Supervising Income and Recovery Officer

Are you an experienced and motivated finance professional looking to make a positive difference in your community? We’re seeking a Supervising Income and Recovery Officer to lead our dedicated team supporting vulnerable adults in managing social care-related finances.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

 

We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.

 

About the Role:
This is a key supervisory role within our Client Finances team. You'll be responsible for overseeing the Income and Recovery function – ensuring efficient debt recovery, billing processes, and financial support for residents accessing Adult Social Care services.

You’ll work closely with internal teams, external partners, and vulnerable individuals and their carers to reduce debt levels while providing guidance on welfare benefits and promoting financial and digital inclusion.

 

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Supervising and supporting a team of Income & Recovery Officers
• Leading on debt recovery and prevention processes for Adult Social Care debts
• Supporting service users with advice and sustainable repayment arrangements
• Ensuring the accuracy of billing, payments, and financial records
• Attending and supporting court action where required
• Identifying service improvements and contributing to policy development
• Line managing staff, including recruitment, supervision, training and appraisals

About you:
You’ll have experience in income recovery or a related financial field, ideally within a social care or public sector environment. You’ll bring strong leadership skills, excellent communication and numeracy, and a clear commitment to safeguarding and supporting vulnerable adults.

You should also be confident using financial and case management systems, analysing data, and implementing service improvements.

 

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Lead and motivate a team in a high-performing, customer-focused environment
• Engage effectively with vulnerable people and their representatives
• Understand and apply relevant legislation and best practices in debt recovery
• Collaborate with partners and represent the Council at meetings and in court proceedings

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success.

As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.  

Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way

Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

 

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

 

If you would like any more information, please contact Joanne Maslen (Client Finances Service Manager) - joanne.maslen@reading.gov.uk or call 0118 937 3259

Closing Date: Sunday 11^th May 2025
Interview Date: Week commencing 19^th May 2025

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Visit: www.moretoreading.co.uk to find out more about Reading’s Community & Adult Social Care Services. It’s a chance to hear from the people who already work here and why they have chosen Reading as their professional destination.