Finance Assistant

Who You Are

We are looking for an experienced Rent Officer with a strong understanding of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit. You should be self-motivated, organized, and comfortable working independently, taking charge of managing your own workload effectively. The ideal candidate will have a proactive approach to engaging with former tenants to discuss outstanding arrears, agree on repayment arrangements, and review benefit entitlements. You will report to the Housing Finance Lead and ensure adherence to Maidstone Borough Council's arrears recovery procedures.

What the Job Involves

The role involves managing former tenant rent arrears and includes responsibilities such as:

• Managing a caseload of former tenant rent arrears accounts.
• Contacting former tenants through various communication methods to discuss outstanding balances.
• Negotiating and monitoring repayment arrangements.
• Maintaining accurate records of recovery activity and customer contact.
• Working independently to meet arrears reduction targets.
• Ensuring compliance with arrears recovery procedures and relevant legislation.
• Providing regular updates and performance information to the Housing Finance Lead.

Skills

• Experience in rent arrears recovery within a housing environment.
• Good working knowledge of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills.
• Ability to manage a varied workload independently and prioritize effectively.
• Experience maintaining accurate records and producing performance information.
• Customer-focused approach with the ability to handle sensitive conversations professionally.