Accounts Receivable Officer
Venesky-Brown’s client, a public sector organisation in Haddington, is currently looking to recruit a Sundry Accounts Officer for an initial 12 month contract with option to extend on a rate of £16.70 per hour. This role will be based in Haddington / working from home.
Responsibilities:
– Assist in the delivery of agreed Team objectives, plans and targets, ensuring work is carried out with accuracy and in accordance with relevant legislation, guidance and policies and procedures.
– Ensure that charges are collected efficiently and accurately, administered in accordance with legislation, policies and statements of current working method.
– Achieve agreed performance targets for the collection of income, reduce arrears and contribute to the setting of future performance targets.
– Identify where customers may be experiencing difficulty in meeting their commitment to pay and ensure affordable payments can be sustained.
– Monitor and review accounts on an ongoing basis to reach a desired outcome with an emphasis on personal contact.
– Prevent arrears from escalating through early intervention, negotiating payment arrangements, dealing with customer complaints and, when appropriate, escalating to a senior officer.
– Take appropriate recovery action in accordance with legislation and policy.
– Support the clients’ corporate responsibilities towards collecting charges and reducing debt and provide quality advice ensuring that other corporate obligations are recognised.
– Assess reduction applications by considering all evidence.
– Develop effective networks across the council and with external agencies to ensure an efficient service, ensuring the lowest level of arrears possible and reduction in serious debt levels.
– Maximise payment method options available to customers. Promote direct debit, ebilling and online transactions as the preferred options.
– Promote equal opportunities by publishing documentation in different formats such as large print, audiotape and Braille.
– Manage information in a sensitive and confidential manner in accordance with the relevant legislation, e.g. Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts.
– Mentor less experienced staff and provide ongoing support and guidance to new employees, apprentices etc.
– Carry out scanning and indexing for mail and reports received and monitor and index enquiries received into appropriate mailboxes.
– Process transfers, refunds and bad debt recommendations in line with policy and procedures.
– Maintain awareness of developments in best practice and comply with legislation changes, all to conform to statutory provisions.
– Deal with all cases/enquiries which can be sensitive and complex in nature.
– Participate and contribute to the development and review of policies and procedures.
– Use a range of systems and databases to investigate and resolve more complex enquiries.
– Produce timely and robust information on debt management for service departments and colleagues to facilitate decision making.
– Deputise in the absence of the Senior Officer or Team Manager to provide information and assistance to those who request it, either internal or external.
– Promote the clients’ vision and values and a corporate culture that is positive, customer-focused and supports employee engagement to the highest standards
– Promote a positive image of the client by providing excellent customer service
– Actively participate in all team meetings, proving feedback and suggestions in order to share good practices and exceed delivery expectations
– Any other appropriate duties, as requested by Management, commensurate with the grade for the post.
Essential Skills:
– HNC/SVQ Level 3 or equivalent level of knowledge e.g. in Accountancy and/or relevant working experience
– Working in a Revenues, Finance or Customer-focused environment
– Comprehensive understanding of debt recovery legislation
– Excellent written and verbal communication skills
– Excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with customers, colleagues and other professionals
– Excellent organisational skills
– Ability to recognise if additional help and support is required for potentially vulnerable people
– Ability to negotiate repayment arrangements and explain clearly the consequences of non-payment
– Ability to multi-task and to manage and prioritise own workload
– A skilled user of Microsoft Office
– Awareness of own health and safety
– Ability to investigate and resolve problems
– Attention to detail
– Ability to use own initiative
– Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
– Ability to work flexibly as part of a team
– Ability to develop effective relationships with stakeholders
– Ability to maintain confidentiality relating sensitive or personal matters
– Ability to work with and explain detailed legislative information
– Adaptable
– Self-motivated
– Enthusiastic
Desirable Skills:
– Debt management/ debt recovery qualification
– Customer Services Professional Qualification
– Debt management – either local authority or private sector
– Awareness of equalities policy
If you would like to hear more about this opportunity please get in touch.
Responsibilities:
– Assist in the delivery of agreed Team objectives, plans and targets, ensuring work is carried out with accuracy and in accordance with relevant legislation, guidance and policies and procedures.
– Ensure that charges are collected efficiently and accurately, administered in accordance with legislation, policies and statements of current working method.
– Achieve agreed performance targets for the collection of income, reduce arrears and contribute to the setting of future performance targets.
– Identify where customers may be experiencing difficulty in meeting their commitment to pay and ensure affordable payments can be sustained.
– Monitor and review accounts on an ongoing basis to reach a desired outcome with an emphasis on personal contact.
– Prevent arrears from escalating through early intervention, negotiating payment arrangements, dealing with customer complaints and, when appropriate, escalating to a senior officer.
– Take appropriate recovery action in accordance with legislation and policy.
– Support the clients’ corporate responsibilities towards collecting charges and reducing debt and provide quality advice ensuring that other corporate obligations are recognised.
– Assess reduction applications by considering all evidence.
– Develop effective networks across the council and with external agencies to ensure an efficient service, ensuring the lowest level of arrears possible and reduction in serious debt levels.
– Maximise payment method options available to customers. Promote direct debit, ebilling and online transactions as the preferred options.
– Promote equal opportunities by publishing documentation in different formats such as large print, audiotape and Braille.
– Manage information in a sensitive and confidential manner in accordance with the relevant legislation, e.g. Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts.
– Mentor less experienced staff and provide ongoing support and guidance to new employees, apprentices etc.
– Carry out scanning and indexing for mail and reports received and monitor and index enquiries received into appropriate mailboxes.
– Process transfers, refunds and bad debt recommendations in line with policy and procedures.
– Maintain awareness of developments in best practice and comply with legislation changes, all to conform to statutory provisions.
– Deal with all cases/enquiries which can be sensitive and complex in nature.
– Participate and contribute to the development and review of policies and procedures.
– Use a range of systems and databases to investigate and resolve more complex enquiries.
– Produce timely and robust information on debt management for service departments and colleagues to facilitate decision making.
– Deputise in the absence of the Senior Officer or Team Manager to provide information and assistance to those who request it, either internal or external.
– Promote the clients’ vision and values and a corporate culture that is positive, customer-focused and supports employee engagement to the highest standards
– Promote a positive image of the client by providing excellent customer service
– Actively participate in all team meetings, proving feedback and suggestions in order to share good practices and exceed delivery expectations
– Any other appropriate duties, as requested by Management, commensurate with the grade for the post.
Essential Skills:
– HNC/SVQ Level 3 or equivalent level of knowledge e.g. in Accountancy and/or relevant working experience
– Working in a Revenues, Finance or Customer-focused environment
– Comprehensive understanding of debt recovery legislation
– Excellent written and verbal communication skills
– Excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with customers, colleagues and other professionals
– Excellent organisational skills
– Ability to recognise if additional help and support is required for potentially vulnerable people
– Ability to negotiate repayment arrangements and explain clearly the consequences of non-payment
– Ability to multi-task and to manage and prioritise own workload
– A skilled user of Microsoft Office
– Awareness of own health and safety
– Ability to investigate and resolve problems
– Attention to detail
– Ability to use own initiative
– Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
– Ability to work flexibly as part of a team
– Ability to develop effective relationships with stakeholders
– Ability to maintain confidentiality relating sensitive or personal matters
– Ability to work with and explain detailed legislative information
– Adaptable
– Self-motivated
– Enthusiastic
Desirable Skills:
– Debt management/ debt recovery qualification
– Customer Services Professional Qualification
– Debt management – either local authority or private sector
– Awareness of equalities policy
If you would like to hear more about this opportunity please get in touch.
