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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage sales ledger and build relationships for timely debt collection.
- Company: Leading care provider in the West Midlands, empowering individuals with special needs.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 20 days holiday, pension scheme, and employee assistance programme.
- Why this job: Make a real difference while developing your finance skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in finance, empathy, tenacity, and strong Excel skills required.
- Other info: Part-time role with flexible hours and opportunities for growth.
The predicted salary is between 26000 - 32000 £ per year.
Location: West Bromwich
Salary: £26,000 - £32,000 per annum pro rata (Dependent on experience)
Job Type: Part Time, Permanent
Working hours: 27.5 Hrs per week
About Us
We are a leading mid-sized care provider based in the West Midlands, dedicated to supporting adults with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and complex care requirements. We specialise in Supported Living, alongside Residential, Respite and Daycare services. Our mission is to empower individuals to live independent, fulfilling lives.
The Role
We are looking for a tenacious but empathetic Credit Controller to join our Finance team. This is not a standard 'chasing' role; it is a dual‑focus role where relationship building will be key. You will manage the sales ledger to ensure the timely collection of funds from Local Authorities, ICBs (NHS), and private fee payers. You will act as the bridge between our Finance department, our Care Managers, and external funding bodies, investigating why invoices are unpaid and resolving disputes regarding commissioned hours and funding bands. In addition, you will assist the Finance Manager with the accurate preparation of sales invoices as and when required which will allow you to take full ownership of collecting payments.
Key Responsibilities
- Debt Management & Collection: Manage the full sales ledger function, ensuring debtor days are kept to a minimum. Build effective relationships with payment teams at West Midlands Local Authorities (e.g., Wolverhampton, Walsall and Sandwell) and NHS ICBs. Ensure professional but friendly relationships with internal (service managers) and external (service users and their appointees/families) stakeholders in order to facilitate prompt and smooth payments. Chase outstanding debts via telephone and email, maintaining a professional but firm approach. Ensure new funders are onboarded promptly to minimise delays in being paid for new service users.
- Query And Dispute Resolution (The Core Challenge): Investigate and resolve complex billing queries. This involves analysing disputes over 'delivered hours' vs. 'commissioned hours' (e.g., 1:1 support, sleep-ins, and wake-nights). Liaise internally with Service Managers to verify care delivery logs against funding agreements. Navigate provider portals (e.g. Access Adam, or specific LA portals) to upload invoices and check payment statuses.
- Administrative & Reporting: Prepare weekly aged debt reports for the Head of Finance, highlighting high-risk accounts and action plans. Assist clients/service managers with setting up standing orders. Take remote card payments over the phone. Ensure retrospective funding changes are accurately reflected in the ledger (credits/re-invoicing). Allocate cash to the correct client accounts and reconcile the sales ledger at month-end. Daily income monitoring for the purpose of identifying missed payments early and forecasting.
Essential Skills & Qualifications
- Sector Experience: Ideally, experience working in Finance within the Health & Social Care sector. You understand how Local Authority funding works.
- Empathy & Tact: You know that chasing debt from a family member or a stressed Social Worker requires a different tone than B2B collections.
- Tenacity: You are comfortable picking up the phone to navigate the bureaucracy of Council finance departments.
- Detail Oriented: You can spot the difference between a commissioned 1:1 hour and a shared core hour.
- Technical Skills: Strong Excel skills (VLOOKUPs and Pivot Tables are essential for reconciling payment schedules). Experience with Sage 50.
Benefits
- Competitive salary.
- 20 days holiday + Bank Holidays.
- Pension scheme.
- Blue Light Card / Employee Assistance Programme.
- On-site parking.
Additional Information: This is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities of this post. The post holder may be required to carry out other duties in keeping with the nature of the post as directed by and agreed with their manager. Strictly No Agencies.
Credit Controller in Birmingham employer: Select Lifestyles Ltd
Contact Detail:
Select Lifestyles Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Credit Controller in Birmingham
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company before your interview! Research their mission and values, especially how they support adults with Special Educational Needs. This will help you connect your experience to their goals and show that you're genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills! Since this role involves building relationships, think about how you can demonstrate empathy and tact during your conversations. Role-play with a friend or family member to get comfortable with different scenarios.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky questions! Be ready to discuss how you've handled disputes or complex billing queries in the past. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your problem-solving skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Credit Controller in Birmingham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience that match the Credit Controller role. Highlight any relevant finance experience, especially in the Health & Social Care sector, to show us you understand the unique challenges we face.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for our team. Share specific examples of how you've built relationships in previous roles and how you’ve tackled complex billing queries.
Showcase Your Empathy: Since this role involves dealing with sensitive situations, make sure to convey your empathetic approach in your application. We want to see that you can handle tough conversations with care and professionalism.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen to join our mission!
How to prepare for a job interview at Select Lifestyles Ltd
✨Know Your Numbers
Brush up on your financial knowledge, especially around debt management and invoicing. Be prepared to discuss how you would handle specific scenarios related to the sales ledger and outstanding debts.
✨Empathy is Key
Since this role involves dealing with sensitive situations, think about examples where you've successfully navigated difficult conversations. Show that you can balance professionalism with empathy when dealing with families or social workers.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Local Authorities
Research the West Midlands Local Authorities and NHS ICBs you'll be working with. Understanding their processes and challenges will help you demonstrate your readiness to build effective relationships during the interview.
✨Excel Skills Matter
Make sure you're comfortable discussing your Excel skills, particularly VLOOKUPs and Pivot Tables. You might even want to prepare a quick example of how you've used these tools in past roles to reconcile accounts or manage data.
