Local government revenues officer jobs

THE WORK AND ALL THAT IS INVOLVED IN IT

The administration of housing benefits, rent, council tax, and business rates are the responsibilities of revenues and benefits officers, who work for local authorities but not county councils. In some jurisdictions, bringing in money and administering benefits continue to be two distinct occupations; while, in others, these functions are either integrated or are intricately connected.

Revenues officers are often responsible for calculating and collecting rentals, council tax, and business rates, in addition to handling all of the administrative work that is associated with these responsibilities. Typical responsibilities are as follows:

sending out invoices and sending out reminders

Taking in payments and processing them later.

Taking care of inquiries in person, by letter, via e-mail, or over the phone are all options.

Providing individuals who are having trouble paying their council tax, rent, or rates with advice and helping them come to an agreement over how they will pay off their debts.

Updating and checking both paper and digital records to ensure accuracy.

attempting to collect past due rent or council tax payments.

Providing assistance in the process of legally recovering the debt, which may include taking a case through the magistrates' courts and assigning bailiffs as necessary.

Benefits officers conduct assessments of applicants to determine whether or not they are eligible for housing and council tax benefits. Among their responsibilities may be found:

determining whether or not a person is eligible to receive a benefit.

reviewing and handling the processing of claim forms

Managing people's benefits and modifying the amounts they get in response to changes in their personal circumstances.

Having conversations with people who work for social services, housing associations, and the Department of Work and Pensions.

recouping excess amounts paid out in benefits.

recognizing fraudulent activity and providing assistance to investigators of fraudulent activity.

The many computer systems and software packages that are used by Revenues officials are extensive. They are obligated to maintain precise records of their work.

Revenues officers for municipal governments often put in between 35 and 37 hours of labor per week, Monday through Friday. Workplace options that provide flexibility, such as job sharing and part-time employment, are increasingly accessible.

Although they spend most of their time in an office, revenue officers sometimes go out into the community to inspect companies and houses. A valid driver's license might come in handy.

The annual salary range for trainees is most likely to be somewhere between £14,587 and £15,291. If a revenues officer has an IRRV certificate, they have the potential to increase their annual salary to between £16,991 and £18,937.

Depending on their credentials and level of experience, senior officers and fraud investigators may make anywhere from $24,000 to $36,000 per year, or even more.

Local government revenues officers are compensated under a national pay system; nevertheless, compensation might vary depending on the grading policies of individual municipalities and the size of the local authority. On top of the standard wage scales, additional London allowances of up to £1,738 (outer London), £2,388 (Greater London), and £3,266 (inner London) may be given out.

HOW TO BEGIN THIS OPTION FOR A PROFESSIONAL CAREER

In the United Kingdom, there are 433 local councils that together to employ more than 4,000 revenues officers. Officers may be hired by any form of local authority, with the exception of county councils, or by any one of an increasing number of private businesses who are under contract to offer benefits services to local councils. County councils are the only local authority that does not employ officers. There is a significant and growing need for competent revenue and benefit officers. There are a few highly trained revenues officials that work independently.

There is a possibility that openings will be publicized in the regional newspaper, in the employment bulletins, and on the websites of the various local authorities. In addition to this, they might appear in the public sector recruiting magazine Opportunities, which is published both in print and online, as well as on public sector employment websites such as www.lgjobs.com and www.jobsgopublic.com. There is also a possibility that jobs will be listed on the website of the Institute of Revenues, Ratings, and Valuations (IRRV). Employment agencies may sometimes find temporary workers for their clients. These contracts could lead to full-time positions in the future.

EDUCATIONAL AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

There are no predetermined qualifications to enter. Employers often look for new hires who are proficient in computers and have past experience working in a collaborative environment doing administrative, financial, or customer service duties.

A minimum of four GCSEs with grades ranging from A* to C, including English and mathematics, may be required for certain occupations. Employers that do not want credentials may instead assess candidates' abilities to communicate effectively, use information technology, and do mathematical calculations.

The Diplomas in business, administration, and finance, as well as the Diploma in public services (beginning in 2010), might be useful for working in this field.

A COUPLE OF ADDITIONAL TESTS, SHOULD YOU REQUIRE THEM

In most cases, new employees begin their careers by receiving in-house training on the many benefit laws and specialized computer software packages in use. This training is often overseen by more seasoned coworkers.

The Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV) is the professional organisation for persons who work in municipal revenues and benefits administration. Many companies have the expectation that revenues officers would study for credentials that are conferred by the IRRV. Courses offered include:

The IRRV Level 3 Certificate in Local Taxation and Benefits is a valuable credential.

A National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in Housing and Council Tax Benefits.

NVQ Level 3 in taxation of the local community.

To get the best possible results in these courses, students should ideally be employed in a local government environment. It is possible to become a member of the IRRV as a Technician if one of these certifications is completed successfully (Tech IRRV). Both day release and remote learning are viable options for completing the coursework.

A program known as continuous professional development (CPD) is made available to members of the IRRV in order to keep them abreast of any recent developments in revenues and benefits that may affect them.

The entrance prerequisite for the Diploma is an applicable IRRV certification at the Technician or NVQ/Certificate Level 3, and those who aspire to proceed into senior roles might consider pursuing either a Level 5 Professional Diploma or a Level 6 Honours.

Candidates who are interested in participating in the Honors program are required to have succeeded in the program that comes before it. The Honors programme is comprised of the following three components:

A dissertation consisting of 15,000 words in length.

Oral examination, examining both the substance of the dissertation and other elements of the candidate's expertise.

Evaluation of professional competence, which involves maintaining a log of one's work and professional growth over the course of a certain time period while being guided by an advisor.

SKILLS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES NEEDED

An officer of revenues for a local government has to have:

Superior ability to communicate verbally as well as in writing.

An aggressive attitude that is not without tact.

The capacity to decipher convoluted material and convey one's understanding of it to paying clients.

Competence in providing service to customers.

Numerical confidence.

A working knowledge of computers

Team working capabilities.

Accuracy and careful attention to the specifics

sensitivity while dealing with sensitive or secret material.

Capability to find solutions to problems.

To be well organized yet maintaining a flexible mentality.

YOUR OPPORTUNITIES IN THE LONG TERM

It is common practice to have a well-defined promotion system, with possibilities to advance to the position of team leader or department manager, or to transfer into other financial responsibilities within the local government.

Some revenue officers advance their careers by moving into financial posts in central government agencies such as the Department for Work and Pensions or HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The abilities learned are transferable to a variety of fields, including accounting in the public sector and advising clients in volunteer organizations like the Citizens Advice agency.