Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Senior Revenue Officer (Business Rates and Valuation) |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Finance |
Service |
Corporate Debt and Revenue |
Business unit |
Revenue |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Business Rate and Valuation Team Leader |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Revenue Manager |
Salary grade |
G |
JE ref |
FIN82 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To work within government legislation covering Council Tax Business Rates and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and to adhere to Torbay Council policies.
- To effectively and efficiently maintain the Councils’ systems relating to Business Rates and BIDs and Council Tax, through information received from customers, rating agents, internal departments, and external agencies.
- To be responsible for accurate billing of Business Rates which raises income so the council can fulfil its corporate responsibilities.
- To work in conjunction with the English Riviera BID ensuring efficient invoicing and collection of the BID levy that funds their economic activity, enabling them to deliver the services detailed in the company's published business plan.
- Preparing detailed statement of accounts daily that include financial transactions relating to Business Rates and BIDs in a way that effectively communicates the information to taxpayers.
- To respond to Business Rate and BID (Business Improvement Districts) enquiries daily by telephone, face to face, web, email, or letter in a professional way that promotes accuracy, clarity, and resolution at the earliest opportunity. and which supports the organisations service priorities, while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.
- To assist the team leader by acting as a point of contact for the visiting officers and processing team to enable effective processing of Business Rate, BIDs and Council Tax.
- To provide professional and efficient support, advice, and guidance daily to the front-line Customer Services section, Corporate Debt, Benefits, Environmental Health, Planning, Building Control, Torbay Development Agency, and SWISCO within Torbay Council to allow these departments to carry out their duties effectively.
- To provide professional and efficient support, advice, and guidance daily, by providing additional advice and support to HMRC Valuation Office Agency (VOA), Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) Analyse Local and other local authorities to allow these organisations to carry out their duties effectively.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- Ensuring the team have had adequate training and possess appropriate knowledge to produce accurate Business Rate bills, BID invoices and Council Tax bills.
- To challenge current working practice, ensuring that processes are conducive in providing efficient Business Rate and BID billing and income collection for the council.
- To assist in increasing the Business Rate tax base, therefore maximising income through a process of identifying property changes that result in either an increase in rateable value for commercial premises, or where the property is classed as a composite dwelling, an increase in the Council Tax band.
- To assist in identifying fraudulent activity reducing lost income to the council.
- To manage and be responsible for your own work, by ensuring processes are completed accurately as soon as practical to produce Council Tax and Business Rate bills and BID invoices for residents. Efficient processing allows residents and businesses to budget effectively contributing to their financial planning.
- To be responsible for processing of Business Rate Valuation Office Agency schedules ensuring the council’s property rating records and entries on Council Tax list are accurately maintained.
- To ensure the ESFA are given accurate information for payment of Business Rates for Torbay schools.
- To prepare casework surrounding complex Business Rate cases and to recommend further action to the Team Leader/Revenue Manager to secure payment of outstanding money.
- To monitor awards of Small Business Rate Relief and Discretionary Charity Relief ensuring that the reductions are awarded in accordance with legislation and council policy.
- To support and embrace Torbay Council’s core values of being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable – always with integrity.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- To be responsible daily for accurately maintaining Business Rate and Business Improvement District Records records. This includes applying the appropriate reductions e.g., Small Business Rate Relief, Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief, Charity Relief, Hardship Relief.
- To make sure that an up-to-date knowledge is obtained of Business Rates legislation and statutory reliefs – including Small Business Rate relief, Retail Hospitality and Leisure relief, Green Energy relief, completion notice rules and cash cap regulations all of which effect the amount payable by a ratepayer.
- To possess an in-depth knowledge of how Business Rates links with the Business Improvement District business plan implemented by the English Riviera BID company.
- To be responsible for processing schedules of alteration to the local rating list as issued to by HMRC Valuation Office Agency (VOA) on a twice weekly basis, ensuring that council records match those of the VOA. Additional knowledge of Council Tax valuation is required for properties that are liable for both taxes.
- Through knowledge gained of the principles in valuation, to identify when it is appropriate to refer cases to HMRC VOA for a review of the rating assessment.
- To work with Analyse Local, to ensure that changes to existing commercial premises as well as new buildings are reported to HMRC VOA. This ensures the tax base is accurately maintained.
- To understand the principles of transitional relief and to be able to explain how this effects the amount of Business Rates payable by ratepayers.
- To assist in the weekly calculation of interest and income tax on overpayments following changes in the rating list and preparing statutory tax certificates for ratepayers.
- To be responsible for checking accounts that are in credit on a weekly basis, processing refunds on the back-office system via BACS transfer, and making decisions when payment is not
- Reconciling refund payments against the council’s financial information system.
- To be responsible for resolving complex enquiries involving liability, discounts, exemptions, valuation, and payment. Enquires may have been escalated by team members who require additional support.
- To identify vulnerable ratepayers who require additional support due to their circumstances e.g., elderly, disabled, and utilise the visiting team where appropriate.
- Acquire and maintain an up-to-date knowledge of changes to both Business Rate legislation and rating legislation that governs the way HMRC Valuation Office Agency make changes to the local rating list.
- Prioritise and manage own workload daily and support team members in managing their own work to ensure customers receive their Business Rate bills without unnecessary delay.
- To prepare rating records for Torbay schools and to submit information through the ESFA portal resulting in payment of Business Rates.
- To challenge information provided by customers to ensure the correct information is available to process changes to Business Rates, BID and Council Tax records at the earliest opportunity.
- Attend/participate in fortnightly team meetings, appraisals, training and development course within Learning and Development plans and skills matrices.
- To work within and adhere to the principles of the General Data Protection Regulations.
- As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Normal working environment and condition at home or in the office.
- May have to visit vulnerable clients to explain face to face.
7. Physical demands of the post
8. Specific resources used by the post
- Laptop and PC.
- Telephone.
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External
- Customers of the service including general public
- Letting agents
- Property owners
- Supported accommodation providers
- Other accommodation providers
- Members
- Social Services
- Probation
- Other local authorities
- ESFA
- NHS Care Trust
- Age concern
- Brixham Does Care
- Pension Disability Service
- Her Majesty Revenues and Customs
- Ombudsman
- Valuation Tribunal
- Any other voluntary and statutory agencies,
- Immigration Service
- Police Fire Service
- Citizens Advice
- Internal
- All Areas within Benefits
- Customer Services
- Housing Options
- Housing Standards
- Planning
- Building Control
- Environmental health
- Auditors
- Counter Fraud
- Other council departments as required
- Councillors and Members of Parliament
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children's Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
- The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
- You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If this post is a customer facing role and meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
- If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
Senior Revenue Officer (Business Rates and Valuation) |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Finance |
Service |
Corporate Debt and Revenue |
Business unit |
Revenue |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- To be able to work on own initiative and use own discretion and judgement.
- Effective verbal and communication skills, translating complex decisions often to vulnerable, potentially violent, upset, or bereaved people.
- To be numerate and literate and have effective working knowledge of Microsoft Teams/ Office and other computer packages as appropriate.
- To be an excellent team player.
- The ability to accurately update relevant databases and document imaging/workflow systems by accurate entry of data whilst achieving accuracy and output targets as defined by the business unit.
- To ensure all necessary actions are taken to deliver service priorities and maintain customer satisfaction levels.
- The ability to manage regular change effectively.
- The ability to work quickly and accurately to meet conflicting deadlines either as part of a team or as an individual.
- The ability to make effective decisions.
- To be willing to learn and develop new skills
- The ability to remain polite and courteous in demanding situations often while assisting difficult customers.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Previous experience of working in a finance role.
- Previous experience of working in an administrative team environment.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- Extensive knowledge of Business Rates Business Improvement Districts and Council Tax.
- Extensive knowledge and skills to identify conclusion to disputes.
- Effective working knowledge of reporting and IT skills.
Desirable knowledge
- Working knowledge of Council Tax and Business Rate and Debt collection procedures.
- Detailed knowledge of Council Tax, Business Rates and Business Improvement District Legislation.
- Preparation and presentation of financial statements.
- Court and Tribunal process.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Essential experience and achievements.
- Experience of working independently.
- Experience of decision making.
- Experience of investigating and interviewing people in a respectful manner.
- Experience of working in a customer service environment.
- Experience of working in a multi discipline role.
- Experience of using Microsoft Teams/Office (or similar online application.
- Experience of quality checking.
- Experience of working with Service Level agreements and customer complaints.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Working with other teams
- Experience of working in a Finance Role
- Experience of working in an administrative team environment.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Educated to A level standard or equivalent, or demonstrable work-related experience.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- IRRV technician.
- ECDL in IT or equivalent.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrate a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/Southwest/UK to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate hybrid working.