Senior Revenues & Benefits Manager - Council

Role: Senior Revenues & Benefits Manager
Contract Length: 3 months initially
Location: Hybrid/Shrewsbury – 1 day on site per week
IR35: Inside
Pay Rate to Intermediary: £45.52 per hour

Spinwell is recruiting for a Senior Revenues & Benefits Manager for an excellent opportunity within the public sector.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SENIOR REVENUES & BENEFITS MANAGER

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.
  • 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 Crisis Resilience Fund.
• Payment of local benefits payments including:
  • Council Tax Support Grants.
  • 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 payment 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.
  • Analysis and insight is provided in a timely way.
  • 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 arrangements are made for timely and accurate payments or receipts within funding guidelines, including:
  • Business Rates-related
    • Investment Zones.
    • Liaison with Government on future plans for local Business Rates retention arrangements and 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.
    • Supporting regional and national fraud and error minimising initiatives.
    • Implementing and delivering new or changed Business Rates reliefs.
  • Benefits-related
    • Council Tax Support Fund.
    • 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 continual professional development of the team in responding to new challenges.
• 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.
  • NNDR.
  • Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).
• Ensure that the Council Tax and NNDR systems are 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.
• Promote and encourage effective debt management and recovery policies and practices in relation to Council Tax and NNDR.
• Ensure all Council Tax and NNDR bills are pursued in accordance with legislation and all relevant IT support systems are kept under continuous review to maintain a programme of continuous improvement.
• Ensure effective liaison with relevant external agencies, organisations and Council officers.
• 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 statistical records for all functions are maintained together with the relevant Team Managers.
• Monitor delivery of the service and develop and collate Performance Indicators, both local and national.
• Provide management with reports and information on Council Tax and NNDR debts outstanding and income collected.
• Demonstrate and apply an analytical and systematic approach to problem solving.
• Lead and manage the Revenue Team Managers.
• Lead and manage the staff development programme, including performance management and training programmes.
• Ensure and evidence a minimum of 95% accuracy of work undertaken.
• Support the timely and efficient discharge of the Revenues and Benefits Service and other activities as requested.
• Represent the Council at local and national events.
• Recommend and authorise debt write-offs within agreed authorisation limits.
• Identify, assess, record and mitigate service risks.
• Manage budgets allocated to the service.
• Prepare and present reports to Committee in respect of hardship and Discretionary Relief applications.
• Deputise for the Revenues and Benefits Service Manager.
• Work closely with other managers to ensure best practice, customer focus and cross-boundary working.
• 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, undertaking recruitment, inductions, team meetings and 1-1s.
• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of Local Taxation legislation and regulations, sharing knowledge with the team.
• Ensure work priorities are identified and work plans managed efficiently to maximise income due to the Authority.
• Contribute to challenging performance targets and service objectives.
• Contribute to and manage operational and procedural change.
• Ensure a prompt, efficient and effective response to all correspondence and enquiries.
• Provide advice, guidance and support to operational staff and resolve complex issues.
• Provide advice, guidance and explain technical legislative concepts to customers.
• Assist the Revenues Manager in ensuring the accurate Annual Billing of Council Tax.
• Plan and arrange appropriate cover for absences.
• Monitor the quality of work undertaken within the Council Tax Teams and identify training needs.
• Work with the QA and Training Team Manager on training and development activities.
• Collaborate with other Team Managers to ensure an efficient one-service approach.
• Ensure and evidence a minimum of 95% accuracy of work undertaken in the team.
• Check and propose accounts for refund.
• Check and recommend debts for write-off where appropriate.
• Attend and, where appropriate, deputise for the Revenues Manager at meetings, seminars and briefings.
• Represent the Council in relation to appeals to the Valuation Tribunal Service or Member Panels.
• Liaise with and ensure positive relationships with other Council teams, bodies and external organisations.
• Communicate with third parties such as employers, DWP and CAB in relation to billing and collection of Council Tax as appropriate.