Credit Control Officer in Leeds

About the Trust
We’re one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We’re looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country’s third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: Credit Control Officer Opportunity
Contract: Fixed term contract until 30/09/2026
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive. Our Credit Control Team plays a key role in keeping the Trust financially healthy, and we’re looking for someone who wants to make a real impact. We support the full debt‑recovery process for the organisation, handling everything from managing consumer and commercial debt for around 8,500 customers to sending out approximately 10,500 reminder letters each year. We also look after more than 500 active payment plans, raise over 500 legal referrals through our external partner, and manage write‑offs where needed. A big part of our work involves collaborating with budget holders across the Trust to make sure we’re proactively managing outstanding debt and keeping things moving.

Working hours & location
This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. This role is based working from home, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces from time to time for team working and collaborative meetings. It is important that you can reasonably commute to one of our main hubs below. Relevant Hubs: Leeds, Ellesmere Port, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Gloucester. The regularity & flexibility of travel will be discussed further at interview stage.

Role overview
This role plays a key part in protecting the Trust’s financial stability and reputation. You’ll support effective debt collection processes to ensure money owed to the Trust is recovered accurately and on time. Strong credit management is essential, as poor practice could lead to financial loss, legal challenges, or customer complaints. Because the role involves handling sensitive financial and personal information, you’ll be expected to work in full compliance with the Data Protection Act and maintain the highest standards of confidentiality.

Key responsibilities

• Support smooth and accurate credit control and debt‑recovery processes, ensuring all work follows Trust policies and legal requirements.
• Use financial knowledge and good judgment to collect outstanding debt, agree payment plans, and recommend write‑offs or refunds.
• Build positive relationships with customers and internal stakeholders to resolve issues and keep debt information up to date.
• Assist the Credit Control Manager with wider debt‑recovery activities and ensure tasks are completed efficiently and to agreed service levels.
• Help colleagues understand processes, provide guidance, and deliver training when needed.
• Take on senior responsibilities such as mentoring new team members, leading debt‑review meetings, and identifying improvements to systems and processes.
• Provide absence cover for the Credit Control Team Supervisor, including preparing reports, overseeing team activity, authorising refunds, and supporting system testing.
• Work to monthly and annual financial deadlines for cash collection, postings, allocations, and customer refunds.
• Demonstrate Trust values in all interactions and contribute to a positive, inclusive working environment.
• Promote diversity and inclusion by challenging behaviours or decisions that do not align with Trust policies and values.

About You
The post holder is responsible for developing and maintaining the Trust’s reputation as a responsible reservoir undertaker within the wider reservoir industry.

Skills & Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level including Maths & English.
• Credit Control/Debt Recovery experience.
• Experience of operating to a quality management system.
• Confident user of Word and Excel.
• SAP experience in particular FICO, Credit Management and SD modules.
• Ability to understand and work within organisational policies. Suggest and implement improvements.

Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer
In addition to your annual base salary of c. £25,163, we also offer a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes. All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis. We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role.