HAWKE’S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL
Job Description
Position Title:
Debt Recovery Officer (Fixed Term)
Responsible to:
Responsible for:
Salary Range:
Team Leader Finance
N/A
Progress above the Estimated Market Value (EMV - 100%) level is based on sustained individual officer performance:
$40,000 (80%)
$50,000 (EMV - 100%)
Job Context:
Corporate Services Group
GROUP MANAGER
FINANCE
MANAGEMENT
ACCOUNTANT
CORPORATE
ACCOUNTANT
PAYROLL OFFICER
FINANCIAL
ACCOUNTANT
TEAM LEADER
FINANCE
SENIOR RATES
OFFICER
CORPORATE SUPPORT
INFORMATION &
COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY
GOVERNANCE &
CORPORATE
ADMINISTRATION
MANAGER
INFORMATION &
COMMUNICATIONS
TECHNOLOGY
MANAGER
ADMINISTRATION
ASSISTANT
SENIOR
GIS ANALYST
SENIOR
APPLICATION
SPECIALIST
TEAM LEADER
ICT
OPERATIONS
GRAPHICS
DESIGNER
ANALYST/
DEVELOPER
HELPDESK
OFFICER
CLERICAL
ASSISTANT
ACCOUNTS
PAYABLE OFFICER
RATES OFFICER
DEBTORS OFFICER
RATES CASHIER
EXECUTIVE
ASSISTANTS
3
TECHNICAL
SUPPORT
SPECIALIST
(from Oct – Feb)
DEBT RECOVERY
OFFICER
FLEET & FACILITIES
COORDINATOR
(Fixed Term)
RECEPTIONIST
FINANCE
ASSISTANT
(Part Time)
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INFORMATION
MANAGEMENT
OFFICER
BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT
ANALYST
POSITION TITLE: Debt Recovery Officer (Fixed Term)
Section Aims (Why does the section exist?)
The Finance team deals with a wide variety of financial aspects of the Council’s work. This includes rates payments, debtors and creditors services, payroll service, insurance,
investments and the internal job costing aspects of Council’s operations.
The Finance team is strongly focused on positive customer service both internally and externally, and staff are expected to have a ‘can do’ attitude when dealing with
customers particularly as a ‘front line’ service point for many ratepayers.
Role of Debt Recovery Officer - Fixed Term (The specific role)
The role of Debt Recovery Officer is to provide relevant, professional input into the roles and functions as outlined above in order to ensure the Finance team achieves its
objectives. Your specific role of Debt Recovery Officer will require input which will relate to your relevant skills, the needs of the specific role and your experience but will also
include activities that extend and provide for individual professional development. Expectations will be regularly discussed with you and expectations will be fair and
reasonable and within the broad requirements outlined above.
Role Expectations (Indicative examples that show the work is being done effectively)

Identify debtors in both the Heatsmart and rates processes requiring follow up debt recovery action.

Contact identified debtors to effectively develop a payment plan that achieves either a debt paid in total or an agreed planned and methodical payment plan.

Maintain effective contact with debtors who default on their agreed payment plan.

Liaise closely with Team Leader Finance to report on progress and to discuss particularly difficult debt situations.

Achieve significant debt recovery with both HeatSmart and rates debtors.

Pass on debtors at the appropriate time to a credit recovery agency where no progress on debt recovery is being made as agreed with your Team Leader and the Financial
Accountant.

Maintain a high level of confidentiality.

Make recommendations for process improvement to the Team Leader Finance as and when appropriate.

Maintain excellent records of contact, transactions and progress.

Provide effective reporting as and when required.

Develop a positive working relationship with the other Territorial Local Authorities (TLA’s).
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POSITION TITLE: Debt Recovery Officer (Fixed Term)
Continuous Improvement
All Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) staff are expected to actively and enthusiastically promote the concept of continuous improvement in their work for HBRC.
This means:

Maintaining a positive overall attitude in the workplace as assessed by your peers and Manager.

Taking part in training opportunities provided by HBRC with an open mind, as assessed by pre and post training meetings with your Manager.

Practicing the skills provided in training offered by HBRC, as assessed by regular feedback meetings with your Manager.

Showing a strong team commitment, as indicated by peer feedback and your Manager’s assessment.

Practicing the concept of continuous improvement by showing initiative with new ideas and positively acknowledging others ideas.

Giving honest and open feedback as and when required, aiming to constructively deal with all issues, as assessed by regular feedback meetings with your Manager.

Active involvement in decision making processes when the opportunity is made available.
Health and Safety
All staff are expected to follow established health and safety procedures while working for HBRC, and in accordance with policies developed by HBRC.
This means:

Complying with and adhering to HBRC’s accepted standards and procedures.

Where appropriate workplace hazards are identified and communicated to management.

Regular reviews of workplace hazards are undertaken.

Where appropriate, advise reporting staff of OSH standards and procedures.

When, and if, necessary, investigation of accidents/incidents are carried out according to HBRC procedures.

Appropriate and effective staff training is undertaken as and when necessary.

Promoting a healthy and safe workplace.

Maintaining a clean and tidy workspace.
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POSITION TITLE: Debt Recovery Officer (Fixed Term)
Emergency Management
All HBRC staff are expected to undertake such Emergency Management functions as are determined appropriate to meet HBRC’s role and function in this area.
This means:

Undertaking such a role as is allocated for emergency management requirements.

Participating in such exercises as are required to maintain a state of preparedness in HBRC.

Responding to such requests to assume an emergency management role as are required by events.
Key Skills
Knowledge

Ideally, a good knowledge of debt recovery processes.

Experience in a debt recovery role or similar.

Ideally, debt collection software experience.

Proficient with computer packages, Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
Skills

Methodical and well organised.

Ability to calmly but firmly deal with customers.

Confident with excellent customer skills.

Be a good team player.
Personal Attributes

Good initiative.

Able to work alone without close supervision.

Empathetic.
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POSITION TITLE: Debt Recovery Officer (Fixed Term)
HBRC’s Vision and Values
Vision:
A region with a vibrant community, a prosperous economy, a clean and healthy environment, now and for future generations.
Values:
Excellence:
Forward Thinking:
Innovation:
Integrity:
Partnerships:
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We aim high and take pride in providing exceptional service.
We anticipate and prepare for the future.
We are open to change and seek new ways of doing things.
We demonstrate openness, honesty and respect in our relationships.
We build strong partnerships to achieve common goals.
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