Revenues & Enforcement Manager
Basildon Borough Council
Job id 4331

East Anglian
Salary £43,251 - £47,299 Pay Band 9

Closing Date 4th of September 2022

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The borough of Basildon is alive with opportunity and has the ingredients to be one of the most successful and desirable places in the South East. As the largest economy in the Thames Estuary outside London, we are incredibly proud of what we have achieved but we are never complacent. We are driving inclusive, sustainable growth to provide opportunity and prosperity for local people and businesses, access to quality homes, vibrant town centres and an enhanced local environment.  

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a successful, nationally recognised Revenues & Benefits Shared Service. The Revenues & Benefits Shared Service between Basildon Borough Council and Brentwood Borough Council is the first and only shared Revenues & Benefits service in Essex, is managed entirely by Basildon Borough Council and is the largest in Essex. 

This is a complex role delivering the administration and recovery of Council Tax, NNDR and corporate debt streams. Working with the wider management team you will help and define the strategy and development of the Revenues & Benefits service as well as managing the day to day operations delivered by a team of 30

The post holder will need significant experience of working within the Revenues & Benefits environment, a strong aptitude of people management, experience of representing the Council at court, extensive knowledge of Council Tax, NNDR collection and enforcement.

In return we will offer you a generous reward package including flexible working. 

If you would like to be part of Basildon’s success, we look forward to receiving your application.  

If you are interested in this role, please submit your CV with a covering letter detailing how you meet each of the requirements of the Person Specification.

MAIN PURPOSE

 

This post is responsible for managing and ensuring the quality and accuracy of the administration and collection of Council Tax, Business Rates, Sundry Debtors and the delivery of an enforcement arm. The post forms part of the Revenues, Benefits & Customer Services Management Team working to promote and implement an integrated, cost effective and efficient means of Revenues and Benefits service delivery.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Revenues and Benefits Service administers the billing and collection of Council Tax, Business Rates liabilities and corporate debt, the assessment of Housing Benefit and the Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme.  The Service is responsible for ensuring that benefits are paid timely and accurately and that the tax base is protected.

 

This post has an integral part to play in managing the culture of the Revenues & Enforcement Section and as a senior manager contributes to the wider aims of the service and the organisation as a whole.

 

The Revenues & Enforcement Manager reports to the Shared Services Revenues & Benefits Manager and has specific responsibility for the provision of a comprehensive range of billing, collection and enforcement services.  This includes account processing, caseload management, fraud prevention and detection and quality management.

 

Excellent team working and partnership skills are an integral part of the role in order to develop and maintain a variety of relationships.  As a member of the Revenues, Benefits & Customer Services management team is expected to contribute to overall direction of the Revenues, Benefits & Customer Service as a whole.

 

The post holder provides advice to the Shared Service Revenues & Benefits Manager on revenues and enforcement matters and are required to ensure that policies and procedures are adhered to and that Legalisation are followed. 

 

Maintaining the quality and integrity of Revenues administration is crucial to ensuring that the council is acting lawfully, responsibly and equitably. 

 

The postholder must work with other senior managers and elected members to ensure that all staff are aware of the importance of maintaining an effective service. The Revenues & Enforcement Manager is required to seek constant improvement in the service through efficiencies and by adopting a positive approach to opportunities for shared service provision where this will be to the benefit of Basildon Council, its partners and stakeholders. 

 

MAIN DUTIES

 

1. Manage the day-to-day operation of the Revenues & Enforcement Section, whilst seeking to promote efficiency and continuous improvement.

 

2. Member of the Revenues, Benefits & Customer Services management team, promoting a cross-cutting way of working to deliver an integrated Revenues, Benefits and Customer Service.

 

3. To act as a deputy for the Shared Services Revenues & Benefits Manager and matrix manage across the entire Revenues, Benefits & Customer Services department.

 

4. Performance management, including service performance and staff management within the Revenues & Enforcement Section in accordance with the corporate timetable, with outcomes followed-up and ensuring that performance is reviewed on a regular basis.

 

5. Liaison with the relevant government bodies and other internal and external stakeholders including other Councils and Departments of the Councils.

 

6. To act as an advocate for the council in implementing new schemes, such as CTR, as well as other reliefs, grants, discounts and exemptions.

 

7. To support at committees, boards and relevant working groups on behalf of Basildon Council and shared service partners where required.

 

8. To liaise with the Shared Service Revenues & Benefits Manager and key stakeholders, ensuring that information is reconciled, accurate and available to facilitate government returns and to enable responses to audit recommendations and corporate actions.

 

9. To ensure that administration, relief, grant, discount and exemption application forms, decision notices, letters are designed to promote efficient communications and processing, promoting digital access through our customer portal to staff, residents and partners.

 

10. Interpret new legislation and policy developments, to evaluate and implement consequential implications for systems and resources and to agree training requirements.

 

11. To be accountable for ensuring that good quality and accurate collection, enforcement and debt advice, information and guidance is available and accessible to our staff, residents and partners.

 

12. To ensure that callers, correspondence or interviews raising matters of a complex or technical nature are dealt with efficiently and effectively by appropriately trained and experienced staff or by personal attention where necessary.

 

13. To attend and present benefits and council tax appeal cases, on an ad-hoc basis, at either the Tribunal service or the Upper Tribunal Service.

 

14. To attend user groups, working parties and seminars where participation will be in the interests of the Revenues, Benefits & Customer Service or the wider interests of the council.

 

15. To ensure that the collection expenditure is reconciled whilst working with internal and external audit to maximise income for the authority and shared service.

 

16. Ensure that use of Local Authority and Government systems and communications with DWP through the Customer Information System (CIS) or its equivalent are properly implemented and undertaken by the relevant staff in accordance with agreed procedures.

 

17. To fulfil the responsibilities of Authorising Officer in terms of applications for surveillance made under The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and to appear at court or at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, in connection with any proceedings regarding the same.

 

18. You must ensure that you comply at all times with the General Data Protection Act, relating to personal information held by the Council. Any employee who mis-uses, accesses or discloses personal data relating to a living individual without checking that it is to be used for an authorised purpose relevant to the Authority, may be prosecuted in a Criminal Court, as well as facing disciplinary action

 

19. Any other duties appropriate to the post: These other duties must be equivalent to or below the salary and status of the role and, where appropriate, under the Equality Act 2010, due consideration must be given to any employees with a “protected characteristic”

 

20. Undertake all the duties within the framework of Equal Opportunities

 

21. You must cooperate in all matters relating to Health and Safety and implement all procedures for your job role. The identification of Health and Safety related risks within the working environment must be highlighted to your management

Job Description