School Fee Liaison Officer

Fee Liaison Officer

About Us

At Catholic Schools Broken Bay, our Vision is to provide ‘Authentic, professional Catholic education, delivered with care and compassion’. The Vision underpins our exciting and robust Towards 2025 Strategy which places students at the centre of everything we do, and which brings schools and parishes together to work as one. The Towards 2025 Strategy commits our system of schools to being at least as good as the very best, to maximise the learning growth of every student, and to inspire hearts and minds to know Christ and love learning.

Covering an expansive geographical area which includes the Central Coast, Sydney’s Northern Beaches and North Shore, Catholic Schools Broken Bay is a system serving 45 Catholic Schools with around 18,000 students from Kindergarten to Year 12.

About the Role

Reporting to the Accounts Receivable Lead, you will be responsible for collaborating with the school Principals to ensure fee management practices are fair and just and conducted with respect and compassion.

You will be responsible for the delivery of effective and efficient collection of School Fees for a portfolio of schools within Catholic Schools Broken Bay. The function is responsible for making first contact and initiating the first steps to build relationships with parents/carers who are our debtors. This position requires an ability to understand their financial situation and their capacity to make a financial contribution towards the education of their children and developing a manageable payment plan whilst continuing to develop and maintain the relationships created. 

This position will also provide support to Financial Viability Management, School Business Support and Accounts Receivable Teams.

Demonstrated recent experience in a debt collection environment with emphasis on customer experience would be looked on favourably.   

This is a temporary full-time opportunity until the end of the 2024 school year.

Key Role Responsibilities:

• Partnering with School Principals to ensure fee management practices are fair and just and conducted with respect and compassion. 
• Ensuring regular meetings and open communication takes place with School Principals to ensure they are aware of any pastoral considerations within their school community and to ensure they remain engaged and involved in the Fee Management process for their school.  
• Monitoring and follow-up collection of outstanding debts owed to Catholic Schools Broken Bay (CSBB) in accordance with policy and procedure.  
• Preparing and maintaining correspondence and document any debt collecting activity undertaken for each debtor. Maintaining files for each debtor, ensuring they are complete, comprehensive, and up to date at all times. 
• Establishing initial contact with the fee payer, being mindful of the financial predicaments faced by parents, with a view to negotiating a payment plan to pay outstanding fees (where circumstances deem it appropriate). 
• Reviewing overdue debts and payment history to identify undisclosed financial hardship with a view to mitigating any enrolment flight risk. Where appropriate, encouraging these parents/carers to apply for fee assistance 
• End to end management of applications for Fee Assistance. 
• Following up outstanding documentation for applications by parents/carers for fee assistance. 
• Preparing correspondence to debtors in relation to full and partial bursaries/approval/decline and debt recovery letters. 
• Ensuring key performance indicators are met with regards to timely follow up and response to applications for Fee Assistance and enquiries. 
• In accordance with CSBB procedures, reviewing & assessing applications and supporting documentation for fee assistance and provide a fee concession recommendation to the Fees Liaison Team Leader for endorsement. 
• Escalating complex applications for fee assistance to the Team Leader for review and advice. 
• Managing delinquent accounts in accordance with CSBB fee collection policy and procedures. 
• Liaising and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders in relation to matters relating to your allocated schools under the guidance of the Accounts Receivable Lead.
• Maintaining the integrity of Financial Viability system processes. 
• Provide support to Financial Viability Management, School Business Support and Accounts Receivable Teams.
• Maintaining effective working relationships with school staff and parents. 
• Collaborating and supporting other team members as they work to develop, implement and review policy, practices and procedures consistent with Towards 2025.

About You 

As the ideal candidate you will meet the following key requirements: 

• Supportive of, or can demonstrate an understanding and commitment to, the ethos of the Catholic faith in an educational context. 
• Demonstrated recent experience in a debt collection environment with emphasis on customer experience, ideally in a Not-for-Profit Organisation.  
• Understanding of current collection management issues and regulatory environment. 
• Knowledge of the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles and context in Debt Management. 
• Experience in customer service and liaising with a diverse range of stakeholders. 
• Significant experience handling a high degree of confidential and/or sensitive information.
• Can manage difficult conversations over the phone or in email exchange. 

Qualifications

• Tertiary credential or an equivalent level of subject matter knowledge gained through any combination of education, training and/or experience 
• Valid Working with Children Check 

Benefits of Working with Us

• Competitive salary package of $85,912 plus Super on offer
• Free onsite parking or public transport close by

Application Process

Applications should include:

• A cover letter of no more than two pages addressing why you are interested in the role and addressing the criteria listed above
• A current resume

Applications should be sent directly to *********@dbb.catholic.edu.au

Applications Close on Sunday, 2 June 2024.

Enquiries

If you have any enquiries about this role, please email Malik at *********@dbb.catholic.edu.au or call on 0424 862 ***.

Agencies, please note that unsolicited resumes for this position will not be considered.

Catholic Schools Broken Bay promotes a culture of safety and care for children and young people. The Diocesan Office for Safeguarding Charter provides overarching principles that ensure children and young people are at the centre of the work we do and that every child and young person is encouraged to have a voice and participate in their community to their fullest potential. All employees must be aware of the Diocesan Office for Safeguarding Charter and be committed to organisational child safe standards and practice. Successful applicants for child-related roles must meet the requirements of the Working with Children Check.