Business rates officer

Actual salary based on 22.5 hours per week: £17,279 - £19,370

We are looking for a methodical and detail-oriented Business Rates Officer to join our revenues team.

In this role, you will play a key part in delivering the customer interface for Business Rates collection, ensuring services are provided in line with legislation, guidance and corporate standards.

You will contribute to a flexible, transparent and cost-effective service that drives customer satisfaction, whilst working with the Economic Development Officers to provide the best solution for our business customers, ensuring that income is maximised through early recovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Collection of Business Rates in a flexible, transparent and cost-effective way.
• Working with Economic Development Officers to provide the best solution for business customers.
• Undertaking day-to-day administration to promote business growth, applying reliefs and discounts in accordance with legislation.
• Ensuring customer enquiries are dealt with in a professional manner.
• Maintaining the business rates property database and liaising with the Valuation Office to process valuation changes.
• Identifying further premises that should be subject to business rates.
• Identifying unoccupied commercial properties to ensure correct liabilities are determined.
• Working with other Council departments to ensure commercial property developments are monitored.
• Ensuring the maintenance, billing, collection and recovery of Business Rates is carried out promptly and effectively, maximising income by dealing with all aspects of routine enforcement and recovery of debt due.
• Proactively negotiating repayment plans for businesses experiencing difficulty.
• Building a strong understanding of the local business landscape, maintaining up-to-date knowledge across the districts.
• Continuously seeking opportunities to improve processes and deliver efficiencies.

Qualifications and Experience

This is a highly customer-focused role, with a significant proportion of your time spent engaging with businesses and stakeholders across a variety of channels.

To be successful, you will need excellent customer service and communication skills, and experience of working across multiple channels.

You should have strong IT skills, a methodical, detail-oriented approach, and sound organisational skills.

Experience in a similar administrative or revenues environment is essential; knowledge of Business Rates systems or legislation would be advantageous.

All applicants must be willing to undergo appropriate checks, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

The Councils reserve the right to close any and all vacancies at any time if there is judged to be a sufficient number of applications received.

South Norfolk and Broadland Councils are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.