Accountancy Officer (L3Z1)

Job Title: Rent Accountancy Officer Job Grade: Level 3 Zone 1 (indicative) About Camden Camden is building somewhere everyone can thrive, by making our borough the best place to live, work, study, and visit. Because we’re not just home to UK’s fast growing economy. We’re home to the most important conversations happening today. And we’re making radical social change a reality, so that nobody gets left behind. Here’s where you can help decide a better future for us all. The ambition set out in We Make Camden is that everyone in Camden should have a place they call home, with no one sleeping on the streets. The vision for Housing Services is to work deep within our neighbourhoods and communities to improve our services with people who use and rely on them, to deliver those services in an informed and responsive manner, and to ensure that preventing homelessness and providing safe, secure and sustainable housing are key pillars of Camden’s work to increase social equality and achieve the best outcomes for Camden residents. About the role: Rent Accountancy Officers are responsible for all issues relating to rent accounting administration with responsibility for the control, monitoring and reconciliation of all forms of rent income and the creation of rent accounts. In addition they are responsible for setting up Direct Debits, salary deductions and Council tax payments. Purpose of the role is to provide support to internal and external stakeholders in relation to rents. • To resolve problems that arise in the end-to-end Rent Account administration supported by the team. This can include problems around rent account setup, Direct Debits setup, use of Northgate, ASH, Cedar or eBuy or other systems (Oracle Fusion) • To provide high quality support and advice to internal services and tenants • To identify efficiencies in the rent accounting administration processes either within the team or across the Council acting as agents for change and successfully troubleshooting • To ensure an appropriate focus on customer service on all rent account administration queries • Subject matter expert on discrete areas such as feeder systems (Northgate, ASH) • Expected to work independently without supervision, and guided by procedures and guidance • Use own judgement/discretion within framework and procedures, escalating issues where necessary for advice or problem resolution Example outcomes or objectives that this role will deliver: • To calculate Direct Debits and process any changes to Direct Debits in accordance with Housing Benefit amendments throughout the year inclusive of cancellations • To maintain the rent accounting system ensuring any changes to accounts are actioned and to inform tenants, and deal with any associated correspondence and liaison • To be responsible for the maintenance and processing of all DWP payments and applications including all necessary updating, monitoring and liaison • To resolve queries relating to rent, DWP, payments, housing benefits and any other rent related queries and issue payment cards as appropriate • To ensure tenant’s correspondence is dealt with in accordance with the Councils timescales • To make appropriate payments to tenants either directly or through rent accounts including rent reductions, under occupation, ESR, redecorations and homeloss • To assist as required on any aspect of rent accounting duties, including TMOs • To check weekly update reports ensuring that all transactions are in accordance with their primary documents and have been carried out in accordance with audit requirements • To ensure suspense accounts are cleared in a timely manner • Assist with training of new staff and assist with system development and testing as required • To create all rent accounts including B&B sundry accounts in a timely manner • To process any payments and salary deductions in a timely manner • Daily and weekly balancing of rent transactions • To carry out general office duties related to the Rents and Charges team and assist as required on any other duties within the division commensurate with grade • To maintain the rent accounting system ensuring changes to accounts are actioned and notified to tenants, and deal with any associated correspondence and liaison • To check weekly update reports ensuring that all transactions are in accordance with their primary documents and have been carried out in accordance with audit requirements • To assist in producing financial procedures and ensuring that all procedures are in line with statutory requirements • Assist as required with end of year procedures and ensure that timescales are adhered to • To assist as required on processing rent accounting write-offs • Sundry debtors – raising SD invoices re rechargeable works, Banking monies received. Providing monthly reports on progress • To ensure compliance with the Councils Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety policies and all corporate policies of the council