Rents Accounting Officer (Grade H)

4-5 months contract with a Local Authority

Job Summary:

• The prompt and accurate creation, control, amendment and termination of rent accounts (secure and non-secure residential accounts, and other miscellaneous accounts and stock) to maximise rental income.
  

Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):

• To set up all rent account correctly within 5 working days and ensuring the start date reflects correctly on the Tenancy Agreement, L3 and Facility Licenses.
  
• To create tenancies for successions, mutual exchange, sole to joint, assignment and Use and Occupational.
  
• To ensure Refund Application has been processed and passed over to payments team within 5 working days.
  
• To process court/legal costs, write off of FTA's, zero rating, credits and other balances and all other relevant debit control management in order to complete accurate weekly reconciliation of control accounts.
  
• To process batch posting of all direct payments and Universal Credit APA payments received from Department of Work and Pension to relevant rent accounts.
  
• To manage and administer all aspects of the Rents Service suspense account.
  
• To maintain up to date knowledge of all relevant legislation, policies and procedures including rent restructuring and welfare benefits.
  
• To manage, administer and process weekly Access Pay submissions to Bacs confirming the correct date and amount of the Direct Debit to be collected.
  
• To manage, administer and process daily Direct Debit reports from Bacs, confirming Direct Debits cancelled or failed.
  
• To manage and administer My THH self-serve Direct Debit processed.
  
• To work closely and flexibly with residents, colleagues and other internal/external agencies to deliver consistently brilliant service.
  
• To undertake the process of Buybacks and Right to Buy.
  
• To ensure that rent changes arising from improvement works are implemented promptly.
  
• To maintain the Heating Points system or any other relevant systems as and when changes occur, e.g. when properties are disconnected from a communal system.
  
• To calculate application and process compensation payments of Heating/Hotwater charges and rent-free periods for rent account and facility account.
  
• To inform tenants/licence holders of credit balances on void accounts and issue refund applications.
  
• To maintain records of garage, car space and store shed lettings including blue badge discounts and relevant charges.
  
• To manage and administer all aspects of ordering new/ replacement rent cards.
  
• To liaise with Team Leader (Rents Accounts) regarding employees whose rent is deducted from salary or pension.
  
• To ensure weekly/daily reconciliation is completed correctly imputing the correct data using Business Object Report to extract the correct data.
  
• To liaise with Leasehold Services on Right to Buy cases, to be responsible for deletion of rent accounts following Right to Buy completions or transfer to other Registered Social Landlords.
  
• To update computer systems and other relevant records, including the Accounts Procedure Manual, scanning of weekly output and all Direct Debit documentation onto Comino, promptly and accurately in respect of relevant policies and procedures, information gathered, and action taken.
  
• To provide advice on all aspects of rents accounting and maintain such statistics as may be required for subsidiary purposes using appropriate information technology
  
• To play a key role in the continuous improvement of the service by contributing positively to team meetings and service reviews through suggestions and involvement in the development and implementation of new practices in order to improve the service.
  
• To ensure that all job activities are carried in accordance with Tower Hamlets Homes Equal Opportunities policy.
  
• Carry out other reasonable ad hoc duties to support the business which are commensurate with the expectations of the post as directed by an appropriate manager or Head of Service.
  

Skills/Experience:

• Experience of undertaking front line rent accounts activities in creating tenancy and rent accounts in Northgate system.
  
• Experience of using accounting systems.
  
• Experience of Housing Management.
  
• Knowledge of relevant legislation relating to rent accounting/assessment.
  
• Knowledge of policies and procedures relating to rent account maintenance, collection and accounting in the Social Housing Sector.
  
• Knowledge of Housing Benefits, welfare entitlements and ongoing changes to welfare benefits.
  
• An in depth understanding of all areas of tenancy management and their impact on rent accounting procedures and legislation.
  
• Effective writing, verbal and numerical skills.
  
• Effective IT skills in Word, Excel.
  
• Working knowledge of a Rent Accounting system in Northgate.
  
• Ability to deal with sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy.
  
• Ability to prioritise workload, and work within tight deadlines.
  
• Must have an ability to work in a team.
  
• Must have Experience of using Northgate systems.
  

Additional Information:

• The closing date: 02/12/2024 @15:00.