging, Monitoring & Recovery Manager, you will also contribute to service improvement, performance monitoring, audits, policy development and staff development, helping to ensure the service remains effective, compliant and focused on achieving positive outcomes for residents.
About You:
We are seeking someone with:
- Experience within social care, health, local government or a related sector.
- Strong knowledge of income recovery, client charging, debt management or related financial services.
- Excellent numeracy and analytical skills with the ability to interpret and explain complex financial information.
- Experience supporting or mentoring colleagues and helping develop team capability.
- Strong communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Confidence working with financial systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
- A customer-focused approach and a commitment to delivering positive outcomes for vulnerable people.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.
Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
- A wide range of flexible working opportunities
- Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
- On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
- Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position please contact Micheala Smith, Charging, Recovery and Monitoring Manager on [email protected]
Closing Date: Sunday 23rd August 2026
Interview Date: Week commencing 31st August 2026
Interview Setup: In person at the Civic Centre, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU
