At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage Housing Benefit Overpayment and Adult Social Care debt recovery in a supportive team.
- Company: Join a respected local authority with a commitment to equality and diversity.
- Benefits: Competitive hourly rate and long-term contract with professional growth opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on customer service and compliance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in finance while supporting vulnerable customers.
- Qualifications: Experience in local authority finance or debt recovery is essential.
Are you an experienced Assistant Finance Officer, Finance Officer or Debt Recovery Officer with recent local authority experience? We are recruiting two Assistant Finance Officers to join a busy Exchequer Services team, supporting Housing Benefit Overpayment recovery and Adult Social Care debt recovery on a long-term contract.
About the Role
This role is ideal for candidates with strong experience in local authority finance, council debt recovery, Housing Benefit Overpayment, Adult Social Care finance, or exchequer services. You will manage recovery activity, resolve customer and stakeholder queries, maintain accurate financial records and support compliant, customer-focused debt recovery within a team environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage Housing Benefit Overpayment, Adult Social Care debt, or local authority debt-recovery caseloads independently.
- Provide a proactive, customer-focused exchequer service to council service areas, suppliers and customers.
- Resolve financial queries, payment disputes, repayment issues and recovery enquiries professionally.
- Maintain accurate finance records, transaction details, account notes and audit trails in line with council procedures.
- Liaise with customers, internal teams, partner organisations, the Department for Work and Pensions and enforcement agents.
- Support customers and end users with finance processes, repayment arrangements, recovery action and account queries.
- Contribute to financial reporting, debt recovery updates and management information as required.
About You
The successful candidates will have recent experience in local government, council finance, or public-sector debt recovery, and the confidence to manage sensitive financial matters professionally. You should be organised, customer-focused and able to make accurate recovery decisions in line with legislation, policy and procedure.
Essential Experience
- Minimum of three years' recent local authority, council or public sector experience in Housing Benefit Overpayment recovery or Adult Social Care debt recovery.
- Proven experience managing a Housing Benefit Overpayment caseload, Adult Social Care debt portfolio, financial assessment debt or care charge recovery work independently.
- Strong knowledge of Housing Benefit legislation, overpayment recovery regulations, recovery procedures and appropriate debt recovery action.
- Experience recovering charges linked to financial assessments, care charges, deferred payment agreements or Adult Social Care finance accounts.
- Experience liaising with customers, appointees, representatives, DWP, enforcement agents, partner organisations and internal council departments.
- Experience supporting vulnerable customers and handling sensitive financial conversations in a professional, compliant and customer-focused way.
Essential Skills
- Strong Understanding of Housing Benefit Overpayment recovery methods, including PDP, DEA and BTR.
- Ability to assess customer circumstances, review account information and make accurate policy-led recovery decisions.
- Excellent customer service, communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Confidence managing challenging conversations, repayment discussions, recovery queries and vulnerable customer cases.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise caseloads, deadlines and competing debt recovery tasks.
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office, housing benefit systems, revenues systems, finance systems or case management systems.
- Basic DBS clearance is required for this Assistant Finance Officer role.
Qualifications
A professional qualification is not essential. Candidates studying towards a relevant finance, revenues, benefits or debt recovery qualification would be advantageous.
Why Apply?
This long-term Assistant Finance Officer contract offers a competitive hourly rate, the opportunity to work with a respected local authority, and the chance to apply your experience in Housing Benefit Overpayment, Adult Social Care debt recovery, and finance in a busy environment.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates
Assistant Finance Officer - Housing Benefit Overpayment employer: Diamond Blaque HR Solutions
At Diamond Blaque HR Solutions, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that values innovation and collaboration. Our work culture fosters professional growth, offering employees the chance to enhance their skills while contributing to meaningful projects within the public sector. Located in Greater London, we provide a competitive day rate and a supportive environment that encourages career advancement and impactful work.
Contact Details:
Diamond Blaque HR Solutions Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Finance Officer - Housing Benefit Overpayment
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We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Finance Officer - Housing Benefit Overpayment
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How to prepare for a job interview at Diamond Blaque HR Solutions
✨Brush Up on Financial Regulations
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