Business Rates Officer (NEC)

Specific Responsibilities Key tasks and accountabilities are intended to be a guide to the range and level of work expected of the post holder. This is not an exhaustive list of all tasks that may fall to the post holder and employees will be expected to carry out such other reasonable duties which may be required from time to time.
1. Deal with all internal and external customers enquiries in a courteous, approachable, helpful and professional manner
2. Deal with customer enquiries on the telephone, by post, e-mail, internet, fax and in person within specified timescales
3. Ensure customer enquiries and complaints are effectively resolved liaising with other departments as necessary
4. Provide information, support and advice to stakeholders and other services in order to meet the Council's overall standards in service delivery and customer care
5. Identify training needs, assist in preparation and delivery of training and to undertake training as required.
6. Ensure cash collection is maximised.
7. Keep the Business Rates Team Leader and Revenues Manager informed of all matters concerning the post holder's workload on a regular basis.
8. Consistently meet performance targets and standards.
9. Maintain performance statistics.
10. Prepare procedures and documentation in accordance with quality standards
11. Prepare invoices for payment.
12. Assist with the preparation of management information, financial information and final accounts within agreed timescales
13. Assist in the completion of statutory and other statistical returns
14. Prepare schedules for the setting of program parameters in accordance with operational requirements and to set the parameters and run batch
programmes as required.
15. Control and reconcile interfaces and suspense accounts and the Local Valuation List.
16. Identify cases suitable for recovery and have appropriate skills to choose the best method of recovery to ensure payment.
17. Liaise with external suppliers and outside agents to ensure operation within the service requirements.
18. Ensure that Business Rates debts are collected in accordance with the legislation, procedures, codes of practice and Data Protection Act.
19. Amend and update existing accounts with relevant amendments in accordance with procedures.
20. Obtain relevant information, make payment arrangements with customers and process methods of payment changes.
21. Prepare timely refunds after carrying out appropriate checks in accordance with the office guidelines.
22. Prepare cases and information for Council's Legal representatives and liaise where necessary
23. Institute cases for the recovery process where appropriate.
24. Undertake tasks relating to cases where there are arrangements, disputes, reviews by debtors or their representatives or any stage of recovery.
25. Wide knowledge of legislation affecting Business Rates Billing, Collection and Recovery, including Magistrates and County Court remedies and insolvency legislation and the rights of bailiffs (Enforcement Agents) in debt recovery.
26. Interview customers and make arrangements for payment.
27. Undertake tracing of absconded customers and submit cases for write off following office procedures.
28. Knowledge of tracing systems and procedures and to utilise them responsibly.
29. Deal with a write off or appropriation in accordance with office procedures.
30. Action listings and reports within timescales as requested by the Business Rates Team Leader or Revenues Manager.
31. Authorise Solicitors in accordance with procedures.
32. Identify credit balances for refund or reallocation.
33. Deal with Direct Debits in a timely manner.
34. Deal with returned cheques in a timely manner.
35. Ensure all documents are filed/scanned in appropriate areas in accordance with procedures.
36. Arrange for all documentation to be archived and sent to off site storage as and when required.
37. Report immediately any system faults identified.
38. Refer where necessary any debt considered for corporate collection.
39. Ensure that all documents are served/issued within the statutory timescales.
40. Identify and investigate fraudulent activity within the section and by customers.
41. Attend meetings as required.
42. Undertake the Administration, Collection, and Recovery of Business Improvement District Accounts.
43. Undertake any other reasonable duties consistent with the purpose of the job.
44. Ensure that Health & Safety procedures are adhered to.
45. Act as the Council's advocate and representative at Court Hearings and to prepare all the necessary paperwork, in respect of Summons Complaint,
Liability Order Hearings, and Committal Proceedings.
46. Action system listings and exception reports as required.
47. Carry out ad-hoc visits as required.
48. Calculate and refund interest payments as appropriate.
49. Deal with applications for all reliefs as appropriate or required.
50. Any other duties within the competence of the post holder, which may be required from time to time., At BSS, we uphold the highest standards of screening and trust for every role. Successful applicants will undergo a comprehensive pre-compliance process in line with the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). This includes:

• Identity Verification: Confirming the authenticity of your identity documents.



• Employment History Checks: Reviewing your occupation history for the past 3-5 years (depending on client requirement).



• Right to Work Verification: Ensuring you have the legal right to work in the UK.



• Unspent Conviction Check: Conducting a Basic DBS Check to reveal any unspent convictions.


These checks are crucial in ensuring a secure and trustworthy work collaboration, aligning with best practices used in government and public sectors. While primarily standard in these sectors, our adoption of pre-compliance checks across all roles reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and trust in our recruitment process.


• 5 years Business Rates(NNDR) experience


• A minimum of 2 years NEC (Northgate) system experience, Local Government: 3 years (required)


• Business Rates(NNDR): 5 years (preferred)


• NEC (Northgate) system: 2 years (preferred)