Head of Debt Recovery – Job Description - Sintons (2024)

Reports to: Head of Dispute Resolution

Purpose of Job:

To lead the Debt Recovery team and ensure that a high quality, business focused, efficient and cost-effective bespoke service which maximises amounts recovered for the firm’s clients, while providing an excellent service and actively building client relationships and marketing/business development opportunities for the Debt Recovery team as well as the firm.

Main Activities:

• Expand and maintain the customer base of the firms debt recovery team
• Build, develop and lead the Debt Recovery team to manage the firm’s debt collection service and acting for clients in debt recovery matters, dealing with bulk volume debt recovery, as well as bespoke complex collection matters for companies and individuals
• Manage a portfolio of clients whilst developing and maintaining new commercial opportunities, taking opportunities to sell the services that the firm offers
• Liaise directly with clients, third parties and colleagues in departments to maximise collections performance whilst also ensuring good client outcomes
• Provide technical and strategic advice about debt collection services and procedures, both externally and internally
• Have an appropriate level of knowledge of all clients’ business, background and circ*mstances and fully understand the client requirements

Other Duties:

• Ensuring that bad debt provisions are maintained and write offs managed in line with the firm’s policies and procedures
• Working alongside colleagues across the firm, minimise litigation for existing clients, resolve contractual disputes pre-proceedings and deal with contested matters up to trial
• Issue County Court judgements, prepare and issue Statutory Demands, as well as enforcing money judgements outside of jurisdiction and bankruptcy petitions, winding up petitions and applications for carriage
• Maintain high standards of financial management and record keeping
• Undertake effective due diligence processes at all times
• Act in the best interests of clients at all times
• To achieve financial objectives including cash collection and billing
• Remain vigilant for changes in FCA regulations and legislation
• Ensure all file audits and monthly reviews are completed accurately and within agreed timescales
• Record all time, chargeable and non-chargeable
• Provide updates on caseloads to management as required
• Act ethically and professionally at all times, acting as a positive role model in accordance with Sintons’ behaviours and values
• Promote the interests of Sintons at all times
• Maintain up to date knowledge and understanding of appropriate regulations and internal policies and procedures in relation to debt recovery
• Comply and uphold the firm’s policies and procedures, such as health and safety, IT, security, email and anti-virus policies and equality and fair treatment
• Be flexible to carry out any other reasonable task as requested within the office environment.

Knowledge/Skills/Experience:

• Proven ability to develop new business and maintain existing contacts
• Experience of working in a commercial debt recovery environment would be an advantage
• Good IT skills and knowledge are essential
• Judgement to balance commercial debt recovery and compliance risks to achieve positive outcomes
• Maintains the highest professional standards
• Ability to build supportive relationships with everyone across the firm
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with an ability to influence at all levels
• Excellent organisational skills
• Able to multi-task, manage time effectively and keep calm under pressure

Additional notes or information:

• The duties and responsibilities in this job description are not exhaustive and are subject to change in accordance with the needs of the firm.

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