Credit Control Officer/Adminstrator
Job Description
About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?
Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.
Join Our Team: Credit Control Officer Opportunity
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Our Credit Control Team plays a key role in keeping the Trust financially healthy, and we’re looking for someone who wants to make a real impact. We support the full debt‑recovery process for the organisation, handling everything from managing consumer and commercial debt for around 8,500 customers to sending out approximately 10,500 reminder letters each year. We also look after more than 500 active payment plans, raise over 500 legal referrals through our external partner, and manage write‑offs where needed. A big part of our work involves collaborating with budget holders across the Trust to make sure we’re proactively managing outstanding debt and keeping things moving.
By joining the team as a Credit Control Officer, you’ll play an important part in delivering an efficient credit control service for the Trust and its subsidiaries; helping to protect cashflow and support the long‑term financial stability of the organisation.
Working hours & location
This is a home-based role. However, you will be required to attend our Leeds office for team working and collaborative meetings at least once a month.
Please ensure you are able to reasonably travel to Leeds on a monthly basis.
Further details on travel and flexibility will be discussed at interview.
Role Overview
This role plays a key part in protecting the Trust’s financial stability and reputation. You’ll support effective debt collection processes to ensure money owed to the Trust is recovered accurately and on time. Strong credit management is essential, as poor practice could lead to financial loss, legal challenges, or customer complaints. Because the role involves handling sensitive financial and personal information, you’ll be expected to work in full compliance with the Data Protection Act and maintain the highest standards of confidentiality.
Key responsibilities
- Support smooth and accurate credit control and debt‑recovery processes, ensuring all work follows Trust policies and legal requirements.
- Use financial knowledge and good judgment to collect outstanding debt, agree payment plans, and recommend write‑offs or refunds.
- Build positive relationships with customers and internal stakeholders to resolve issues and keep debt information up to date.
- Assist the Credit Control Manager with wider debt‑recovery activities and ensure tasks are completed efficiently and to agreed service levels.
- Help colleagues understand processes, provide guidance, and deliver training when needed.
- Take on senior responsibilities such as mentoring new team members, leading debt‑review meetings, and identifying improvements to systems and processes.
- Provide absence cover for the Credit Control Team Supervisor, including preparing
- reports, overseeing team activity, authorising refunds, and supporting system testing
- Work to monthly and annual financial deadlines for cash collection, postings, allocations, and customer refunds.
- Demonstrate Trust values in all interactions and contribute to a positive, inclusive working environment.
- Promote diversity and inclusion by challenging behaviours or decisions that do not align with Trust policies and values.
About you
The post holder is responsible for developing and maintaining the Trust’s reputation as a responsible reservoir undertaker within the wider reservoir industry.
Technical skills
- Experience working in credit control or debt recovery, ideally with business-to-consumer (B2C) customers.
- Confidence managing a high volume of accounts and activities.
- Experience collecting payments and helping to improve cashflow.
- Ability to set up and manage payment plans with customers.
- Understanding of debt recovery processes, including when to escalate or refer cases.
- Experience using finance systems (SAP is helpful but not essential) and basic tools like Excel.
- Awareness of data protection and handling sensitive financial information safely.
- Ability to work to deadlines, especially around monthly financial cycles.
- Interest in improving processes and working more efficiently.
General:
- Clear and respectful communication skills (written and verbal).
- Ability to build trust with customers, including those in difficult situations.
- Awareness of vulnerable customers and how to support them fairly and appropriately.
- Comfortable working with different teams and stakeholders across an organisation.
- Willingness to support and share knowledge with colleagues.
- Good attention to detail and accuracy when handling data.
- A problem-solving mindset – able to find practical solutions.
- Ability to balance customer needs with organisational priorities.
- Works well as part of a team and supports an inclusive, respectful environment.
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
In addition to your annual base salary of c. £28,200, we also offer a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1 (https://canalrivertrust.pagetiger.com/cqhhihy/1).
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Our values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.
All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.
We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.
At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us
Job Details
- Pay Type
- Salary
- Hiring Min Rate
- 28,200 GBP
- Hiring Max Rate
- 28,200 GBP