Fees Collection Officer Full Time

The Girls’ Day School Trust is a family of 23 schools and two academies, leading the sector in girls’ education and helping girls learn without limits. We are now seeking a Fees Collection Officer to join our Fees Department and play an important role in supporting the effective collection of school fees across the Trust.

This is a key role within the team, responsible for managing a portfolio of accounts, supporting schools with debt recovery activity, and helping to ensure that fee collection processes are handled professionally, sensitively and efficiently. You will work closely with the Fees Collection Manager, school-based colleagues and families, balancing firmness, accuracy and good customer service in sometimes challenging circumstances.

This role would suit someone who is organised, resilient and confident in managing aged debt, with strong communication skills and a professional, solutions-focused approach.

What You’ll Be Doing

The Fees Collection Officer will be responsible for identifying overdue accounts, issuing reminders in line with agreed processes, and corresponding with parents and carers in relation to arrears, disputes and queries. The postholder will negotiate payment arrangements where appropriate, maintain accurate records, process card payments for overdue accounts, and support the production of regular reports for schools and Trust colleagues.

The role also involves regular liaison with Heads, Directors of Finance and Operations and colleagues across Trust Office in relation to fee-related matters, including supporting half-termly debtor meetings and ensuring that information is accurate, up to date and handled in line with data protection requirements.

What skills and experience you’ll bring to the role

You will bring experience of managing a substantial aged debt portfolio and will be confident working independently while also contributing positively to a close-knit team. You will be able to prioritise effectively, communicate clearly with a wide range of stakeholders and handle sensitive or challenging conversations with professionalism and tact.

You will also have strong administrative skills, good attention to detail, and confidence using systems and Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Word

Please note, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Why join us

Benefits

As part of the GDST, the UK’s leading network of independent girls’ schools, we can offer a variety of benefits, such as:

• Competitive salaries and pay progression
• Access to extensive professional development opportunities
• Training grants for qualifications
• A discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools
• Generous pension schemes
• Free life assurance benefit
• Interest free loans for training, computer purchase loans and travel season ticket loans
• A Cycle to Work scheme
• Competitive terms and conditions of employment

There are many other good reasons to work with us. Each of our schools and our Trust Office has its own sense of community, and you’ll be part of it. You’ll be in the company of some of the best and brightest people in independent education. Most importantly, no matter what your role, you’ll be playing a major part in the highly regarded education we give our girls.

Our commitment

The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change. We want every colleague to feel valued, respected and supported, and we actively welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities.

We are equally committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must therefore be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including online searches, checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

All candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK.