Account Manager

Old Moat; Manchester; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Manchester City Council is looking for a dedicated individual to enhance the administration and collection of Council Tax in Manchester. You will be part of a proactive team, driving initiatives and supporting recovery cases. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical, planning, and communication skills. Join a diverse environment that values contributions toward meaningful change in public services while enjoying generous benefits, including holiday allowances and pension plans.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Local government pension scheme

Enhanced parental and carers leave

Learning and development opportunities

Up to 3 days volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Good literacy and numeracy skills for documentation and calculations.
• Ability to understand and quickly assimilate complex information.
• Demonstrated ability to organise multiple tasks effectively.

Responsibilities

• Drive initiatives to enhance Council Tax administration.
• Manage advanced recovery cases for Council Tax.
• Act as point of contact for large debtor account reviews.

Skills

Communication Skills

Analytical Skills

Planning and Organising Skills

Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills

ICT Skills

Administrative Skills

Strategic Thinking Skills

Job description

About The Role

Working hours: 35 hours per week. Contract type: Permanent. Closing date: 11.59pm, 15 February 2026. Interview method: in person. This role is subject to BPSS clearance. You will therefore be required to consent to and comply with BPSS checking requirements prior to commencing in this post. This check involves verification of identity; nationality and immigration status; employment history (past 3 years) and basic criminal record check.

The role will be on the South Recovery Team aimed at driving forward a series of initiatives to enhance the administration and collection of Council Tax. The initiatives may include:

• Targeting large property owners
• Using information from HMRC to negotiate with debtors and apply Attachments of Earnings (AoEs) or Attachments of Benefit
• Supporting the further development and future implementations of systems to help benefit collection
• Managing advanced recovery cases while also supporting the wider council tax services which could include progressing cases to Bankruptcy
• Reviewing Recovery Accounts for Large Debtor balances acting as a point of contact
• Working on absconder accounts to secure payment on arrears cases

This list is not exhaustive.

This role is part of a team who help maximise collection of Council Tax to enable Manchester City Council to provide the best service to the residents of the city.

This is an excellent chance to be part of significant changes within the Council Tax Service, working on various initiatives and making a real impact on the collection of Council Tax, which funds vital services.

Successful candidates will demonstrate a proactive attitude, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, excellent communication skills, and a solid understanding of Council Tax administration, collection, and recovery. If you have any questions about the role, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you are successful, you will join an existing team of dedicated officers who contribute to maximise collection of Council Tax in line with the Council's recovery policies and help to maintain collection acting as a point of contact if needed for residents in need of assistance in making ongoing payments. For an informal discussion, please contact the hiring manager, Jacqueline Catlin, at 0161 219 6197 and [e-mail] to arrange a convenient time to discuss the role.

About The Candidate

We would love to hear from you if you have experience of:

Essential requirements for the role:

• Communication Skills: Good literacy and numeracy skills to undertake calculations and produce letters and other documentation. Demonstrates an understanding of the views of others and communicates in a realistic and practical manner using appropriate language and medium, listen attentively to views and issues of others and responds to issues arising.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to review, understand and quickly assimilate complex information and concepts and compare information from a number of different sources.
• Planning and Organising Skills: Demonstrate the ability to organise multiple tasks in the most effective way and allocate time and energy according to the task complexity and priority.
• Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills: Is able to make effective decisions on a day-to-day basis, taking ownership of decisions, demonstrating sound judgement in escalating issues where necessary, be logical in thinking and explain reasoning behind decisions or actions taken.
• ICT Skills: Ability to use multiple applications, systems and associated software packages.
• Administrative Skills: Good level of literacy and numeracy skills to undertake calculations and produce letters and other documentation.
• Strategic Thinking Skills: Understands the importance of organisational strategy and how they contribute to it.

The experience below would be beneficial but is not essential:

• Knowledge of Council Tax and/or NNDR and associated legislation to the extent that it can be practically applied.
• Knowledge of debt recovery as it relates to Council Tax and/or NNDR and the legislation, policies and practices of the service that ensure income is maximised.
• An understanding of the principles of data management and security.
• Knowledge of Academy Council Tax system and NEC Document Imaging System

About Us

We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities.

Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone.

Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours:

• We take time to listen and understand
• We work together and trust each other
• We show that we value our differences and treat each other fairly
• We ‘own it’ and we’re not afraid to try new things
• We’re proud and passionate about Manchester

Benefits we offer

• Generous holiday allowance- Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service. You can purchase up to two additional weeks.
• A buzzing pension- You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits. Includes life cover of three-times your salary as a lump sum.
• Enhanced parental and carers leave- Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
• Brilliant perks- Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
• Learn and grow- We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive. Take part in a diverse set of learning opportunities, from workshops and training sessions through to apprenticeships and qualifications. All this begins with our comprehensive onboarding process.
• A Good Employment Charter member- We are committed to offering secure, flexible work and embedding fairness into everything we do. We review pay annually, recognize three trade unions, and are constantly working to offer the best possible health and wellbeing support throughout all stages of your working life.
• Up to 3 days volunteering leave- Give back to the community with three days pro-rate of paid volunteering leave, in addition to existing benefits.

Creating an Inclusive Team at Manchester City Council

At Manchester City Council, we’re dedicated to creating a workplace that truly reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities, Disabled people and young people.

Support During the Process

• Interview Adjustments: Let us know if you need any adjustments to demonstrate your suitability during the interview.
• Accessible Formats: Our ReciteMe tool can be accessed through the "Accessibility tools" button at the top of our careers page. This tool offers features like text-to-speech, translation into multiple languages, and adjustable text size and colour to make our site more accessible for everyone.

Guaranteed Assessment Scheme

We guarantee assessments for applicants who meet the recruiting panels minimum shortlisting requirements for the role and identify with at least one of the criteria below:

• Members of the Armed Forces or veterans
• Current or former care leavers
• Have a disability or long-term condition

When You Join Us

We’re a Disability Confident Employer, offering:

• A workplace adjustment hub which provides specialist support, advice and guidance to ensure you have the adjustments needed to thrive at work.
• Disabled Staff Network, Neurodiversity Staff Network and Mental Health Staff Network that provides a safe inclusive space to share experiences and opportunities to influence council practice.
• A strong commitment to ensuring all information adheres to accessibility standards and that our workplaces are accessible and disability-friendly.

For more information about the role or any adjustments, email [e-mail].

What we will need from you if you're successful

In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This is not a role we consider eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route based on Manchester City Council policy. Candidates are therefore encouraged to consider their own right to work options without the requirement for Manchester City Council sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Checks

If you are successful, the pre-employment checks required will depend on the role you’ve applied for. As a guide, these checks may include:

• Proof of Right to Work: You’ll need to provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK. Please note, visa sponsorship is not guaranteed for this role.
• References: We’ll require references from your current and previous employer(s).
• Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) Clearance: BPSS clearance is primarily used for roles that involve access to government data, systems, or assets. It ensures that individuals meet basic security requirements and can be trusted with sensitive information

These checks are an important part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our workforce and the community we serve.

Other relevant information

We want everyone to be able to be themselves at work and give their best. If you need additional support to undertake the duties of the role, we’ll make every effort to source any necessary aids, adaptations or equipment. If, however, any task proves to be unachievable, we will look at redesigning parts of the role.

For more information about the role, please ensure that you read the role profile attached.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

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