SALARY £27,100.00 TO £33,700.00 DEPENDANT ON EXPERIENCE. PRO RATE IF PART TIME

Encircle Income Officer will carry out a wide range of duties primarily designed to maximise income streams and minimise debts. They will ensure that financial activities are proactive and that all staff and stakeholders are engaged in working proactively to this aim.
The post holder will work on their own initiative to set up, maintain and where necessary improve systems and processes to ensure that rental income, service charges are collected efficiently and accurately.
This role will be outward facing and have a strong focus on building relationships with support providers Local Authorities and housing benefit departments.
The postholder will embrace the vision of Encircle, contributing to other areas of housing management and administration as necessary, they will value team unity and input into strategic plans and priorities.

Housing Benefit responsibilities

• Ensure all partners are fully aware of the processes involved in submitting claims and rent administration.
• Ensure all new schemes have rent/income systems and processing in place prior to going live.
• Contribute to the setting and submissions of rents and service charges for new services.
• Monitor progress and assist local authorities with information requests or other queries during new claim processing.
• Manage overpayment requests, checking validity and challenging/refunding as appropriate.
• To contribute to negotiations with Local Authorities regarding potential rent levels.
• To have an overview of all live claims ensuring breaks in claims or queries are quickly and appropriately responded to.
• To work closely with support providers giving advice and support in relation to Housing Benefit.
• To provide management Information and reports as required.

Income responsibilities

• Gain full understanding of the income / rents part of the SASSHA system advising and training support partners with portal access as necessary.
• Support the accurate and timely maintenance of rent accounts.
• View and monitor all allocated rent accounts weekly.
• Monitor and effectively manage arrears levels including former tenant arrears.
• The timely and accurate production of rental invoices and void requisitions
• Quarterly and ad hoc raising of rent statements.
• Ensuring contractual arrangements are adhered by timely recording and reconciliation of rent accounts.
• Ensure other sources of Income including commissioned services and contracted services are Invoiced and received in a timely manner.
• Monitoring, authorisation and chasing of invoices for service charges, rental income and void invoices ensuring their collection and any payments are processed in line with procedure.
• Provide support to recovery voids income from our care providers and partners in accordance with contractual commitments.
• Support year end work and answer all questions from internal and external customers regarding rental income and debt collection.
• Supports colleagues with audit and recommendations for best practice in processes.

Debtor Duties

• Raise rent invoices and void requisitions, ensuring full payment of these.
• Regularly review and chase debtors, this will involve contacting Local Authorities or other non-tenant income providers and follow through any administration issues to clear the debt.
• Actively manage and liaise with wider colleagues where there are invoicing concerns, debt collection issues or rising debt concerns.
• Analyse regional invoicing debt position and provide appropriate reports and recommendations, to support debt management.
• Supports analysis of the national debtor position and provides appropriate reports on performance.
• Keep debtor level in line with the targets set in the business plan with regular catch-up meetings and calls.
• Checks that there is no non-allocated cash at the end of the month and support the wider team in this process if required.
• Updating reports, relevant reporting information and tools, and highlight any changes or concerns.
• Referring cases for possession to court and attending court hearings.
• Issue relevant written correspondence to tenants and other related stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Negotiate payment agreements with tenants or stakeholders.
• Contact tenants or stakeholders in relation to debt collection.
• Provide advice and signposting tenants in relation to debt advice and benefit agencies.

General Management Duties

• Ensure there is no unallocated cash at month end.
• Allocation of rent postings when required.
• Answer queries from the wider teams regarding items credited and debited in the bank in relation to rent.
• Preparation of standing Orders (and renewal) requests.
• General Housing Management.
• Where agreed to contribute to the functioning of the wider Encircle team by undertaking non-finance related administrative duties.

Closing date for applications 5.00pm Friday 29th August 2025
If you are interested in this opportunity, please click to apply with a CV and covering letter.
We reserve the right to close this advertisement early and interview early, if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Therefore, please apply early to ensure you are considered for the post. Encircle Housing is an equal opportunity employer.
Interview date TBC
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Pay: £27,100.00-£33,700.00 per year
Expected hours: 32 – 37.5 per week

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Employee discount
• Free parking
• Life insurance
• Work from home

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Leeds LS18 5A