Jobs in Hermitage

Local Taxation Officer - Business Rates

Local Authority | Hybrid / Remote Working | Immediate Start

A local authority is looking for an experienced Local Taxation Officer to join its Revenues team. This is a Business Rates-focused role, and the successful candidate must have extensive recent experience working with Business Rates and be able to hit the ground running.

Experience with NEC Revenues systems, including NEC Document Management, is essential.

The Role

You will be responsible for the accurate billing, collection and recovery of Business Rates, dealing with complex cases and ensuring outstanding income is recovered in line with legislation and local authority procedures.

Key responsibilities include:

Managing Business Rates accounts, billing, collection and recovery.
Applying current Business Rates legislation and regulations, including the significant changes introduced from April 2026.
Reviewing outstanding debts and determining appropriate recovery action.
Processing exemptions, discounts, reliefs and other Business Rates applications.
Undertaking formal recovery action, including payment arrangements, Enforcement Agent referrals and other appropriate enforcement measures.
Investigating complex cases, disputes and queries and providing advice to businesses and customers.
Liaising with Enforcement Agents, internal departments and external stakeholders.
Maintaining accurate records and ensuring all correspondence and documentation is issued correctly and promptly.
Dealing with complex customer enquiries and complaints professionally and sensitively.
Supporting management with complex recovery cases, insolvency matters, charging orders and other recovery action.
Working to strict deadlines while managing changing priorities.
Supporting and mentoring new and temporary team members where required.

Essential Experience

Extensive and recent Business Rates experience within a local authority or relevant private-sector environment.
Strong knowledge of the current Business Rates scheme and legislation, including the changes from April 2026.
Hands-on experience using NEC Revenues systems.
Experience using NEC Document Management.
Strong understanding of Business Rates billing, collection, recovery, exemptions, reliefs and enforcement.
Experience reviewing accounts and determining appropriate recovery action.
Excellent communication, negotiation and customer service skills.
Ability to manage complex cases and work effectively to strict deadlines.
Good knowledge of Microsoft Office and database systems.

Please note: This is not a general Council Tax role. Candidates must have substantial, recent Business Rates experience and NEC systems experience. Limited or outdated Business Rates experience will not be sufficient.

Working Arrangements

Hybrid working available
Full-time home working can be considered
Successful candidate will need to attend the local authority initially to collect their laptop/equipment.
Immediate start preferred