Overpayment Clerk

**Department**:Community Services

**Location**:DARTMOUTH

**Type of Employment**:Permanent

**Union Status**:NSGEU - NSPG

**Closing Date**:30-Oct-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)

**About Us**:
At the Department of Community Services (DCS), we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Well-being (CFW), Employment Support (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and Disability Support (DSP).

Through our services, we advocate and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self-reliant, and secure. We work collaboratively across the province with a strong dedicated network of supports and staff, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

**About Our Opportunity**:
Are you someone who thrives on precision and enjoys working with numbers to ensure fairness and accountability?

In this position, you will collaborate closely with DCS staff, legal representatives, third-party advocates, and other departments to communicate and provide clear, detailed verbal and written breakdowns of overpayment calculations. Your work is central to supporting the efforts of the Eligibility Review teams and the Payment Discrepancy Recovery Unit (PDRU), ensuring that all overpayments are accurately identified and recovered, in compliance with DCS policies and programs.

**Primary Accountabilities**:
You will ensure accurate information is maintained and assessable. A few of your key responsibilities will include:

- assessing and electronically assigning ineligible client overpayment cases to a third-party collector
- posting payments received against overpayments and updating records
- generating and forwarding overpayment letters to clients
- monitoring appeal timelines and outcomes
- preparing overpayment breakdowns and accompanying correspondence
- monitoring and action of multiple reports and cash logs.

You will also be responsible for processing activities relating to the Canada Pension Plan, bankruptcy submissions, legal correspondence, as well as researching and preparing draft responses to Ministerial Inquiries. In this role, you will also liaise with Vital Statistics for regional inquiries. Accuracy and aptitude for detail is important in this position.

**Qualifications and Experience**:
You have at least four (4) years of related experience in accounting, administration, and/or bookkeeping.

You demonstrate he ability to work independently in a busy and challenging team environment, exercising good judgement around issues requiring a high degree of tact and diplomacy. Excellent attention to detail along with organizational, communication, customer service, and interpersonal skills are essential.

Knowledge and understanding of the Department of Community Services (DCS) along with working knowledge of the programs administered by Income Assistance is highly desirable. You must also have experience and knowledge in the use of computers and have a working knowledge of the software packages including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Knowledge of the ESIA and the Family Benefits and Social Assistance Act, Regulations, and Policies would be an asset. Familiarity with the Integrated Case Management (ICM) system and License +AMANDA are assets.

We will assess the above qualifications and competencies using one or more of the following tools: written examination, standardized tests, oral presentations, interview(s), and reference checks.

**Equivalency**:
We recognize equivalent combinations of training, education, and experience, providing opportunities for individuals with diverse backgrounds to contribute their skills and expertise. Equivalencies include, but are not limited to:

- A completed related bachelors degree (accounting, administration, and/or bookkeeping)
- A completed related diploma (accounting, administration, and/or bookkeeping) and two (2) years of experience

**Benefits**:
Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.

**Working Conditions**:
Your normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day. Work is performed primarily in an open office environment. This role requires repetitive tasks on regular basis; good hand dexterity for continual phone and computer use is beneficial. This role also requires a high level of visual and mental concentration. There is a high degree of pressure present while maintaining accuracy and balancing the volume of work and meeting deadlines.

**What We Offer**:

- Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your car