Legal Debt Recovery Lead

Location - Solihull (Hybrid working)

Salary - £36,659 - £49,250 plus excellent employee benefits and career progression.

npower Business Solutions (nBS) is the E.ON UK Industrial and Commercial (I&C) pillar and a market leader in the B2B energy retail sector. I&C is a £6 billion revenue business serving c60,000 customers and around 300,000 meter points with a view to becoming the number one B2B energy supplier in the UK.

The Legal Debt Recovery Lead will principally be responsible for the management of high EBIT impacting and/or high profile accounts that have exhausted all other collection avenues and require escalation through Litigation, both direct and through the use of a panel of external Solicitors. You will need to ensure good case management is maintained to provide good strategic and cost effective approaches to litigation are followed; adequately protecting the company's interests within active Litigation, reducing costs and enhancing returns.

Main responsibilities of the role:

• Case management and administration of I&C Litigated debt.
• Supporting the wider Debt and service arena with dispute resolution to avoid protracted issues impacting on realising cash.
• Actively manage escalated accounts through to Litigation, hand-holding through the collections or escalations process and providing expert guidance on Litigation procedures.
• Negotiate effective resolution to disputes utilising expert commercial acumen, balancing the level of risk and reward.
• Through solid knowledge of the case, commercial opportunity, and awareness of our legal position, enter into strategically timed negotiations.
• Draft complex correspondence and/or legal settlements to outline or protect the company’s position.
• Produce well written and presented documentation that provides a clear view of the company’s stance.
• Prepare claims (and other court documents), witness testimony and evidence packs.
• Provide clear and articulate presentation of complex positions with formal documentation completed correctly and submitted in good time.
• Represent the company’s interests in court, both for debt recovery and warrant hearings, or other Alternative Dispute Resolution methods (Mediation, Arbitration and Without Prejudice meetings etc).
• Contract and Relationship Management, ensuring the external partners are familiar with our business’ needs and maximise any cost opportunity – manage the day to day relationship with a panel of solicitors in order to maintain an industry leading performance.
• Manage internal relationships with internal service partners and providers (incl. Risk and Finance).
• Maintain a strong internal network enabling processes to be operationally effective.
• To act as an expert and point of contact to management and other business areas with regards to Legal Debt Recovery related issues.
• Managing relationships across a number of teams and partnerships to co‑ordinate various activities enabling prompt Litigation management.
• Understand and interpret external legislation and regulation, alongside internal working practices and policy, for effective case management of the I&C legal debt recovery portfolio.
• Regular review of existing litigation cases applicable to the energy industry.
• Knowledge of end to end business process and potential impacts; both on legal recovery matters and vice versa.

What we need from you:

• Ability to understand different legislation and apply appropriately to a compliant process (e.g. Pre-Action Protocols).
• Strong influencer, negotiator, and a communicator with an adaptive style to ensure the best interests of the business can be explored, presented and secured.
• Commercially and economically astute; able to understand and deal with external factors that may impact business performance.
• It would be good if you have Professional qualifications, such as a degree in law (or equivalent).
• Legal Practice Certificate (LPC), supporting the professional qualifications.
• Experience in the complexities of the energy market.
• Experience in a similar role.
• CICM accredited or have at least 2 years Credit Management experience.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Award-Winning Benefits: Our market-leading benefits package includes 26 days of holiday plus bank holidays, a generous pension scheme, life cover, bonus opportunities, and access to 20 flexible benefits with tax and/or NI savings.
• Recognised with the Personnel Today Reward, Recognition and Benefits Award 2022, our benefits truly stand out.
• Recognised for Family-Friendly and Hybrid Policies: In 2024, we earned Double Recognition at the Personnel Today Awards for our exceptional family-friendly and hybrid working initiatives.
• Inclusive Employer: As the only energy company in the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers (currently ranked 8th), we’re committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and fairness for everyone.
• Support for Disabled Applicants: As a Disability Confident Employer, we guarantee an interview for all disabled candidates who meet the minimum role criteria.
• Development Opportunities: With inclusive talent networks, learning resources, and skill-building programs, your career growth is a priority.