Deputy Revenues & Benefits Manager in Shrewsbury

Rate

£45.52 per hour (umbrella)

Term

3 months initially

Hours per week

Location

Shrewsbury - On site 1 day per week. Some flex for the right candidate.

Interview

• Via MS Teams
• Senior Management support to the Revenues & Benefits Manager to deliver the following

• Collecting local Council Tax and Business Rates revenues

• Council Tax for the Council as a billing authority and for the precepting bodies,
• Business Rates from local businesses,
• and effective management of arrangements for Business Rates reliefs,
• Managing policy arrangements in regard to local discretionary schemes
• Business rates reliefs
• Council Tax Reduction Scheme
• Section 13A discretions
• Integration with the Crisis Resilience Fund
• Payment of local benefits payments including
• Council Tax Support Grants and
• Housing Benefits
• Appropriate governance for locally administered aspects of these functions in line with government guidance and statutory requirements.
• Appropriate governance for related government schemes as and when they are announced
• Management of Council debts and payments arrangements
• Deliver an efficient and effective revenues collection and benefits payments service on behalf of the council, ensuring that
• all relevant records are maintained,
• the reputation and governance of the authority is supported by ensuring that all receipts and payments are undertaken in line with all relevant legal and other requirements.
• that analysis and insight is provided in a timely way,
• ensuring the provision of a viable and sustainable revenues and benefits function for the council.
• work with significant delegated responsibility in maintaining oversight and effective delivery of revenues collection and benefits payments functions, in line with the objectives defined by the s151 Officer and the deputy s151 Officer.
• Ensuring a timely and robust debt, arrears, and overpayment recovery process that is in line with Council policies and priorities; ensuring enforcement agents are used appropriately
• Respond to new Government funding announcements and initiatives in a timely way, ensuring that arrangements are made for timely and accurate payments are made or receipts billed within the guidelines and requirements of the funding.

Current initiatives to be addressed include

• Business rates-related
• Investment Zones
• Liaison with Government on future plans for local Business Rates retention arrangements and also Valuation Office Agency re-positioning
• Analysis and application of the outcomes of the latest NNDR technical consultation
• Promoting and supporting digitalisation of business rates (and council tax) processes in line with emerging national initiatives
• Supporting regional and national fraud and error minimising initiatives
• Implementing and delivering new or changed business rates reliefs
• Benefits-related
• Council tax support fund (national initiatives)
• Household Support Fund
• Discretionary Housing Payments
• Energy Bills Support Scheme
• Crisis Resilience Fund
• Council Tax-related
• Ensuring the Council is appropriately placed to take advantage of new permissions such as changes to Long Term Empty and Second Homes billable amounts.
• General
• • Supporting national work to maximise Housing Benefit overpayment recovery rates
• Ensure continual improvement and innovation and to ensure continual professional development of the team in responding to new challenges (e. g. ‘Getting it Right’ and ‘Getting Leadership Right’ corporate initiatives).
• Provide an efficient and effective Council Tax and NNDR service to the Council.
• Maintain a thorough and up to date knowledge of all legal requirements pertaining to local revenue matters. Interpret, apply and advise on complex and contentious matters.
• Develop service specifications, business plans and annual work programmes, translating service priorities into operational plans and measurable outcomes.
• Develop, maintain and monitor Service Level Agreements with appropriate third parties, both internal and external, to ensure delivery and value for money.
• Ensure the accurate Annual Billing of Council Tax.
• Ensure the accurate Annual Billing of NNDR.
• Ensure the accurate billing of Business Improvement Districts (BIDS)
• Ensure that the Council Tax system is maintained and used effectively throughout the core and local teams.
• Ensure all staff are appropriately trained and understand their role in delivering the service objectives as defined in the service and team plans.
• Ensure that the NNDR system is maintained and used effectively throughout the
• core and local teams.
• Promote and encourage effective debt management and recovery policies and practices in relation to Council Tax and NNDR.
• Ensure that all Council Tax and NNDR bills are pursued in accordance with legislation to ensure that together with the Operational Support Manager all relevant IT support systems are kept under continuous review and to maintain a programme of continuous improvement for the service.
• Ensure effective liaison with relevant external agencies and organisations and relevant officers of the Council.
• Ensure the accurate completion of statutory returns in accordance with Government timescales. (e. g. CTB1, QRC4, NNDR1, NNDR3)
• Design, implement and manage one off revenues discretionary schemes as required
• Ensure that all statistical records in respect of each function of the Unit (including tax base calculations, bandings, exemptions, discounts and management information data) are maintained together with the relevant Team Managers.
• Monitor delivery of the service and to develop and collate Performance Indicators, both local and national, as directed by the Revenues and Benefits Service Manager.
• Provide management with reports and information on Council Tax and NNDR debts outstanding and income collected as requested.
• Demonstrate and apply an analytical and systematic approach to problem solving
• Lead and manage the Revenue Team Managers in their defined area of responsibility.
• Lead and manage the staff development programme for Team Managers and ensure that all staff receive appropriate training and development, undertake performance management, holding them to account for delivery.

To develop training programmes for all staff.

• Ensure and evidence minimum 95% accuracy of work undertaken in the service
• Support as necessary in the timely and efficient discharge of the Revenue’s and Benefits Service and other activities as reasonably requested from time to time by the Revenues and Benefits Service Manager.
• Represent Shropshire Council at local and national events
• Recommend debt write-off schedules for submission to the Section 151 Officer or appropriate committee, in accordance with Financial Rules.
• Authorise the writing off of small account balances where appropriate in the interests of economy and efficiency.
• Authorise debt write-off schedules in accordance with agreed authorisation limits
• Identify, assess, record and mitigate risks to the service
• Manage budgets allocated to the service in accordance with Financial Regulations and procedures.
• Prepare and present reports to Committee in respect of applications for hardship and Discretionary Relief.
• Deputise for the Revenues and Benefits Service Manager at meetings, seminars, team briefings and other relevant events
• Work closely with other managers in the service to ensure that there is best practice, generic staff development, customer focus and maximum efficiency in collaboration and cross boundary working between the two service areas
• Manage and supervise a Council Tax Team and be responsible for their training and development
• Be the appointing manager for posts under the remit of the role, and be responsible for carrying out recruitment activities, undertaking inductions, team meetings and individual 1-1’s/catch-ups
• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge and awareness of all aspects of Local Taxation legislation and regulations, sharing your knowledge with the team so that they are appropriately updated
• To ensure that work priorities are identified, and work plans managed efficiently and effectively in relation to all appropriate aspects of Council Tax in order to provide a prompt and timely service to customers and to maximise income due to the Authority
• To contribute to the development of challenging performance targets through the monitoring of work plans and key service objectives
• To contribute to and ensure the implementation and management of change to operational and procedural arrangements
• To ensure a prompt, efficient and effective response is provided to all correspondence, enquiries and other forms of communication
• To provide advice, guidance and support to operational staff.

Specifically, to ensure the resolution of complex and/or disputed issues, without the need for higher referral, unless absolutely necessary

• To provide advice, guidance and explain technical legislative concepts to customers.
• To assist the Revenues Manager in ensuring the accurate annual billing of Council Tax
• To plan for and arrange appropriate cover for absences arising from training, sickness, seminars, team briefings etc. as required and to liaise, where necessary, with the Revenues Manager to ensure that sufficient resources are available to maintain an effective discharge of service duties
• To monitor the quality of all work undertaken in the Council Tax Teams and identify any training needs required
• Work with the QA and Training Team Manager to input into individual, team and service training and development activities, ensuring that all new starters are included in the Service’s induction programme.
• Collaborate with the other team managers in the service to ensure an efficient and effective one-service approach is provided
• To ensure and evidence minimum 95% accuracy of work undertaken in the team
• To check and propose accounts for refund
• To check and recommend debts for write off as appropriate
• To attend, and in appropriate cases, deputise for and represent the Revenues Manager at meetings, seminars, team briefings and other relevant events
• To represent the Council in relation to appeals to the Valuation Tribunal Service or Member Panels as required
• To liaise with and ensure a positive and productive relationship with other Council teams, bodies and external organisations
• To communicate with third parties such as employers, DWP, CAB in relation to billing and collection of council tax as appropriate

Requirements

• Seeking a strong Revenues & Benefits Manager to assist with the more technical elements of the job and team management

Benefits

We believe employee benefits should go beyond just a free drink or fruit bowl. What’s more, we believe you should get to choose perks that suit your lifestyle. That’s why we’ve partnered up with the global benefits and rewards provider Perkbox, to offer something for all of our people.

Here’s what you can look forward to

Perks Hub

• Hundreds of global and local perks, available online 24/7
• Free monthly lifestyle perks; such as free coffees, breakfasts, cinema tickets, etc
• Shopping discounts from the biggest brands, all year round
• Save money on everything from the supermarket shop to summer holidays
• Wellness Hub
• Easy to follow videos for everything from yoga exercises, to strength training and HIIT workouts
• Mindfulness, meditation and sleep resources, available on all your devices
• Guides to help with everything from anxiety to stopping smoking
• Confidential mental health helpline, 24/7 access to a qualified counsellor
• Celebration Hub

Working with us means you're always part of Team BSS - celebrate and recognise fellow contractors, whether they're across the desk or across the world

• Company polls where everybody can vote for the winners
• Culture Hub
• A single place to find company updates, photos, benefits information and lots more!
• Stay in the loop with what’s happening by accessing Culture hub anywhere, at any time

Pre-Compliance Checks for Successful Applicants

At BSS, we uphold the highest standards of screening and trust for every role. Successful applicants will undergo a comprehensive pre-compliance process in line with the Baseline Personnel Security

Standard (BPSS). This includes

Identity Verification

Confirming the authenticity of your identity documents.

Employment History

Checks

• Reviewing your occupation history for the past
• 3-5 years

(depending on client requirement).

Right to Work

Verification

Ensuring you have the legal right to work in the UK.

Unspent Conviction Check

• Conducting a
• Basic DBS

Check to reveal any unspent convictions.

These checks are crucial in ensuring a secure and trustworthy work collaboration, aligning with best practices used in government and public sectors. While primarily standard in these sectors, our adoption of pre-compliance checks across all roles reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and trust in our recruitment process.

Equal Opportunities

Business Smart Solutions are a Recruitment Agency - We hire talented and passionate people from a variety of backgrounds because we want our global worker base to represent the wide diversity of our clients. If you’re excited about a role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every bullet point listed in the job description, we still encourage you to apply. If you're passionate about working for a role in local government and share our company values, we encourage you to apply.

BSS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. BSS considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable UK law. If you need assistance or an accommodation made due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.

Armed Forces Covenant

We endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:

• No member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen
• In some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.