Telephone Collections Officer

As a leader in the debt recovery enforcement sector, the Bristow and Sutor Group of companies have been operating for over 40 years’ supporting hundreds of local authorities and Transport for London. You will be joining Bristow & Sutor during an exciting time to become part of a team that contribute to achieving our visions for the future. We have made our company a place where we look after our people, making sure you're happy in your work and given everything you need to succeed. We've created friendly, welcoming workplaces where everyone is working towards the same cause, providing the best possible services for our local authorities and Transport for London.

With offices based in Redditch, close to both the M40/M42 motorway network, we are easily accessible from Birmingham, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire.

Due to expansion, we are looking to recruit Telephone Collection Officers to join the team. If you are a strong communicator, self-driven and motivated, engaging, and influential; we can offer you a unique career with unlimited earning potential. Based at our modern and easily accessible offices or working from home, you’ll be joining a customer focused team that answers telephone calls relating to Council Tax arrears and Penalty Charge Notices on behalf of local authority clients throughout England and Wales.

**Position:**:**Key elements of the role will include**:

- Receive calls from customers that owe money to our local authority clients, or third parties acting on their behalf
- Occasional outbound calls to those who have failed to make payment / contact.
- Collecting payment in full & ensuring a high standard of customer service at all times
- Remaining empathic, calm and acting in a professional, respectful and ethical manner, and have the confidence to deal with a range of different customers and make appropriate recovery decisions based on the current circumstances of each case.
- Obtaining questionnaire details from customers who may be in financial difficulties
- Negotiating payment arrangements in accordance with guidelines as well as using your initiative if payment in full cannot be collected
- Refer, where necessary, cases to relevant debt advisory groups and associated organisations where required to meet the needs of vulnerable customers
- Reviewing and updating the database notes and the status of accounts - ensuring information is recorded accurately and professionally

**Requirements:**:**To be successful in the role you would need to demonstrate**:

- Confident in dealing with customers over the telephone - often in difficult circumstances
- Confident negotiator to achieve the shortest arrangements to fulfil client requirements
- Previous practical office administration experience
- Attention to detail - able to spot errors and rectify mistakes quickly
- Being comfortable in using a variety of technologies and software systems
- Excellent verbal communication skills - able to interact effectively at all levels
- You will work to procedures and policies designed for the team

**It’s great to know that you are interested in working with us at Bristow & Sutor. As a prospective employee, it is important that everyone who works for us is committed to our values. We are all accountable, we are transparent, we are respectful & we always behave with integrity.**

**Other information:**:Full training will be provided with support from our in-house Learning and Development Team who will assist you throughout your journey with us at Bristow & Sutor.

This is a full-time, permanent role. Initial training will be one morning in the offices in Redditch and there after work will be split between home and office.
- £18,842 base salary
- Pension
- 28 days annual leave (including bank holidays)
- Retail discounts

**All applicants will undertake DBS / CCJ checks prior to employment.