What's involved with this role: Job Title: Council Tax Collection Officer Ref: Exeter 5278453 Pay rate: £14.13 per hour PAYE Role length: Anticipated 2 - 3 months Working arrangements: Hybrid working – a minimum of 2 days in the office and as the role requires Additional requirement: Please put your desired hourly PAYE pay rate on the top of your CV The role: The role involves collecting Council Tax, managing arrears through recovery actions, and supporting customers with sustainable debt solutions, while ensuring compliance with regulations. It also includes protecting council income, supporting customers to find sustainable ways to meet their debt sand contributing to service improvement and collection rates. You will be an experienced income recovery specialist with strong legal knowledge of Council Tax processes, skilled in negotiation, customer engagement, and financial solutions, supported by proficiency in key housing and revenue systems. You will have a proven ability to work under pressure while ensuring secure, sustainable debt recovery in compliance with regulations. Ideally you will have a IRRV Level 2 Diploma in Local Taxation, Benefits and Advice but proven equivalent experience is also acceptable. Key responsibilities: To monitor and control all customer accounts falling into arrears in relation to the recovery of Council Tax and where appropriate, initiate escalation of recovery action in accordance with principles and regulatory requirements To fully understand each customer’s overall debt to the council and agree appropriate and sustainable payment arrangements to clear that debt To provide advice and support to customers in financial hardship, negotiating payment plans, initiating income and expenditure analysis, and exploring sustainable solutions Daily, proactively preventing debt, by making contact with customers in the early stages of arrears to discuss circumstances and payment arrangements Making appropriate referrals for case working of multi debts to the Senior Collection Officer and dual debts to the Collection Officer To provide a full customer advice and support service by telephone, written and electronic communications and face to face at the council’s offices and to update customer records as necessary To gather information and make recommendations on cases to be considered for write off To undertake all administrative tasks associated with the team including incoming post, daily adjustments to arrangements, checking cases when escalated action is recommended, updating customer records etc. What the client is looking for: IRRV Level 2 Diploma in Local Taxation, Benefits and Advice (QCF) or extensive proven equivalent experience Strong, recent experience in high-pressure income recovery within a customer-focused environment Proficient in Academy Revs & Bens, Capita Housing, Ash, Paris, Access, RKYV Dip, and Workflow systems Thorough knowledge of legal processes for Council Tax recovery Skilled in financial solutions such as payment plans, discretionary funding, and write-offs, with a focus on sustainable income recovery Understanding of financial regulations and rules Well-versed in security protocols for handling payments and sensitive customer data Effective communicator with the ability to engage confidently at all levels Proactive and confident in contacting customers to discuss debt Excellent negotiator who can clearly convey the seriousness of debt situations How to Apply: Quote the Job Title and Reference Number in your application. Submit your CV in Word format. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis—early submission is recommended. We will also add your details to our mail out lists. Please note you may receive details of roles outside of your immediate vicinity, as many candidates are able to relocate temporarily for work. Please disregard any such emails that are not of interest and let us know if you would rather not receive such mailouts and/or if you wish us to delete your details and prefer to apply direct to our advertised roles. If you do not hear from us within three working days, unfortunately your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in working with us. Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for. JE Please note that clients invariably ask us to strip out contact details from CVs before we submit them for consideration. This is always quicker and easier to do if you send your CV to us in Word format, rather than as a PDF please.