Business Rates Officer

67 months contract with a Southeast London based Local Authority

Job Summary:

Responsible for the efficient and effective administration collection and recovery of Business Rates owing to the Council in accordance with financial procedures and statutory regulations.

To prepare cases and represent the Council at court.

To provide indepth advice and information about Business Rates to customers as required.

Assist with the management and monitoring of the Enforcement Agents and other collection agents.

Maximise collection in accordance with Financial Procedures and statutory regulations.

Key Duties/Accountabilities:

Execute your duties in accordance with legislative requirements the division s Service Plan policy requirements financial procedures the recovery timetable and those determined by your manager.

Effectively respond to all enquiries received by letter telephone in person (where required) and electronically.

Ensure all necessary action is taken to collect revenue efficiently and effectively & process applications for reliefs and other reductions with due regard to internal and external fraud prevention and detection.

Ensure all work is carried out in accordance with procedures agreed time scales and those dictated by legislation.

Deal with difficult queries including complaints by correspondence telephone face to face (where required) and electronically ensuring timely accurate appropriate responses and suggest remedial action where weakness in service delivery is identified.

Submit irrecoverable debt for write off in line with delegated powers audit requirements and internal procedures.

Comply with procedures to maintain an accurate database fulfill audit requirements and meet / exceed internal & external accreditations.

Undertake proactive work and participate in outreach work to improve collection.

Establish effective liaison with external bodies and partners and maintain good working relationships to assist the collection of revenue.

Liaise with and instruct the Enforcement Agents and other relevant bodies i.e. Solicitors / Process Server on the appropriate course of action to ensure effective revenue collection. Report to your manager on their performance.

Prepare cases relating to proceedings at the Magistrates Court County Court and other courts as directed.

Represent the Council and provide evidence at the Magistrates Court to successfully obtain Liability Orders. Represent the Council in court to defend Liability Orders when required.

Deal with all aspects of Insolvency where the Council is not the petitioning creditor and ensure information is passed to the Official Receiver / Trustee as required. Maintain accurate records of all insolvency cases.

Identify and prepare cases for committal hearings interviewing customers where required.

Make application for warrants of arrest with and without bail as appropriate.

Essential Experience Required:

We are looking for a candidate with experience of working in Business Rates or similar environment within Revenues possess a highlevel knowledge of Business Rates legislation including the enforcement process.

Able to use Academy Revs & Bens and Enterprise (formally ) systems.

High level knowledge of issues relating to debt recovery and enforcement.

High level knowledge of Court proceedings for the recovery of unpaid revenue.

Monitoring targets and performance collating information and analysing statistical data for input into management reports.

Working in a debt collection benefit recovery or similar environment.

Dealing with customers enquiries by letter telephone or in person.

Conducting hearings on behalf of the council.

Experience of preparing statistical information interpret legislation produce reports and respond to complaints.

The closing date for this position is Tuesday 21/05/2024.