Financial Inclusion Manager - Sunderland

Financial Inclusion Manager 

£45,000 

Sunderland 

Permanent, Full Time 

About the role: 

Gentoo is a values-led, charitable organisation that provides more than 60,000 people in Sunderland with a place they can call home. We have a clear vision and a social purpose. We believe that everyone has the right to live in a good quality home that they can afford. 

 

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Financial Inclusion Manager to join the Housing team, to ensure our customers are given all the support they may need to sustain their tenancies for the longer term. The successful candidate will play a key role in providing support through the Gentoo Money Matters team and also operate at a strategic level working with peers across the country to consider best practices and to navigate any government, regulatory or changes in the welfare system and how these changes will impact both the customer and the business overall. 

 

The Financial Inclusion Manager role and the Money Matters team sit within Gentoo’s Housing team and work across the 5 neighbourhoods we operate from within Sunderland. The team and the role are critical to helping Gentoo deliver on the corporate priorities of ‘we know our customers’ and ‘we help communities to thrive’. 

 

If you are passionate about helping customers and can think outside of the box around some of the many challenges facing households financially, then this role may be for you. 

 

The role is subject to a basic DBS paid for by Gentoo. 

 

Be a subject matter expert in policy, legislation, demographics, market trends and best practices to lead a service that is responsive and adaptive to the changing environment of housing regarding Financial Inclusion and providing advice as required to senior officers, partners, or external agencies. 

 

Manage the effects of Welfare Reform to ensure customers’ income is maximised and solutions sought to mitigate the impact of changes to benefits ensuring Gentoo is ahead of the curve on any new reforms to impact customers. Lead on the continuing development of the skills for example, by implementing briefings and training on changes to the benefits system. 

 

Ensure compliance with regulation, safeguarding requirements, and best practices within all services. 

Responsible for compliance with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules in relation to the permissions required for the delivery of regulated debt advice. Acting as Gentoo’s ‘approved person’ responsible for submitting annual statutory reporting information and dealing with FCA complaints in relation to debt advice. 

 

Develop and implement partnerships with external organisations that can support our objectives of maximising income for customers. 

 

Deliver training and guidance to staff across the business on issues related to money and welfare advice and the impact on customers and the company and work with colleagues to be proactive in developing solutions to issues as they arise. 

 

What we are looking for: 

You will have experience of: 

 

Providing high-quality, pro-active and value-for-money financial inclusion and debt advice services 

Experience and knowledge of the provision of advice on benefits and tax credits including relevant legislation such as the Welfare Reform Act 2012 

 

Experience in managing, leading and motivating a team developing a customer-driven performance culture. 

 

Running an efficient customer-facing social housing service with high customer service levels 

Working collaboratively and building successful working relationships with all key stakeholders and partners to effective income collection 

 

 

You will also have: 

 

MA accreditation in money advice – you should be accredited, working towards accreditation or undertake this accreditation on successful appointment to the position. 

 

An understanding of the key impacts of Universal Credit and experience with effective customer-orientated solutions. 

 

A full UK driving licence and be able to meet the travel requirements of the post. 

 

Strong IT literacy and experience in harnessing advances in technology to change ways of working. 

 

Strong communication skills, with the ability to produce quality materials and confident presenting and influencing skills. 

 

Some of our great benefits include: 

30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) 

12.30 pm finish on a Fridays 

Flexible and hybrid working. 

Free Health Cash Plan, with cashback for dental, optical, physio, wellbeing therapies and more, with some free child cover. 

Access to private healthcare through the Health Cash Plan. 

Competitive Aviva pension scheme - Gentoo will contribute up to 10% based on your personal contribution. 

Salary sacrifice electric vehicle scheme 

Enhanced family-friendly leave 

 

Closing date: 

18-Feb-2024 

The Company 

We're a housing association that provides more than 60,000 people in Sunderland with a place they can call home. We're a values-driven organisation, with a clear vision, a social purpose and a commitment to investing in people, place and property. We believe everyone has the right to live in a good quality home they can afford and invest millions of pounds every year in keeping our existing homes safe, secure, and compliant. 

We're also playing our part in addressing the UK housing crisis locally, by building hundreds of new, modern and contemporary homes for rent in Sunderland - homes that meet the needs of local people. Not only do we provide vital housing - we support our tenants, residents and communities by investing in services that help people live their best possible life. 

This includes helping people to work, victims of domestic abuse and anti-social behaviour, young people to live independently, as well as a wellbeing service that supports our elderly tenants and residents.