Revenues & Benefits Manager

Rate: £45.52 per hour (umbrella)
Term: 3 months initially
Hours per week: 37
Location: Shrewsbury - On site 1 day per week. Some flex for the right candidate.
Interview: Via MS Teams

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 the Crisis Resilience Fund

Payment of local benefits payments including

• Council Tax Support Grants and
• 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 payments 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
• Ensuring the 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 that arrangements are made for timely and accurate payments are made or receipts billed within the guidelines and requirements of the funding. Current initiatives to be addressed include:

Business rates-related

• Investment Zones
• Liaison with Government on future plans for local Business Rates retention arrangements and also 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 in line with emerging national initiatives
• Supporting regional and national fraud and error minimising initiatives
• Implementing and delivering new or changed business rates reliefs

Benefits-related

• Council tax support fund (national initiatives)
• 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 to ensure continual professional development of the team in responding to new challenges (e.g. ‘Getting it Right’ and ‘Getting Leadership Right’ corporate initiatives).
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.
Ensure the accurate Annual Billing of NNDR.
Ensure the accurate billing of Business Improvement Districts (BIDS)
Ensure that the Council Tax system is 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.
Ensure that the NNDR system is maintained and used effectively throughout the core and local teams.
Promote and encourage effective debt management and recovery policies and practices in relation to Council Tax and NNDR.
Ensure that all Council Tax and NNDR bills are pursued in accordance with legislation to ensure that together with the Operational Support Manager all relevant IT support systems are kept under continuous review and to maintain a programme of continuous improvement for the service.
Ensure effective liaison with relevant external agencies and organisations and relevant officers of the Council.
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 that all statistical records in respect of each function of the Unit (including tax base calculations, bandings, exemptions, discounts and management information data) are maintained together with the relevant Team Managers.
Monitor delivery of the service and to develop and collate Performance Indicators, both local and national, as directed by the Revenues and Benefits Service Manager.
Provide management with reports and information on Council Tax and NNDR debts outstanding and income collected as requested.
Demonstrate and apply an analytical and systematic approach to problem solving
Lead and manage the Revenue Team Managers in their defined area of responsibility.
Lead and manage the staff development programme for Team Managers and ensure that all staff receive appropriate training and development, undertake performance management, holding them to account for delivery. To develop training programmes for all staff.
Ensure and evidence minimum 95% accuracy of work undertaken in the service
Support as necessary in the timely and efficient discharge of the Revenue’s and Benefits Service and other activities as reasonably requested from time to time by the Revenues and Benefits Service Manager.
Represent Shropshire Council at local and national events
Recommend debt write-off schedules for submission to the Section 151 Officer or appropriate committee, in accordance with Financial Rules.
Authorise the writing off of small account balances where appropriate in the interests of economy and efficiency.
Authorise debt write-off schedules in accordance with agreed authorisation limits
Identify, assess, record and mitigate risks to the service
Manage budgets allocated to the service in accordance with Financial Regulations and procedures.
Prepare and present reports to Committee in respect of applications for hardship and Discretionary Relief.
Deputise for the Revenues and Benefits Service Manager at meetings, seminars, team briefings and other relevant events
Work closely with other managers in the service to ensure that there is best practice, generic staff development, customer focus and maximum efficiency in collaboration and cross boundary working between the two service areas
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, and be responsible for carrying out recruitment activities, undertaking inductions, team meetings and individual 1-1’s/catch-ups
Maintain a comprehensive knowledge and awareness of all aspects of Local Taxation legislation and regulations, sharing your knowledge with the team so that they are appropriately updated
To ensure that work priorities are identified, and work plans managed efficiently and effectively in relation to all appropriate aspects of Council Tax in order to provide a prompt and timely service to customers and to maximise income due to the Authority
To contribute to the development of challenging performance targets through the monitoring of work plans and key service objectives
To contribute to and ensure the implementation and management of change to operational and procedural arrangements
To ensure a prompt, efficient and effective response is provided to all correspondence, enquiries and other forms of communication
To provide advice, guidance and support to operational staff. Specifically, to ensure the resolution of complex and/or disputed issues, without the need for higher referral, unless absolutely necessary
To provide advice, guidance and explain technical legislative concepts to customers.
To assist the Revenues Manager in ensuring the accurate annual billing of Council Tax
To plan for and arrange appropriate cover for absences arising from training, sickness, seminars, team briefings etc. as required and to liaise, where necessary, with the Revenues Manager to ensure that sufficient resources are available to maintain an effective discharge of service duties
To monitor the quality of all work undertaken in the Council Tax Teams and identify any training needs required
Work with the QA and Training Team Manager to input into individual, team and service training and development activities, ensuring that all new starters are included in the Service’s induction programme.
Collaborate with the other team managers in the service to ensure an efficient and effective one-service approach is provided
To ensure and evidence minimum 95% accuracy of work undertaken in the team
To check and propose accounts for refund
To check and recommend debts for write off as appropriate
To attend, and in appropriate cases, deputise for and represent the Revenues Manager at meetings, seminars, team briefings and other relevant events
To represent the Council in relation to appeals to the Valuation Tribunal Service or Member Panels as required
To liaise with and ensure a positive and productive relationship with other Council teams, bodies and external organisations
To communicate with third parties such as employers, DWP, CAB in relation to billing and collection of council tax as appropriate