Commercial Debt Lead

Title: Commercial Debt Lead (Water)

Department: Credit Control

Reports to:Head of Collections & Customer Services

Location: Manchester - Office based

About Us

Leep Utilities owns and operates regulated and non-regulated multi-utility networks across the UK. With sites in MediaCityUK, Liverpool Waters and Canary Wharf, our broad range of capabilities includes electricity, water and wastewater, alongside heating, cooling and hot water services.

Leep is the result of a joint venture between the independent mid-market infrastructure investment manager, Ancala Partners LLP and one of the UK’s leading private real estate investment and infrastructure companies, The Peel Group. We deliver straightforward connections throughout the UK and hold the relevant licenses that allow us to adopt regulated utilities on new developments.

The Opportunity

The Commercial Debt Lead – Water is responsible for the day to day credit control activities for commercial and developer accounts for our water services portfolio. The role covers all aspects of Commercial Debt recovery including managing customer correspondence, direct debit penetration, debt path configuration and commercial disconnections.

The role also requires people management responsibilities of junior credit controllers, including the development of key credit control skills, performance management and other HR duties associated with overall people management. The role is also required to assist in providing back up support functions for billing and domestic collections teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for the commercial credit control activities for all services across the Leep Utilities portfolio
• First line telephone response from customers in relation to all Leep Utilities Businesses.
• Handling day to day credit control enquiries such as customer correspondence, Direct Debit applications, disconnections, copy invoices and debt recovery reminder letters
• Maintain relationships with our Operational teams to facilitate suitable outcomes for non-paying commercial entities
• Act as an escalation point for complex credit control queries, including disconnection issues and multi-utilities accounts
• To provide input in to the development of MI required to monitor performance and targets
• Maintain and improve current processes to offer enhanced credit control services to customers and help improve internal procedures to assist in achieving set objectives
• Manage sickness, absence, holidays for small credit control team
• Performance management of junior credit controller, including setting and managing objectives in line with wider business targets
• Upskilling and training junior credit controllers
• Any adhoc duties as requested by the Head of Collections and Customer Service

About You

• Excellent understanding of credit control best practices and ability to deliver a variety of approaches to meet both customer and business needs.
• Good core IT skills inclusive of knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel and mail merge facilities
• Excellent inter-personal skills and the ability to respond to all credit control queries across Leep Utilities portfolio of sites in an efficient and effective manner.
• Good understanding of legal practices in relation to credit control i.e. GDPR, Financial Hardship, Disconnection Policies
• Good understanding of all Utility services and contract terms and conditions
• Excellent team worker
• Proactively builds on-going relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to adapt as priorities/demands change and initiate action.
• Leadership qualities to drive performance in a small credit control.

Your Development and Benefits

At Leep, we believe in stable growth and putting our people first. Our 5-year strategic growth plan gives us stability today and prepares us for the future, while nurturing a strong collaborative and supportive culture.

Our benefits include:

• Salary which aligns to your experience and skillset
• 25 days paid holiday + bank holidays
• An additional day off to celebrate your birthday
• Annual discretionary bonus
• Company pension plan
• Health Cash plan through Westfield Health
• Option to purchase additional holiday days through our Holiday Buying Scheme
• Engagement committee with events throughout the year, including Christmas Party, Summer Party and individual team socials
• Paid professional memberships relevant to your role and access to professional development opportunities

Our Values

At the forefront of everything we do:

• Safety
• Customer Promise
• Accountability
• Reliability
• Respect
• Flexibility

Equal Opportunities

Leep Utilities is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. If you require any appropriate accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know.