Debt Counsellor

**Purpose of Role**:
A debt counsellors work with a wide range of clients to offer practical and emotional support when dealing with clients’ complex debt issues, helping them manage their finances and ultimately become debt free. Debt counsellors negotiate with creditors for consumer to ensure an amicable and cost-effective solution is found for clients who are over-indebted in accordance with the National Credit Act.

**Job Requirements**
- Liaising with clients about their initial debt situation in line with NCA Debt Review regulations.
- Assessing clients’ monthly income and expenditure
- Offering emotional support to clients
- Working with clients to determine priority payments.
- Preparing monthly payment plans for clients to follow in line with the NCA guidelines.
- Communicating with clients as their debt situation changes
- Following up late payments/ paperwork with clients
- Liaising/ negotiating with creditors to arrange realistic repayments for clients.
- Managing relevant financial documents/ paperwork, check proposals against proposal responses.
- Ensure COBs are in line with the proposals due to be presented in court.
- Generate updated draft proposals & Final proposals in line with responses from Creditors.
- Advising clients on issues such as financial planning/ budgeting/ money management
- Helping clients get access to relevant benefits.
- Giving legal support and advice to clients e.g. by attending court hearings
- Supporting clients through the process of bankruptcy if debts are too big to get back under control.
- Updating of workflow and regulatory systems in line with business operations and regulations
- Ensure monthly targets and objectives are reach.

**Required Qualifications & Experience**

**- ** Matric / Grade 12
- Qualified Debt Counsellor registered with the National Credit Regulator
- 5 years’ work experience in Debt Review environment
- Knowledge and understanding of the NCAA and TTA and PDA (Hyphen)
- PC Literate (Microsoft Word, Excel & Outlook) with a strong focus on Excel (for reporting and monitoring production stats.)
- Must be able to explain the DR process to the client, issue F17.2, declare client over-indebted and do proposals in the best interest of the client and credit provider.
- Good working knowledge of ALL Plans (MAXIMUS debt counselling system)
- Must know how to capture Certificates of Balance and Proposal Responses
- Must be able to do Reckless credit assessments and issue Clearance certificates.

**Necessary Skills & Attributes**

**- **Team player with the ability to interact at all levels.

Good written and verbal communication in English.
- Ability to work with minimum supervision to meet tight deadlines as per the time frames dictated by the Task Team Agreement.
- High attention to detail (with the ability to maintain high levels of concentration for long periods at a time.)
- Cultural sensitivity. Empathy. Negotiation and good communication skills.
- Understand the Debt review process and applicable Acts.
- Excellent administrative skills and knowledge of computers and office software.
- Good listening skills with a high EQ with a personable approach.
- Good negotiation skills, particularly when dealing with creditors.
- Being able to maintain an objective/ non-judgemental position even when talking with clients about emotional/ difficult situations, gaining trust.
- A good knowledge of issues relating to debt and money management.
- Good numeracy and literacy
- Able to speak African Languages
- A desire to help people get out of difficult situations and respect for client confidentiality.
- The ability to relate to people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds.
- A flexible/ adaptable approach to the job, accuracy and good attention to detail
- The confidence to liaise professionally with clients and creditors.

Reporting Line: New Business Line Manager - Octogen Head Office

Pay: R13 000,00 - R18 000,00 per month

Expected Start Date: 2024/09/02