Benefits & Revenues Officer in Stoke-on-Trent

We are Lichfield District Council, a local authority in the Heart of England that provides local services to over 100,000 residents. Our District is a beautiful place to live and work, with its historic city centre which has the impressive Lichfield Cathedral and is the birthplace of Samuel Johnson. Our organisation is ambitious, innovative, and highly driven to be the best in all that we do. We want to further this growth potential in all key areas of the business by hiring great people. In return, we can build stronger foundations, provide quality services, and help support our company objectives longer term.

We are looking for an experienced Revenues and Benefits Compliance and Quality Officer to support within a generically focussed Revenues and Benefits team with the responsibility for delivering the following key functions:

• Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rating and BIDS, billing, collection, and enforcement.
• Assessment and administration of Housing Benefit (HB) and Local Council Tax Support (LCTS).

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Represent the Council at Magistrates, County Court, Valuation Tribunal, and Tribunal Service hearings.
• Prepare and present court papers, evidence, and reports for legal proceedings.
• Handle disputes, appeals, and complaints, and support responses to MP correspondence and Freedom of Information requests.
• Support the preparation of subsidy estimates and final claims, ensuring maximum subsidy recovery.
• Review policies, procedures, and performance to identify and assist in implementing improvements.
• Process Direct Debit transmissions, refunds, and cash reconciliations.
• Resolve complex queries from residents, businesses, and internal departments by phone, letter, email, or in person.
• Assist with annual billing and year-end procedures for Council Tax, Business Rates, and BIDs.
• Support system administration of NEC and Enterprise software, ensuring accurate reporting and issue escalation.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Advanced knowledge of Housing Benefit Legislation and Local Council Tax Support Legislation; or Advanced knowledge of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and 1992, the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 and the Non-Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) (Local Lists) Regulations 1989 and associated case law.
• Knowledge of welfare benefits including subsidy.
• Working knowledge of a Revenues and Benefits System.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience working with Revenues and Benefits systems.
• Strong analytical and IT skills, with the ability to manage complex information accurately.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence handling challenging situations and representing the Council in formal settings.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle.

WHY JOIN US?

This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of Lichfield District – a place with a rich heritage, a growing economy, and ambitious plans for the years ahead. You will be part of a forward-thinking council that values innovation, community impact, and professional growth.

BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR US

• Friendly and supportive environment underpinned by our values.
• Hybrid working including flexibility around working patterns.
• Local government pension. With the scheme you get Life cover – 3 times your salary as a lump sum if you die in service.
• Generous annual leave.
• Private health care – after your 6 months’ probation.
• Free onsite Parking.
• Discounted Gym membership.
• Fantastic modern offices with complementary refreshments.
• Plus, more.

WHAT NEXT?

To be considered for this exciting new opportunity, please send your CV and Supporting statement to careers@lwmts.co.uk. If you need support with completing your application, for any part of the recruitment process, please contact careers@lwmts.co.uk so that we can discuss reasonable adjustments.

Please Note: We value the interest shown in our vacancies and aim to consider every application carefully. However, in the event of exceptionally high levels of response, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early to manage application volumes effectively. Due to the high number of applications that we can typically receive, we are unable to notify applicants who have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Pre Employment Checks

All offers of employment are conditional offer subject to satisfactory clearances which include:

• Two satisfactory references covering the last 3 years of employment.
• Evidence of your right to work in the United Kingdom; and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check if applicable.

We look forward to hearing from you.