Finance Officer: Rents and Benefit Management - Wolverhampton, United Kingdom - The Haven Wolverhampton

The Haven Wolverhampton

Verified Company

Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

2 weeks ago

Posted by:

Tom O´Connor

beBee Recruiter

Description

Job Purpose:

To ensure The Haven optimises housing benefit income and manages Bad Debt Key Performance targets.
The postholder will provide expert advice and use various tools to develop knowledge and capacity within the team and within services as applicable, on benefit processes, housing benefit, and affordability.
Line management responsibilities, including direct line management responsibility of the Finance
Housing Benefits Applications Officer.

Scope of Job - main tasks, duties and responsibilities:

Rents and Bad Debt Management and Oversight of effective processes

Work with Line Manager and agree performance management processes and targets, data collection, submit target report each quarter.
Manage reconciliation and ensure accuracy of all claims and payments. Have oversight of the reconciliation process and review regularly to ensure systems and processes are efficient.
Monitor and log measures taken to help manage any potential bad debt. Have oversight of and develop, implement preventative measures to help minimise bad debt within safe accommodation services
To participate in regular reviews of Arrears Management' procedures.
Liaise with agencies to ensure that any Benefit related issues are addressed in a timely way.
Line management and support to the 'Finance
Housing Benefits Applications Officer.

', ensuring key objectives of the role are met.
- _
- _ to ensure prompt payment of rent and service charges._
- _ to ensure The Haven optimises housing benefit income and manages bad debt closely within Key Performance targets._

Advice and Support

Advise the helpline team at the point of referral, with specific calculations and affordability and payment plan options (for example women with no recourse, and women in employment)
To meet regularly with residents in employment, ensuring that they are managing payment plans and assessing their affordability to contribute to any eligible service charges.
Liaise proactively with team members and services in cases where issues may escalate (nonpayment, not engaging) and ensure systems in place to work in preventative way with staff to help manage risk of bad debt.
Ensure the Arrears Management process is being implemented.
Where managing volunteers /placements to maintain a systematic and planned approach to staff/volunteer supervision and development, liaising with colleagues to ensure that training needs for designated staff are met, in line with Training Plans and the annual Staff Development Review. The postholder will undertake a Staff Development Review for each of her line managed Staff in accordance with the agreed procedure.