Overpayments Recovery Officer

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Our Client is looking for a suitable candidate to perform the duties as listed below:

The post holder will be required to help minimise the creation of overpayments and recover raised overpayments in an efficient and speedy manner, giving absolute attention to the financial interests of the Council both in terms of revenue stream and subsidy and anti poverty policies.
To address issues preventing the recovery of overpayments that are not assessment related..
Ensure that overpayments are collected in accordance with prevailing legislation, case law and local policy
To provide advice, information and assistance with enquiries, relating to overpayments from all customers and stakeholders.
Pro-actively contribute to the achievement of Brent’s Revenue and Benefits Service objectives
Use a variety of debt recovery techniques to enable successful recovery of overpayment debts and minimise subsidy loss to the Council. Understand and maintain sundry debtor accounts and understand and maintain overpayments through the recovery cycle
Ensure that customers and stakeholders are invoiced as appropriate where the Council has the mandate to recover debts and knowledge of when and how that mandate commences
Prepare detailed schedules of recoverable overpayments for private and registered social landlords and negotiate and arrange repayments of debt both in face to face meetings and in writing, as directed by the overpayments manager

Present Court hearings on complex cases or provide expert advice as necessary in such proceedings
Provide responses to complex overpayment correspondence and enquiries as necessary, always with a view to collecting debt expediently. Effectively deal with enquiries from claimants, their representatives, private landlords, registered social landlords, persons affected and other stakeholders. This may be by telephone, in writing, on a one to one basis or through formal liaison meetings. Fully reconcile and audit Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit cases to ensure that overpayments are genuine and to demonstrate reasoned judgement on the recoverability of an overpayment
Effectively negotiate repayment agreements whilst demonstrating sensitivity to the financial constraints clients may face balanced with the financial interests of the Council. Accept and receipt appropriately, cheques offered in settlement of outstanding overpayment debt or payment by Credit Card. Ensure such cheques go through the proper procedures in order for payment to be credited to the appropriate account
Experience of  within a Housing/Council Tax Benefits or Welfare Benefits environment
Knowledge and understanding of Housing Benefit legislation and case law affecting overpayments of Housing Benefit 
Knowledge and understanding of benefit IT software packages
Experience and knowledge of debt recovery (including court) processes and procedures  Detailed working knowledge of the Housing and Council Tax Benefit Scheme
Broad knowledge of other related legislation, including Welfare Benefits, Council Tax and Housing. 
Experience of dealing with the public  
Skills and abilities
Ability to work on own initiative, manage own workload and consistently meet deadlines  
Effective verbal and written communication skills
Commitment to assuring the best service and outcomes for customers and colleagues  
Ability to work methodically under pressure to achieve service priorities   

Reed Specialist Recruitment Limited is an employment agency and employment business