Council Tax Officer in Blackheath

1 Year Contract With A Local Authority

Main Purpose of the Job

To administer Council Tax accounts and other revenue streams in line with legislation and Council policies. To efficiently and effectively recover debts due to the Council, including preparation and representation at Magistrates’ Court, County Court, High Court and Tribunals. To assist with the management and monitoring of Enforcement Agents and other collection agents, maximise income collection, and provide a high-quality, customer-focused service.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Statutory and Operational Responsibilities
  • Administer Council Tax and other revenue accounts in accordance with legislation, Financial Procedures, statutory regulations, and the Council’s recovery timetable.
  • Execute duties in line with legislative requirements, divisional Service Plans, policies, audit requirements, and instructions from management.
  • Ensure all work is completed accurately, within agreed timescales, and in compliance with statutory and procedural requirements.
• Customer Service and Casework
  • Respond effectively to enquiries received by telephone, correspondence, face-to-face contact and electronic channels.
  • Deal with complex and sensitive enquiries, including complaints, providing timely, accurate and appropriate responses.
  • Identify service delivery issues and suggest remedial action where weaknesses are identified.
  • Provide a high standard of customer care, demonstrating commitment to equal opportunities and accessibility.
• Recovery and Enforcement
  • Take all necessary action to recover revenue efficiently and effectively, including processing applications for discounts, exemptions, reliefs and reductions, with due regard to fraud prevention and detection.
  • Liaise with, instruct, and monitor Enforcement Agents, solicitors and other collection bodies to ensure effective recovery of debts.
  • Assist with monitoring the performance of Enforcement Agents and report findings to management.
  • Undertake proactive recovery work, including participation in outreach initiatives to improve collection rates.
• Legal Proceedings and Court Representation
  • Prepare cases for proceedings at the Magistrates’ Court, County Court, High Court and Tribunals.
  • Represent the Council at Magistrates’ Court to obtain Liability Orders, defend applications to set aside Liability Orders, and attend Committal Hearings.
  • Attend County Court to make applications for Charging Orders and Bankruptcy Orders, and deal with applications to set aside Statutory Demands and annulments.
  • Prepare and issue Statutory Demands, undertake required checks with Social Services, and liaise with solicitors to progress cases.
  • Identify, prepare and interview customers for committal proceedings where required.
  • Apply for warrants of arrest with and without bail as appropriate.
• Insolvency and Write-Offs
  • Manage all aspects of insolvency cases where the Council is not the petitioning creditor, ensuring accurate records are maintained.
  • Liaise with Official Receivers and Trustees, providing information as required.
  • Submit cases of irrecoverable debt for write-off in accordance with delegated authority, audit standards and internal procedures.
• Data, Systems and Performance
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records on relevant systems to meet audit, accreditation and reporting requirements.
  • Prepare records, statistics and management information as directed.
  • Deal with system reports and outputs in line with service requirements.
  • Undertake quality checks to ensure accuracy and compliance with procedures.
• Professional Practice and Development
  • Maintain a detailed working knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, procedures and technologies associated with Revenues and Council Tax.
  • Comply fully with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and information governance requirements.
  • Take responsibility for personal learning and development, contributing effectively to service objectives and participating in the Performance Evaluation Scheme.
• Teamwork, Training and Improvement
  • Act as a mentor or coach to junior staff as directed, providing guidance and support.
  • Assist managers in designing and delivering training to meet service and development needs.
  • Contribute to the review and improvement of working practices, processes and procedures.
  • Provide information to support reporting, performance management and quality monitoring of team outputs.
• Equality and Conduct
  • Promote and uphold the Council’s Equal Opportunities policies, values and codes of conduct.
  • Carry out all duties with due regard to health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion principles.

Requirements

• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent, including English and Mathematics.
• Evidence of relevant training or professional development in Revenues, Council Tax or debt recovery.
• IRRV qualification (or working towards).
• CIPFA / local government finance–related qualification.
• Proven experience of administering Council Tax accounts or similar local authority revenue streams.
• Sound working knowledge of Council Tax legislation, recovery processes and statutory enforcement methods.
• Experience of preparing cases for court proceedings, including Magistrates’ Court liability order applications.
• Experience of dealing with customers in debt, including vulnerable customers, using a sensitive and professional approach.
• Experience of responding to enquiries via telephone, correspondence, face-to-face and electronic channels.
• Experience of working to strict deadlines and statutory timescales.
• Knowledge of data protection requirements, including GDPR.
• Experience of representing a local authority at Magistrates’, County Court or other courts and tribunals.
• Experience of insolvency processes, including bankruptcy, charging orders and committal proceedings.
• Experience of managing or monitoring Enforcement Agents or external collection agencies.
• Experience of fraud prevention and detection in a revenues or benefits environment.
• Experience of proactive debt recovery initiatives and outreach work.