Hertfordshire County Council
Finance Assistant
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Job Introduction
Job Title
Finance Assistant
Starting Salary
£27,694 progressing to £31,022 per annum - Pay award pending
Hours
37
Location
This role is based at Farnham House and offers a hybrid working arrangement, with 2 days per week in the office and 3 days working from home.
Contract Type
Permanent
Directorate
Adult Care Services
About The Team
The Central Debt Team is responsible for recovering outstanding care fees relating to clients who have sadly passed away whilst receiving support from Adult Care Services.
As a Finance Assistant, you will join a friendly, supportive, and highly effective team that is committed to delivering excellent outcomes whilst maintaining the highest standards of customer care.
We pride ourselves on our open and honest approach, working collaboratively to provide a professional, efficient, and compassionate service.
A key aspect of the role involves supporting bereaved family members and representatives during what can be a difficult and emotional time. Balancing debt recovery with empathy and understanding is essential, and we are looking for someone who can communicate sensitively whilst remaining focused on achieving positive outcomes.
Working closely with internal departments, legal representatives, financial professionals, and family members, you will play an important role in ensuring that outstanding accounts are managed effectively and resolved in a timely manner.
About The Role
This is a varied and rewarding role that combines financial administration, customer service, and debt recovery activities.
Key responsibilities include:
- Investigating client accounts and reviewing financial records to ensure accuracy.
- Managing a caseload of accounts relating to outstanding Adult Care Services charges.
- Recovering outstanding monies and ensuring payments, credits, and account adjustments are processed appropriately.
- Building and maintaining positive working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Handling enquiries and resolving complex account-related queries via telephone, email, and written correspondence.
- Monitoring and reviewing caseloads to ensure timely progression and resolution of cases.
- Producing and analysing regular reports to support effective caseload management.
- Running payment reports and maintaining accurate records and spreadsheets.
- Liaising with colleagues, solicitors, executors, and other stakeholders to obtain information and achieve successful outcomes.
- Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records in line with financial procedures and service standards.
- Contributing to service improvements and identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency and customer experience.
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This is a busy role that requires excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage sensitive conversations with professionalism and empathy.
About You
We are looking for a motivated and resilient individual with experience in a financial or debt recovery environment, who is committed to delivering a high-quality service.
Essential Requirements
- Experience working within a finance, accounts, or credit control environment.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
- Experience communicating effectively with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to influence and negotiate to achieve positive outcomes.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.
- Competent user of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Experience maintaining accurate records and managing information in a timely manner.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage workloads, priorities, and deadlines effectively.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and a willingness to contribute ideas for service improvement and increased efficiency.
- Ability to handle difficult or sensitive conversations with professionalism, empathy, and confidence.
- Demonstrable ability to learn and adapt quickly to new systems and processes.
Desirable Requirements
- Understanding of financial processes and account reconciliations.
- Knowledge and experience of SAP or similar financial systems.
- Previous experience within debt recovery, income collection, or local government finance.
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
- Proven ability to deliver results whilst maintaining high standards of customer service.
The Central Debt Team is a supportive and collaborative team where no two days are the same. The role offers a unique opportunity to combine financial expertise with meaningful customer support, helping bereaved families navigate challenging circumstances with compassion and professionalism.
Whilst the role can be demanding and may involve difficult conversations, it is also incredibly rewarding. Every case presents new challenges, opportunities to learn, and the chance to make a genuine difference.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to develop their finance and customer service skills within a constantly evolving service. You will be encouraged to contribute ideas, support continuous improvement, and take advantage of opportunities for personal and professional development.
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If you share our commitment to delivering exceptional customer service and supporting people with empathy and respect, we would love to hear from you.
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
This job role is Level 7. Please locate the job profile here: Job profiles: Business support services
To hear more about this opportunity please contact Iqbal Johal (Iqbal.Johal@hertfordshire.gov.uk) - 01438 843 573
Interview Date
27th and 28th August 2026
Benefits of working for us
How To Apply
As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.
Additional Information
We are changing
Hertfordshire County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). If you are employed by Hertfordshire County on 1 April 2028, it is expected that most roles will transfer to the newly-created unitary councils on existing terms and conditions under TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings – Protection of Employment) principles.
LGR is one of the biggest changes we will face in a generation. It will reshape how we work and how services are organised and gives us a real opportunity to build something better. To find out more, visit https://www.hertfordshire-lgr.co.uk/
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.
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