Position: Assistant Finance Officer – Exchequer Services (SC6)
Location: Lambeth Town Hall, 2 Brixton Hill, Brixton, SW2 1RW
Start Date: ASAP (Immediate start required)
Contract Duration: 12+ Months - 4 days remote, 1 day in the office. Initial training 2-3 days in the office.
Working Hours: 35 hours per week
Pay Rate: PAYE: £143.87 per day
Job Responsibilities
- Recover Housing Benefit Overpayment and Adult Social Care debts in line with council policies and legislation
- Manage your own caseload, prioritising work and progressing recovery with minimal supervision
- Apply relevant legislation and recovery methods (e.g. DEA, PDP, BTR) when deciding recovery action
- Contact customers, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), enforcement agents, and internal teams to resolve cases and maximise debt recovery
- Support vulnerable customers and work with representatives or partner organisations where appropriate
- Process financial transactions accurately and maintain clear audit trails
- Use financial systems and Microsoft Office to update records, produce reports, reconcile accounts, and analyse data
- Monitor income collection and recovery performance, ensuring targets are met
- Maintain accurate financial records and comply with financial regulations, data protection, and council procedures
- Provide financial advice and administrative support to service areas and customers
- Build positive working relationships with colleagues, suppliers, and stakeholders to improve financial processes and customer service
- Support financial reporting, reconciliations, and continuous improvement of finance systems and processes
- Deputise for the Finance Officer when required (SO1 level)
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Minimum 3 years' recent experience recovering Housing Benefit Overpayment debt and Adult Social Care debt within a local authority
- Experience managing your own debt recovery caseload independently
- Experience applying relevant legislation, policies, and recovery procedures
- Experience communicating with customers, DWP, enforcement agents, and internal teams
- Experience working with vulnerable customers and resolving complex debt cases
- Experience using computerised financial or housing benefit systems
Essential Knowledge
- Good knowledge of Housing Benefit Overpayment recovery legislation and recovery methods (DEA, PDP, BTR, etc.) or Adult Social Care debt recovery processes
- Understanding of local authority finance and accounting procedures
- Ability to interpret financial information and make informed decisions
- Knowledge of financial controls and audit requirements
Essential Skills
- Strong communication, customer service, and negotiation skills
- Good analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel
- Ability to manage workloads, prioritise tasks, and work independently
- Accurate record-keeping and attention to detail
Other Requirements
- Basic DBS check
- Eligible to work in the UK
- A finance qualification is desirable but not essential
Job Reference: OR110478
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary, Fixed term contract, Temp to perm
Contract length: 12 months
Pay: £143.87 per day
Application question(s):
- Which recovery methods have you used?
- Have you recovered charges relating to Adult Social Care financial assessments, care charges, or deferred payment agreements?
Experience:
- recovering Housing Benefit Overpayment debt: 3 years (required)
- recovering Adult Social Care debt: 3 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Basic DBS certificate (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Brixton Hill SW2
