Collections Officer

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented Collections Officer to manage and recover debts owed to the Scottish Legal Aid Board. You will work closely with applicants, solicitors, and other stakeholders, employing your excellent communication and negotiation skills to resolve outstanding debts. The Scottish Legal Aid Board is committed to ensuring access to justice for all. We provide essential legal aid services across Scotland and pride ourselves on our professionalism and integrity. Join our dynamic team and contribute to making a real difference in peoples lives. About us
The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) was set up in 1987 to manage legal aid in Scotland. We are a non-departmental public body responsible to the Scottish Government. Our main purpose is to manage and continuously improve publicly funded legal assistance and to advise Scottish Ministers on its strategic development for the benefit of society. If you wish to learn more about SLAB and our other direct services please visit www.slab.org.uk. Why work for us
We are an ethical organisation, carrying out rewarding work that can have a considerable impact on clients’ lives. We seek high calibre people and in return, we set out to provide good training and development with rewarding working conditions. We aim to be an ‘employer of choice’. Should you come to work with us, you’ll discover that no matter what your job or level of responsibilities, you are treated as an individual, with fairness, dignity and respect. Our stable and secure reward package includes:

• a competitive salary with potential for pay progression
• flexible working arrangements and a great holiday entitlement of 34 days per year (inclusive of public and privilege holidays) increasing after five years of continuous service
• a defined benefit pension scheme with a 6% employee contribution
• job security in a stable environment for long-term career progression
• support from colleagues within a rewarding, positive work environment
• opportunities for learning and development while making a difference with challenging tasks for ultimate job satisfaction.

To find out more about working with us and our benefits, visit www.slab.org.uk/recruitment/working-for-us. About the role
The Collection Officer will collect all debts due to the Scottish Legal Aid Board and identify uncollectible debt at the earliest possible time. There will be daily telephone contact with applicants, opponents, solicitors and other external bodies, as well as the occasional face-to-face contact with customers in an interview situation. Key responsibilities include:

• managing case allocations and prioritising tasks efficiently
• handling incoming mail and telephone enquiries
• Negotiating repayment plans and proposing enforcement actions
• Updating systems accurately and maintaining clear records
• Staying informed on relevant policies and regulations.

We’re looking for:

• administrative experience, ideally in a legal or office setting
• strong customer service and communication skills
• ability to handle high volumes of work with accuracy
• self-motivation, with the ability to make sound decisions.

This post is permanent on a full time basis. If you are applying for a full time position on a part time basis (less than 35 hours per week), please give details of the number of hours and pattern of part time work you would be interested in. Further details are supplied in our ‘General Information for Applicants’ document. We are an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to being fair, inclusive and a place where all belong. We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, and LGBTQI+ people. We will ensure that disclosure of disability status will not negatively impact anyone’s application. We are committed to guaranteeing an interview to every applicant who indicates they have a disability, in terms of the Equality Act 2010, that meets the minimum criteria for the role. For more details about this role and a full list of essential criteria and required competencies, please see the ‘Additional Information’ section on the vacancy page of our recruitment portal. Completed applications should be returned by Monday 10 June 2024 (midnight) on our recruitment portal. Interviews will likely be organised in the week commencing 17 June 2024 at Thistle House.
Application Information To apply click Apply online and complete an online application form. For assistance email Recruitment@slab.org.uk