About this job
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Council Tax team. We are looking to recruit a Council Tax Officer. We are responsible for the billing and collection of over £100M from 80,000 households in the borough which is a vital source of funding for essential council services. This is not your typical debt collection role. Our aim is to maximise both Council Tax collection and the financial well-being of our residents. We take a holistic approach to collection using new technology to understand our residents personal and financial circumstances. The role is challenging and varied, all members of the team are expected to deal with work relating to the billing, collection and enforcement functions. This requires a demonstrable working knowledge and understanding of the Council Tax legislation. We collaborate with all Revenues services: Rents, General Income (Sundry Debt), Housing Benefits Overpayments & Business Rates to ensure all monies owed to the council are collected. We also work closely with our internal Benefits service and the Homes and Money Hub to make sure that our most vulnerable residents receive the support that they need. It is our priority to help those in difficulty get back-on-track with their finances. A key responsibility of the role is distinguishing between those who ‘can’t pay’ and are struggling, versus those who ‘won’t pay’ despite having the means to do so, and then selecting an appropriate course of action. This requires an ability to assimilate a wide range of information to extract key facts. We regularly undertake investigative work to identify the whereabouts of ‘gone away’ debtors and pro-actively pursue hardcore non-payers.
Special requirements for this post
Not applicable
About you
You are currently working in local government dealing with Council Tax enquiries. You have a good understanding of the Council Tax process and its interactions with the other Revenues, Benefits and Support services. You can demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent customer service, ensuring residents receive the best outcomes. You have demonstrable communication skills, both verbal and written and can explain complex matters in plain English. You can process a wide range of information to extract relevant key facts. You work well under pressure, both independently and part of a team. You are driven and can work to set targets. Your organisational skills mean that you can prioritise a workload of competing deadlines. You are a creative thinker and will challenge the way things are done to improve the way the service is delivered. You are fully committed to your on-going learning and professional self-development.
About us
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham is a diverse Borough that prides itself of tackling the root causes of the challenges facing our residents. We have a strong ethos of leaving no one behind, we are innovative and forward looking. This is an exciting time to join the Borough as we face many challenges caused by changes in legislation, the cost-of-living crisis and coming out of the pandemic. LBBD is a supportive inclusive employer looking to bring out the best in our staff. We offer a range of benefits such as generous annual leave and study leave entitlement, LG pension scheme, learning & development, flexible working, employee support, support groups and “Wider Wallet” scheme which enable staff to access discounts on many high street stores and local businesses and save money on theme parks, theatre, cinema and eating out. There are also travel and holiday discounts, and health plans.
