Business Support Officer

Positive Employment; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A government client organization is seeking a Business Rates Officer for a temporary 3-month contract, potentially extendable. The role is primarily remote but requires flexibility to attend the office if necessary. Responsibilities include maintaining systems, assessing liabilities for business rates, negotiating debt arrangements, and ensuring accurate income management from council taxes. Experience in business rates is essential, with a pay of £20.50 per hour and a working schedule of 35 hours from Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• Experience in business rates assessments and billing processes.
• Ability to explain rateable value changes to customers.
• Proven skill in negotiating debt arrangements.

Responsibilities

• Maintain systems using information from various sources.
• Assess liability for Business Rates and ensure accurate billing.
• Ensure effective administration of empty properties.

Skills

Business Rate Experience

Analytical Skills

Negotiation Skills

Job description

PositiveEmployment is currently recruiting a Business Rates Officer for our client government organisation in South Hams in Devon. This role is a temporary contract initially for 3 months with the possibility to extend. Can be FULLY REMOTE, but must be flexible to attend the office if required. BUSINESS RATE EXPERIENCE ESSENTIAL.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Effectively maintain the systems through information received from customers, agents, internal departments and external agencies.
• Assess liability for Business Rates and correctly bill including applying appropriate reliefs and exemptions.
• Understand and be able to explain to customers how changes in rateable value impact the amount they are required to pay.
• Ensure the effective administration of empty properties by making necessary proactive enquiries with estate agents, solicitors and property owners.
• Identify and refer properties needing a visit to the Revenue Inspections Officers.
• liaise with the Valuation Office Agency regarding amendments to the Rating List and ensure that all schedules and transitional relief certificates are actioned promptly, thus ensuring the organisation’s rateable value is accurate and income from Business Rates is fully realised.
• Ensure all amendments to the Valuation List are actioned accurately and promptly so the organisation’s income from council taxes is accurate and fully realized.
• Assess applications for mandatory and discretionary rate relief in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and policy guidance and procedures.
• Ensure all activities and decisions result in the maximisation of revenue due to the organisation.
• Prioritise work load to achieve service targets and collection rates ensuring that a proactive approach is taken where there is a need to contact customers for further evidence or information in support of their account or debt.
• Negotiate and make arrangements to discharge debt owed to the organisation, including determining the most appropriate payment method for the business rate payer and the organisation.
• Where necessary ensure appropriate enforcement action is taken including referring cases to enforcement agents for collection and identifying accounts where charging orders and committal action are the most appropriate enforcement remedy.
• Ensure that any suspicions of irregular or fraudulent application for discounts, reliefs and exemptions are referred for further investigation.

Working Hours

35 hrs / 9:00am-17:00pm Monday-Friday

Pay

£20.50 per hour

Note: This role is within the scope of IR35.