The rate is £29.92/Hr(Umbrella- Inside IR35)

Please find JD below.

Hours per week: 35

Location: 222 Upper Street

Duration : 3 Months with scope for extension

PRIMARY JOB FUNCTION

 

• To support the Service objectives of maintaining taxpayers accounts and maximising the tax yield from council tax and business rates. This is essentially concerned with identifying the liable taxpayer at the earliest opportunity, calculating the correct charges after any applying any reliefs that are due and sending accurate bills. Where bills are not paid take enforcement action.

 

• To organise, identify priorities, allocate and distribute the work of the team as directed or lead on this if the Team Manager is unavailable.

 

• Carry out and record quality control checks on work performed by the team, investigating the root causes of poor customer care or poor officer performance and helping to identify solutions.

 

• Training and maintaining the skills of the officers on the team to ‘get it right first time’ and prevent avoidable contact and to reduce duplication of effort and other inefficient practices

 

• To lead on complex projects including the testing, implementation, enhancement and control of the systems and operational processes used within the team, including ensuring the continued security and accuracy of the data held by the team.

 

• Act as a specialist adviser, personally handling complex cases and also assisting others in the service with more complex cases and with questions on regulations or operational issues.

 

• To deputise for the Team Manager as required to ensure continuity in completing tasks through providing support and direction for individuals and the team

 

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

• To undertake all aspects of the accounts administration, including maintenance of accounts in respect of Council Tax and Business Rates.

 

• To identify the best course of enforcement action and undertake the efficient recovery of debts including taking appropriate action in relation to all aspects of billing and enforcement.

 

• Assist in all valuation related matters.

 

• Attend high level meetings and/or workshops with management, internal teams, the Listing Officer, other external organisations to represent the Service.

 

• To assist in activities that ensure or develop the accurate capture of; all dwellings and the identity of the correct liable party and any other activity designed to reduce the risk of the council having reduced income.

 

• Assist with the performance monitoring of individual officers and the whole team.

 

• Provide help, support and advice to other members of staff with revenues enquiries and take responsibility for dealing with the more complex enquiries.

 

• Provide statistical information as required and liaise with other staff to provide information to enable accurate forecasting and the provision of management information. Keep management advised of critical events throughout the year that might adversely affect the Council’s income.

 

• Provide guidance and training for staff on regulations, policies and the operational processes of the team always emphasising practices that support good customer service and the safeguarding of any data held about people and businesses. Ensure that changes in legislation or local policy are incorporated into working practices and procedures.

 

• Deal with vulnerable defaulters in an effective but sensitive manner

 

• Prepare reports on individual cases including the applicability of section 13(A) discounts, hardship reliefs, unpaid debts and write-offs, recommending appropriate action to resolve issues.

 

• Review and check refunds in line with Audit requirements

 

• Ensure that exception reports are dealt with effectively.

 

• Assist with the management of the public at Court hearings and help to deal with contentious and complex issues prior to the hearing.

 

• Deal with complex correspondence and complaints from Members of Parliament, Councillors and advice agencies etc

 

• To assist your line manager and participate as required with generic working where you may have to cover the work of your colleagues (other Technical Officers) in equivalent positions within the Service

 

• To undertake other duties commensurate to the grade of the post

 

 

ADDITIONAL:   

 

• To use and assist others in the use of information technology systems to carry out duties in the most efficient and effective manner.

 

• To achieve agreed service outcomes and outputs, and personal targets, as agreed by the line manager.

 

• To undertake training and constructively take part in meetings, supervision, seminars and other events designed to improve communication and assist with the effective development of the post and post holder.

 

• The post holder is expected to be committed to the Council’s core values of public service, quality, equality and empowerment and to demonstrate this commitment in the way they carry out their duties.

 

• Ensure all the services within the area(s) of responsibility are provided in accordance with the Council’s commitment to high quality service provision to users. To carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the council’s commitment to customer service excellence and ensure compliance with the customer care standards

 

• Ensure that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act, Islington’s information security policies and other legislation.

 

• Carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Council’s Health and Safety Policy and relevant Health and Safety legislation.

 

• At all times carrying out responsibilities/duties within the framework of the Council’s Dignity for all Policy. (Equal Opportunities Policy).

 

Post holder Declaration

Name:                                                                    Signed:       Date:

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The person specification is a picture of skills, knowledge and experience required to carry out the job.  It has been used to draw up the advert and will also be used in the short-listing and interview process for this post.

You should demonstrate on your application form how you meet the following essential criteria.

 

	Department: Finance & Property Services		Section: Revenues & Technical Services
	Post Title: Technical Officer (Operations)		Grade:  PO1
		REQUIREMENTS    E= Essential    (*Assessed by:       A= Application       I= Interview      T= Test  )
		EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE		*A/I/T
	E1	A working knowledge of the regulations that govern local taxation, the identification of properties that should be rated and establishing the correct charge payer to bill		A/I
	E2	Experience of dealing with complex cases which impact on the council’s income or collectible debit and an understanding of the impact of valuations for revenues.		A/I
	E3	Experience of complex customer service delivery, dealing effectively and courteously with members of the public, especially irate tax payers in a public service environment		A/I
	E4	Experience of dealing with customers and/or external partners in resolving Council Tax & Business Rates queries and making decisions based on legislation and local policy.		A/I
		KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITY
	E5	Ability to identify priorities, allocate tasks and monitor the completion of work so that personal or team targets or deadlines are met.  To prioritise tasks when there are conflicting demands.		A/I
	E6	Ability to train and support staff so they understand the operational procedures of the team, the regulations to be applied and how to use the software provided		A/I
	E7	Ability to interpret reports and analyse data to translate the information into statistics and narrative explanation that an audience can easily understand.		A/I
	E8	Ability to liaise effectively with high level contacts from other departments and outside agents to support the achievement of service objectives		A/I
	E9	Ability to interpret and advise on legislative matters and support staff with Revenues queries particularly with respect to identifying liable parties and their properties.		A/I
	E10	Ability to provide and support others to provide a high quality customer service that leaves customers knowing they were listened to, were treated with respect and had their issues dealt with promptly		A/I
	E11	Take responsibility for solving issues; operational, staffing or on behalf of the customer and not wait for or rely on other staff to solve them		A/I
	E12	Ability to deal with complex correspondence and complaints from Members of Parliament, Councillors and advice agencies etc		A/I
	E13	Ability to lead on and manage complex projects		A/I
		COMMITMENT TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
	E14	Ability to adhere to the Council’s Dignity for All policy.		A/I
		SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE POST (Delete or amend as appropriate)
E15		This post needs to meet the requirement of the Baseline Personal Security Standard (a higher level of security checking for posts involving access to government databases)