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Collection Officer
SO2: Starting salary £40,005 per annum incl LW
6-month Fixed term Contract or Secondment Opportunity
Hybrid working
About Us:
It is an exciting time to join Lambeth Council, we have bold ambitions for the future of Lambeth’s communities and residents through our Lambeth 2030 Plan ‘Our Future, Our Lambeth. To deliver on these ambitions, we have embarked our transformational One Lambeth Programme ensuring we are ‘connected by purpose,’ in everything we do to deliver excellence. We are proud to have recently developed a refreshed set of One Lambeth Values and Behaviours that were develop for staff by staff; Equity, Ambition, Kindness, and Accountability. For more information, please have a look at our dedicated One Lambeth Values and Behaviours page.
About the Borough:
Located in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community of over 317,600 residents. Stretching from the dynamic neighbourhood of Streatham in the South to the iconic landmarks of Waterloo in the North, we are proud to be the 9th largest borough in London. Our diversity is our strength, with more than 130 languages spoken, making Lambeth the home of the Windrush generation, London's largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community.
With exceptional schools, lush green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned institutions such as St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching and dynamic environment.
About the Team:
The Collections Team consists of five Collection Officers and one Senior Collections Officer who positively contribute towards the effective recovery of major works, ground rent and service charge debt from both leaseholders and freeholders.
We strive to provide the best customer experience for our leaseholders’ by responding to queries promptly in a detailed and friendly manner.
The team is very friendly and has a wealth of experience to be able to offer new starters guidance, help and advice.
About the Role:
The successful candidate will manage a portfolio of service charge accounts, working to targets set by the Collections Manager and will be responsible of the following tasks on day-to-day basis:
- Monitor individual accounts, determining and taking appropriate action to ensure that account holders pay service charges in accordance with the obligations under their lease.
- Arrange appointment face-to-face as appropriate; issue statements and other account documentation on request from the account holder CAB, and liaise with the CAB where necessary.
- In line with the provisions of the lease; ensure that any billing errors are noted and corrected.
- Contact other teams as necessary and monitor the progress of queries to ensure that the account holder receives a satisfactory response.
- Authorise and check payment plans.
- Maintain contact with account holders through letter, email, telephone
- Request write-offs, write-backs, and other account adjustments as appropriate.
To be considered for interview, your CV and supporting statement will clearly evidence:
- Relevant legal qualification
- I ensure that my team and I put residents, communities, customers and their needs at the centre of everything we do.
- I encourage my team to learn and grow and ask questions to find the information they need to do their jobs
- I encourage and support my team to do the right thing even when it’s tough and we communicate our decisions in a timely way
- Being approachable and positive for my area of work and other services
- Ensuring I treat people equally and take time to listen to their needs
- Providing support, advice and guidance
For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification in hyperlink below:
Job Description and Person Specification
Contact Information:
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Scott Thompson at sthompson@lambeth.gov.uk.
Recruitment Timelines:
Advert close date: 11:59pm Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Shortlisting:
Interviews: Week commencing 25 th March 2024.
Benefits:
We believe in rewarding our staff. When you join us, you'll gain access to a range of benefits, including:
- Participation in our 5 Staff Networks: Black, Asian, and Multi-Ethnic, LGBTQ+, Disability, Young Professionals, and Women's.
- Generous annual leave entitlement starting from 27 days, increasing to up to 35 days depending on length of service.
- Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
- Hybrid Working.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Occupational Sick Pay based on length of service.
- Discounts at local restaurants.
- Discount at our Active Lambeth Gyms.
- Learning and Development opportunities, including Apprenticeships.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
- Secure Bike Storage facilities at our Town Hall and Civic Centre.
- Trade Union Membership.
How to Apply:
If you're interest in this opportunity, click on the apply button and complete an online application.
In your supporting statement, please clearly demonstrate how you meet the shortlist criteria marked with an 'A' at shortlist stage. We operate an anonymised application process, so be sure to remove personal details when uploading your CV or personal statement.
At Lambeth, we are dedicated to providing quality services and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to safer recruitment and are proud to be a Stonewall diversity champion, a Living Wage Employer, and to guarantee interviews for all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role. For a full list of our accreditations, please click here .
