We are looking for an experienced and motivated Local Taxation Recovery Lead to manage our technical arrears team (EA returns) and play a key role in the effective recovery of Council Tax arrears. This is a new role created to lead a team of two Senior Local Taxation officers specialising in the effective collection and enforcement of aged / persistent debt.

Do you thrive on complex casework, enjoy leading others, and are committed to delivering a fair, proportionate and customer‑focused recovery service?

Are you looking to develop specialist technical and leadership skills? 

If your answer is yes, then we want to hear from you!

All about the Role 

This is an exciting opportunity for a knowledgeable local taxation professional, reporting to the Revenues Team Leader, you will oversee the technical arrears team responsible for the recovery and enforcement of difficult and high‑value debts. You will manage two Senior Council Tax Officers and provide leadership, expert advice and quality assurance on complex and legally sensitive cases

You will act as the council's specialist point of contact for escalated recovery matters, including charging orders, insolvency, court action and complaints, working closely with solicitors, enforcement agents, internal stakeholders and external partners.

A key part of the role is balancing robust income recovery with vulnerability awareness, welfare considerations and excellent customer care.

Key Responsibilities

This is a challenging and rewarding role with real impact on council income and customer outcomes. Duties include:

• Leading and supporting the technical arrears team dealing with complex and challenging Council Tax and NNDR debts
• Providing expert guidance on enforcement remedies, ensuring actions are lawful, proportionate and policy‑compliant
• Liaising with solicitors on charging orders, insolvency, orders for sale and other legal proceedings
• Quality‑checking legal instructions, witness statements and court documentation
• Presenting liability order applications in court when required
• Investigating and responding to complaints, Member and MP enquiries and Ombudsman correspondence
• Making informed decisions on write‑offs, refunds and recovery strategies
• Working collaboratively across the council and with external partners to maximise collection outcomes
• Supporting continuous improvement, training colleagues and developing procedures

All about You

Do you have significant experience working in Council Tax and/or Business Rates recovery, with in‑depth knowledge of legislation, court processes and enforcement options? Are you confident handling complex and sensitive casework, including cases involving vulnerability, insolvency or disputed liability.

Can you bring strong leadership and people‑management skills?

Do you have the ability to interpret legislation and apply it accurately to complex situations? 

Do you have a customer‑focused approach with sound professional judgement?

You will also have excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience responding to complaints and high‑profile enquiries. You will be  confident working in a performance‑driven environment with competing priorities

Essential requirements:

• Detailed knowledge of Council Tax recovery and enforcement processes
• Experience of managing or supporting complex recovery cases
• Ability to line manage and support a small team
• Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent)
• Willingness to work flexibly, including occasional work outside normal hours

Desirable:

• IRRV (Tech) qualification
• Experience using Capita/MRI One (Academy) Revenues & Benefits systems
• Knowledge of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support frameworks

All about our Benefits 
We value our colleagues and have developed a number of benefits in addition to our generous annual leave starting at 25 days + bank holidays, sick pay and local government pension scheme… 

• Access to a range of benefits via our Employee Benefits Platform, including in-store and online discounts as well as our Cycle to Work and Home & Electronics schemes 
• Buy up to 10 days additional annual leave (pro-rata)  
• Access to car lease scheme 
• Take your bank holidays flexibly to better suit your personal circumstances 
• Make Additional Voluntary Contributions (Shared Cost AVCs) to your pension with tax and National Insurance savings 
• Access to development opportunities including apprenticeships to support your personal and professional growth 
• Paid volunteering hours each year so you can make a positive impact on our community during your normal working day 
• Access to our equality, diversity and inclusion network 
• Opportunities to receive Employee Recognition Awards 

All about our Commitments 
We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, dedicated to fostering diversity, advancing equity, and building an inclusive workplace for everyone. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and particularly encourage those from underrepresented groups, including disabled people, care leavers, and individuals from minority ethnic communities. Your unique perspectives and experiences are encouraged and valued and will play a vital role in our success. 

We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible as possible. If you are disabled and require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please contact pccrecruitment@peterborough.gov.uk  we will work with you to meet your needs. 

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Standard Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.