Job Overview

The Viscount’s Department plays a vital role in protecting the financial interests of vulnerable people, investigating deaths, enforcing court orders and managing juries.  The Department also deals with bankruptcies and with the seizure and management of assets, including assets that may be the proceeds of crime.  Officers in the Viscount’s Department employ a range of skills and specialist knowledge to analyse issues and find solutions to a variety of challenges as part of a diverse and multidisciplinary team.

An opportunity has arisen to join the Viscount’s Department as an Insolvency and Delegate Case Officer.  The successful applicant will work with an experienced team of officers to support vulnerable Islanders with the management of their financial affairs when they do not have capacity to manage them personally and they do not have someone else who is able to assist them.  The successful applicant will also work with colleagues and external stakeholders to examine and manage the affairs of companies and individuals who have been declared bankrupt, including by taking steps to realise assets and discharge debts.  

Job Purpose

The successful applicant will have conduct of a number of cases where the court has appointed the Viscount as a “delegate” to manage the money of a person lacking capacity to do so.  The successful applicant will assist each individual by making decisions about the management of the individual’s money in that person’s best interests and within the statutory framework set out in the Capacity and Self-Determination (Jersey) Law 2016.

The successful applicant will also support the team’s work to deal with personal and corporate bankruptcies and assist in the administration of other insolvency proceedings, such as remise de biens and debt remission orders. This will include collecting and analysing financial information and considering how best to gather in and realise assets to meet a person’s debts.  This will also include conducting and reporting on “desastre checks” for law firms and other third parties. 

Job Specific Outcomes 1 of 2

• Locate, collect and analyse information concerning désastres and delegates through meetings, by telephone and in writing with debtors, officers of corporate désastres, creditors, professional persons and members of the public.
• Examine and analyse the financial books of the debtor to locate assets including any that have not been disclosed and to identify possible evidence of civil or criminal fraud.  Where appropriate, make necessary reports to the Attorney General.
• Organise the securing, valuation, removal and realisation of assets, including real property, with outside agencies and with clients.  The size and complexity of these tasks can vary enormously.
• Deal with vacation of premises, to limit administrative costs (strict deadlines may apply).
• Arrange for the efficient realisation of assets, including real property and collection of debts, ensuring that net proceeds are securely held and achieve the best return for creditors.
• Issue and serve notices of disclaimer of onerous property.
• Prepare and submit invoices for payment.
• Examine and adjudicate on claims filed to ensure their accuracy and validity.
• Conduct internal audit of casefiles prior to completion.
• Prepare reports for creditors of each désastre to include results of the investigation, reasons for failure and financial statements.

Job Specific Outcomes 2 of 2

• Calculate, prepare and distribute dividends to creditors.
• Prepare reports for submission to the Attorney General where necessary.
• Monitor debtors’ financial situation during the course of the désastre.  Where appropriate, calculate and distribute surplus income.
• Prepare Representation for presentation to the Royal Court concerning the debtor’s discharge from désastre.
• Attend at the Royal Court as Viscount Substitute and answer questions relating to the désastre and other insolvency proceedings.
• Act as Delegate.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality in accordance with the Oath of Confidentiality undertaken when sworn in as Viscount Substitute.
• Work in accordance with statutory time limits, set out within relevant legislation and the Department’s Performance Management Standards.
• Assist in the administration of other insolvency procedures, including Remise de Biens and Debt Remission Orders.
• Conduct and issue reports on “Desastre checks”; keep appropriate records for billing purposes.
• Assist, as required, in the general administrative and strategic functions of the Department and undertake all such other work as may be required or delegated by the Manager.
• Exercise professionalism, discretion, firmness and compassion in the effective performance of the job.

Person specification

• To be responsible for your own health and safety and that of your colleagues, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law, 1989;
• To work in accordance with the Data Protection (Jersey) Law;
• To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected.

Essential to have the skill to deal with people in a calm but firm manner in order to avoid escalation into verbal or physical aggression. Maintain confident and non-confrontational body language often in difficult situations.

Qualifications

Educated to A-Level, or Higher National Diploma equivalent in either law or accountancy

A sound knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Outlook and CRM)

Knowledge

Essential:

Ability to read and understand company accounts.

Ability to read and understand relevant laws.

Desirable:

Knowledge of the Bankruptcy Law and a basic understanding of Jersey Company and Property laws.

Knowledge of Capacity and Self-Determination (Jersey) Law 2016 when administering delegate responsibilities.

Technical Work Based Skills

Analyse and collate information through meetings by telephone and in writing with debtors, creditors, professional persons and connected members of the public in connection with the management and investigation of désastres and other insolvency processes.

Examine the financial records and books of debtors to locate assets and to identify possible evidence of civil or criminal fraud.  Make necessary reports to the police and/or Attorney General. Prepare reports to creditors.

Full driving licence

General skills / attributes

Act with integrity and have the ability to deal with people at all levels with tact and discretion.

Ability to deal with sensitive information and maintain a high level of confidentiality, acting in accordance with the sworn Oath of Confidentiality as Viscount.

Excellent communication, inter-personal and analytical skills.

Ability to work independently, accurately and on own initiative when prioritising own workload.

Ability to work under pressure, to be flexible and adaptable.

Ability to work within a team environment.

Prepared to work in difficult conditions away from the office.

Experience

A minimum of 5 years’ administrative experience, of which 2 should involve contact with a wide range of the public and professions including, ideally, benefits’ agencies.

Personal Attributes

Deal with distressed, angry and anxious individuals, in meetings which can take place in the department, in their own homes or on site.

Attend premises of individuals whose property has been declared en désastre to carry out inventory of contents.

Assist creditors who have lost money through an insolvency.