Council Tax Processing Officer

My client based in the Midlands is looking for an experienced Council Tax Officer to join the team during a very busy time of annual billing. Please see below the daily responsibilities and requirements:

Locations: Midlands

Rate: DOE

Contract: 3 months

Day to day responsibilities:

• Keeping the computer database showing taxpayer's details up to date, for example, when they receive new information about someone moving into or out of a property or claiming a council tax exemption or reduction;
• Preparing and dispatching council tax bills, reminder notices, summonses and other important correspondence;
• Setting up and amending direct debit instructions;
• Reviewing discounts and exemptions to check who is entitled to what;
• Liaising with the Benefits Section to ensure that customers are awarded any council tax benefit that they are entitled to;
• Preparing paperwork and documentary evidence if a resident appeals against the amount of tax to be paid and they go to a tax tribunal;
• Both interviewing defaulters and acting as an advocate to seek to obtain liability orders at Magistrates Court hearings;
• Processing and balancing lists of changes to both banding's and properties received from the Valuation Office Agency;

Essential and desirable skills:

• Experienced in Council Tax Billing and Processing (E)
• Experience of dealing with difficult customer enquiries (E)
• Experience of data processing (E)
• Working knowledge and understanding of Data Protection principles (E)
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (E)
• Experience using Academy Revenues and Benefits system (D)
• IRRV Qualifications (D)