Senior Business Rates Officer - Braintree District Council

Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Braintree Council to recruit a Senior Business Rates Officer.

To apply for this role please click here.

The Opportunity:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Business Rates Officer to join our Exchequer team.

Taking a lead on delivering the service to bill and collect Business Rates, you will maintain the Non-Domestic Rate person and property databases, manage the schedule of officers reviewing unoccupied and exempt properties, liaise with customers and provide supervision to the team.

You will also attend court hearings and valuations tribunals and look after the more complex areas of Business Rates, including resolving disputes and complaints, supporting with decisions that require discretion, providing detailed statements and calculations, recovery selection and preparing cases for insolvency, charging order or insolvency.

Experience:

You will need to have experience of Business Rate Magistrate court hearings and valuation tribunals, as well as dealing with complex disputes and complaints.

Good organisational and IT skills are a must, along with the ability to work unsupervised to meet deadlines.

You will also have great interpersonal and customer service skills, with the ability to coach and develop team members.

Accountabilities:

• Maintain the National Non Domestic Rate person/property database, to ensure it is as current as information allows.
• Manage the schedule of officers' undertaking reviews for unoccupied and exempt properties and provide direction and support on updated/new initiatives for maximising the NDR taxbase.
• Attendance at Magistrates Court for Business Rate hearings
• Support the Systems Control team as required by the Senior Systems Control Officer and Revenues & Recovery Manager for Annual Billing.
• To attend Valuation Tribunal hearings in respect of Business Rate appeals.
• Deal with more complex areas of Business Rates.
• Examples for Business Rates may include but are not limited to: the resolution of disputes and complaints, decisions around areas of discretion, provision of detailed statements and calculations, recovery selection and preparation of cases for insolvency, charging order or Insolvency.
• Maintain discretionary relief, discounts and exemptions.
• To issue and process reviews of relief.
• Deal with telephone and counter enquiries of both a general and complex nature.
• Undertake inspections where required, across the district.
• Process correspondence and information received.
• Issue and despatch demand notices, statements and other correspondence.
• Ensure balancing of systems between the Local Authority and Valuation Office
• Deal with complex matters and complaints on behalf of the Revenues & Recovery Manager

For an informal conversation about this role please contact Nicola Ridgewell on 01376 552525.

Why choose Braintree District Council?

Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative and innovative approach which is led by our staff. We are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it. Some of the benefits of working for Braintree Council are:

• Flexible working
• Local government pension scheme
• Learning and development for all staff
• Staff discounts at local businesses
• Staff recognition schemes
• Extensive health and wellbeing programmes including discounted gym membership

To apply for this opportunity, click here.

Closing date for receipt of completed applications: Midnight on Monday 5th February 2024

Please Note - Essex County Council is advertising this role on behalf of Braintree District Council and if successful you will be employed by Braintree District Council.