Senior Accounts Officer, ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA

Guardian Jobs; City Of London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a committed team as a Senior Account Officer, where you will play a vital role in the administration of business rates. This position involves ensuring lawful and effective revenue collection, addressing rate avoidance issues, and supporting local government services, all while contributing to a fair community. The role offers opportunities for professional growth within a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Ongoing training

Competitive salary

Professional growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Sound understanding of business rates legislation.
• Demonstrable experience in local government revenue collection.
• Capable of managing a varied and demanding workload.

Responsibilities

• Ensure smooth operation of the business rates service, covering billing and recovery.
• Identify and address instances of rate avoidance.
• Provide guidance and maintain accurate usage of systems.

Skills

Attention to detail

Fairness

Integrity

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Experience in local government revenue collection

Job description

Ensure local services are funded fairly and with integrity

This role plays a crucial part in supporting essential local services by ensuring the accurate and lawful administration of business rates. We are committed to maintaining high standards in service delivery, and effective revenue collection is fundamental to this objective.

Working Style:

You'll be based in the Borough for three days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you're working on the frontline or behind the scenes, you'll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to residents' lives.

What you'll be doing:

As a Senior Account Officer, you will help ensure that our business rates service operates efficiently, transparently and in accordance with legislation. Your responsibilities will cover the full billing and recovery cycle, including issuing accurate bills, managing exemptions, and responding to formal correspondence from businesses. You will identify and address instances of rate avoidance, support legal proceedings where appropriate, and work closely with internal colleagues and external partners to ensure the smooth delivery of services.

This is a detail-oriented role where precision and consistency are essential. You will be expected to maintain and update systems accurately, provide guidance where necessary, and remain informed of regulatory developments to ensure ongoing compliance and service quality.
For further details, please review the Job Description and Person Specification

What you'll bring

You will have a sound understanding of business rates legislation and demonstrable experience working within local government revenue collection. You will be confident handling data and able to communicate clearly in writing. Your approach to work will be methodical and accurate, and you will be capable of managing a varied and demanding workload. Strong organisational skills and the ability to engage professionally with customers across a range of channels are essential.

Equally important are your professional values. You will demonstrate fairness, integrity, and respect in your decision-making and interactions. You will be a team-oriented individual who contributes positively to the work of the wider service, eager to share knowledge and support your colleagues in achieving shared goals.

Why join us

At RBKC, we're all in - investing in our people, our communities and our future. You will be joining a professional and supportive team that works collaboratively to deliver high-quality outcomes.

In this role, you will contribute to the effective management of an annual business rates income of £353 million, helping to fund the essential services our residents rely on. We offer a competitive salary, ongoing training, and clear opportunities for professional growth.

About us

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.

As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.

In this role, you will play a key part in maintaining the integrity of our business rates system, ensuring accounts are accurate and that all actions taken are appropriate and justified. Whether responding to queries or pursuing arrears, your work will directly support the funding of local services that benefit the entire borough.

Ready to join us?

We're all in - are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we'd love to hear from you.

Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.