At a Glance
- Tasks: Support residents with rent management and financial challenges to sustain their tenancies.
- Company: Join a caring council dedicated to community support and improvement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth in public sector housing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives while managing your own caseload.
- Qualifications: Experience in income recovery and excellent communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 28796 - 35196 £ per year.
Help residents manage their rent, overcome financial challenges and keep essential housing services moving forward. As an Income Officer, you'll support residents to resolve financial challenges, sustain their tenancies and recover the income that powers essential services across our borough.
Working Style: You'll be based in the Borough for three days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you're working in the office, remotely or out meeting residents in the field, you'll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to residents' lives.
What you'll be doing: Your focus will be taking ownership of a caseload of rent accounts, collecting accommodation charges and taking proactive action to manage arrears. Your day will involve regular contact with residents by letter, telephone and home visits, taking time to understand the root causes of non-payment, agreeing practical payment arrangements and guiding people to access welfare benefits or financial support so they can sustain their homes. Alongside day-to-day account management, you'll manage complex cases in close partnership with our Legal, Benefits and Housing Needs teams. Where necessary, you'll issue notices, prepare possession cases, attend court and oversee eviction proceedings with care and professionalism. You'll also contribute directly to service initiatives aimed at improving income collection and refining processes following a recent cyber incident, ensuring high standards of customer care, clear record-keeping and compliance with Council policies.
What you'll bring: You'll bring experience in income recovery, rent arrears management or Housing Benefit recovery. You have a practical understanding of public sector housing issues, homelessness agendas and welfare reform. You're an excellent communicator who can balance empathy with firmness when handling difficult financial conversations. You bring strong negotiation and record-keeping skills, with the confidence to manage a demanding workload independently, write clear reports and use finance and IT systems accurately. Most importantly, you're someone who demonstrates our core values in every interaction - Putting Communities First, Respect, Integrity and Working Together - and who brings a calm, supportive approach to helping residents sustain their tenancies.
Why join us: At RBKC, we're all in - investing in our people, our communities and our future. You'll join a friendly, collaborative and supportive team where colleagues look out for one another to achieve the best outcomes for residents. This role offers a rewarding balance between income recovery and tenancy sustainment, giving you full ownership of your caseload while contributing directly to service improvements. We will invest in your development, offering opportunities to broaden your expertise across public sector housing, legal processes and welfare benefits. You'll also receive a competitive salary alongside the support of a dedicated team that takes pride in delivering quality services for our community.
About us: Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough. As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all. In this role, you'll bring a real sense of care and commitment to supporting residents while safeguarding Council income. Navigating complex cases and helping our team reduce arrears following a recent cyber incident isn't always smooth sailing, but your efforts will play a vital part in keeping essential housing services running and making a positive impact on our community every day.
Interview Details and role requirements: Interviews will be held week commencing 7th September at Kensington Town Hall. This role will require a standard DBS. We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible. We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range. Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale. In addition, employees will receive any agreed cost of living pay rises. We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.
Income Officer - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract in London employer: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council is an outstanding employer that prioritises community engagement and employee development. With a strong commitment to innovation and collaboration, staff are empowered to make a real difference in residents' lives while enjoying a supportive work culture that values trust and visibility in leadership. This role offers unique opportunities for professional growth within a vibrant borough, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and impactful employment.
Contact Details:
The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Income Officer - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract in London
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Dive into your local council meetings or community boards. These spaces are packed with people who are already in the public sector and might have insider tips on upcoming temporary roles. Plus, you can connect directly with key decision-makers.
✨Stay Alert for Seasonal Recruitment
Many public sector jobs ramp up during certain times of the year, especially around election seasons or local budget planning periods. Keep your eyes peeled for recruitment drives during these windows, as they're prime times for temporary positions.
✨Leverage Online Job Portals
Don’t forget to check government job boards or websites like the local council's site for temporary postings. This is where many roles first get advertised, and applying directly here can speed things up.
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If you're at university, make the most of your career services to discover opportunities in the public sector. They often have connections with local government employers who are looking for temporary staff and can help you polish your approach.
We think you need these skills to ace Income Officer - 12 Month Fixed Term Contract in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Emphasise your understanding of public policy:In your application, make sure to highlight any knowledge or experience you have related to public policy, governance or community engagement. Show us how you can contribute to the public sector’s mission, especially if you've worked on relevant projects or initiatives before!
Tailor your CV to the sector's expectations:When crafting your CV, focus on including experiences that showcase your ability to work within government structures or similar environments. Use clear, concise language and consider adding any volunteer work or internships that reflect your commitment to public service.
Show flexibility and willingness to learn:Since this is a temporary role, it’s crucial to convey your adaptability and eagerness to pick up new skills quickly. In your cover letter, let us know how you plan to make the most of this short-term experience and what you hope to learn from it.
Include relevant certificates and training:If you've completed any training or have certifications that are relevant to the role (like public administration, project management, or data analysis), don't forget to mention them. These can really make you stand out in the application process!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
✨Demonstrate Your Commitment to Public Service
In the government and public sector, showing that you're genuinely passionate about serving the community is key. Get ready to share examples where you've contributed to social good or tackled community issues, as this will resonate with interviewers from The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council.
✨Prepare for Policy and Regulatory Questions
Expect questions about policies, regulations, or recently implemented government initiatives. Brush up on the latest news relating to public sector developments—being informed will help you demonstrate that you're ready to hit the ground running, especially in a temporary role.
✨Flexibility is Your Best Friend
Since this is a temporary role, emphasise your ability to adapt quickly. Share examples where you've successfully taken on new challenges or adjusted to different team dynamics, that'll show The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council that you’re reliable and can effectively support various projects without a long onboarding process.
✨Prepare to Showcase Teamwork Skills
In the public sector, collaboration is vital. Be ready to discuss past experiences working in teams, especially in diverse environments. Highlight how you've contributed positively to group settings—this could really set you apart from other candidates in this temporary role.