Were recruiting an experienced Head of Revenues and Benefits to lead a high:performing local authority service, overseeing the full scope of statutory Revenues and Benefits functions including Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefits and income collection.
This is a senior leadership role with a strong focus on the Collection Fund, system re:procurement and service transformation. The successful candidate will act as the Councils lead expert on Revenues and Benefits legislation, advising senior leadership and driving performance, compliance and financial stability across a large and complex service.
The Role
: Lead and manage the Councils Revenues and Benefits service, overseeing c135 staff across multiple teams delivering Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefits and income collection services.
: Take strategic responsibility for the Collection Fund, ensuring effective billing, collection and financial control across Council Tax (c GBP 200m) and Business Rates (c GBP 65m).
: Oversee the administration and delivery of Housing Benefits (c GBP 100m) and Council Tax Support, ensuring support is targeted to vulnerable residents and statutory requirements are met.
: Lead on sundry debt recovery (c GBP 20m), developing and implementing debt strategies to maximise collection and manage recovery processes.
: Oversee the administration of discretionary schemes including hardship payments, crisis grants and other financial support mechanisms.
: Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, government policy and regulatory requirements across Revenues and Benefits services.
: Act as the Councils lead advisor to senior leadership, including the s151 Officer, on all Revenues and Benefits matters, strategy and performance.
: Lead on system re:procurement and digital transformation, ensuring systems support efficient, automated and customer:focused service delivery.
: Oversee customer access channels including online, contact centre, face:to:face and correspondence, ensuring a high:quality resident experience.
: Manage enforcement activity including recovery processes, court action and bailiff engagement where required.
: Lead financial monitoring, forecasting and reporting, supporting budget management, audit requirements and government returns.
: Develop and embed performance frameworks to monitor productivity, mitigate risk, prevent fraud and drive continuous service improvement.
: Build and maintain strong internal and external partnerships, representing the Council at senior level and driving collaborative working.
: Promote a culture of continuous improvement, learning and innovation to enhance service delivery and resident outcomes.
: Deputise for senior leadership and contribute to corporate priorities, strategy and cross:council initiatives.
Key Requirements
: Extensive experience operating at senior level within a Revenues and Benefits service in a local authority or similar environment.
: Strong expertise in Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefits and income collection, including Collection Fund management.
: Proven experience leading large, multi:disciplinary teams and delivering high:performing services.
: Strong understanding of relevant legislation, regulation and government policy relating to Revenues and Benefits.
: Experience overseeing or leading system implementation or re:procurement within a Revenues and Benefits environment.
: Demonstrable experience improving collection rates, service performance and customer outcomes.
: Strong financial acumen with experience managing large budgets, forecasting and audit processes.
: Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships, including senior leadership, members and external partners.
: Excellent leadership, communication and strategic thinking skills.
: Ability to drive service transformation, innovation and continuous improvement.
What You Need to Do Now
If you are interested in this role and m