Billing and Recovery Officer

Kettering

Contract
£19.23 per hour PAYE or £25 per hour limited paid via Umbrella Company inside IR35

Our client is looking for an experienced Billing and Recovery Officer.

* All aspects of billing and recovery for Council tax.

* Council tax billing and recovery. Experience of using Academy system, processing account amendments, reviewing accounts at various stages of recovery in accordance with local and legislative guidelines. Dealing with customer enquiries in a variety of formats. Experience of business rates would be useful but not essential.

* Basic DBS required

* Must have Academy. Knowledge of both council tax billing and recovery (as opposed to one or the other)

* Experience in using Academy system. Confident in processing on all aspects of council tax system including moves, discounts, arrangements etc

* Knowledge of council tax legislation and its practical application

* Confident dealing with the public both over the phone and in writing via email and letter

* Experienced in both council tax billing and recovery

RESPONSIBILITIES:

* To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of Council Tax and recovery legislation and case law and related policies and procedures.

* To undertake the administration for the recovery of Council Tax initiating recovery action in accordance with legislation and Council policy including issuing final notices and summonses, attachment of earnings, referring cases to external enforcement agents, issue of liability orders.

* To deal with customer enquiries resulting from recovery action by phone, via letter and email including negotiating and making payment arrangements always providing a good customer service.

* To deal with enforcement agents returned cases and make decisions on the next course of action.

* To assist with the compilation of statistics and reports and to assist with testing of new software releases for the Council tax system.

* To liaise with the Seniors to ensure that the Council's approach to corporate debt recovery and enforcement is joined up and in accordance with legislation.

* To attend court representing the authority for Court actions relating to Council Tax liability as required.

* Prioritise and manage own workloads to ensure objectives and targets are achieved and customer requirements are met.

* To demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people's behavioural, physical, social and welfare needs.

* Any other duties and responsibilities that may be reasonably allocated

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:

* Demonstrate the ability to take on board and understand complex legislation

* Strong communication and negotiation skills and ability to communicate with all customers, partners, ability to make difficult decisions showing tact and diplomacy.

* Proven ability to work on own initiative to achieve targets and deadlines and to use own discretion and judgment

* Proven ability to prioritise large volumes of complex work to meet tight deadlines and targets while having regard to urgent more vulnerable cases and the need to be accurate

* Strong organisational and time management skills

* Ability to demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people's behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs

* Ability to work as part of a team and to adopt a flexible approach to work.

* Experience of processing Council Tax accounts and recovery work

* Demonstrable knowledge and experience of using Academy.

PLEASE ONLY apply if you have the necessary skills, experience and expertise.

The first part of our recruitment process is to send your CV. Should you be short listed Colbern Limited will contact you within 5 days or we may contact you about other job opportunities. Colbern Limited along with our clients are an equal opportunities employer