Debt Recovery Officer

Debt Recovery Officer

Location: Wembley Park, London

Job Type: Full-time, Temporary Contract (until 23rd September 2026, subject to change)

Pay Rate: £18.65 PAYE / £24.65 Umbrella

Working Mode: Hybrid (1-2 days in the office)

Join our team as a Debt Recovery Officer, where you will manage a diverse debt recovery portfolio including Council Tax (NEC), Sundry (Oracle Advanced Collections), and other debts managed within the Council. This role requires a professional who can ensure efficient and ethical debt recovery in line with legislation and council policies, maintaining the financial interests of the Council.

Purpose:

• Recover and enforce collection for debts including Council Tax, Parking and Road Traffic, Housing Benefit Overpayments, Adult Social Care, and Sundry Debt.
• Recover all debts in an efficient and objective manner, giving absolute attention to the financial interests of the Council in terms of all revenue and debt streams, adhering to the Council's Debt Recovery policy.
• Ensure that all debt is collected in accordance with prevailing legislation, case law, and local policy.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities:

• Utilise various debt recovery techniques to successfully recover debts, balancing sensitivity towards clients' financial constraints with the Council's financial interests.
• Take ownership of debt cases from initiation to conclusion, including making arrangements, pursuing payments, and navigating through the debt recovery process.
• Produce, interpret, and maintain detailed reports and spreadsheets to support individual, team, and council-wide objectives.
• Act as the first point of contact within the recovery and enforcement team, handling all forms of communication professionally.
• Continuously monitor cases, follow up on defaulted arrangements, and locate absconded debtors.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate records related to customer accounts and interactions.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with all internal and external stakeholders to achieve the Council's overall debt strategy.
• Respond to various correspondences and inquiries, focusing on expedient debt collection in alignment with the Customer Promise.
• Collaborate with legal services, enforcement agents, and debt collection agencies to maximize debt recovery.
• Represent the council in court proceedings when necessary and support junior staff through coaching and training.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal, written, and debt recovery negotiation skills.
• Strong numerical, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Knowledge of what is important when delivering good customer service in a very diverse environment.
• Knowledge of the debt recovery and enforcement process relating to at least one of the following: county and/or magistrates' court.
• Proven experience in customer-focused roles, dealing with enquiries, transactions, and complaints.
• Experience in negotiation and influencing within a diverse and challenging environment.
• Familiarity with revenue and debt enforcement or similar environments.
• Competency in using standard MS Office packages and ability to adapt to various IT systems.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities under pressure to meet service objectives.
• Commitment to Equal Opportunities Policies in service delivery.

If you have the relevant experience and are interested in this role, please apply.