Starting salary: £36,141
Job Level: Level 3, Zone 1 
Work Location: 5 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG
Hours per week: 36
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract 12 Months
Closing date: Wednesday 17th April 2024, 23;59
Interviews to be held:  w/c 22 April 2024
Alternative flexible working options available / open to discussion 

Anonymised Application – in keeping with Camden’s commitment to inclusion the recruitment to this role is anonymised and supports the objective of reducing the impact of unconscious bias. 

Previous applicants need not apply!

About us 

Camden is listening to everyone, including you.

We’re giving a platform to people inside and outside our community. Because we’re not just home to the UK’s fast-growing economy. We’re home to the most important conversations happening today. And we’re making radical social change a reality, so that nobody gets left behind. Here’s where you can help decide a better future for us all.

The role

We are seeking to recruit an experienced Council Tax Officer forming our new Income and Arrears Collection Team. The role is for 12 months initially to ensure the team delivers the expected additional income and arears reduction targets expected to justify the team being formalised long term after.  Should the team be formalised at the end of the 12-month period, the successful fixed term applicant would be invited to apply for the role on a permanent basis and go through the application process.

The Officer will be expected to deliver a professional, customer focussed and high-quality service whilst maximising revenue and reducing arrears through the administration, collection and recovery of Council Tax.

Dealing directly with the public, you will be able to answer end to end (billing to recovery) written correspondence accurately and proactively liaise with taxpayers on the telephone where necessary such as outbound calling campaigns. Your role will be varied as whilst you will predominantly be dealing with customer correspondence, the nature of the arrears maximisation work means you will must have the ability to deal with all stages of billing and collection, including post Liability Order recovery both through written correspondence and your excellent communication and negotiation skills.

You will need to be decisive and confident in your decision making and have a full awareness of the processes and legislation relating to Council Tax. You will act as a contact person for some customers requiring you to build ongoing relationships, focussing on their needs and collating information necessary to ensure our records are updated accurately and in a timely fashion e.g., high value and risk debtors.

Your attendance at the Local Magistrates’ Court and Camden led debtor surgeries will be required periodically, helping negotiate payment arrangements and dealing with attendees’ queries. 

The role may also require you to undertake other administration tasks as necessary to ensure accurate Council Tax records maximise income and reduce outstanding arrears. 

Please refer to the job profile for key requirements. 

About you

To find out more about what it is like to work at Camden, meet some of our people by visiting www.camdenjobs.co.uk/our-stories.

We’re looking for someone with excellent analytical, literacy, and written communication skills with knowledge of IT applications and software. You’ll be working in a fast-paced environment, with the ability to work flexibly, balancing competing priorities and meeting deadlines. You’ll be able to tactfully deal with a wide range of stakeholders both internally and externally, as well as using problem solving skills and initiative to provide a customer focused support service.

IRRV qualified or previous technical experience gained from having worked in a Council Tax back office customer focused environment, ideally in both billing and recovery elements of the process. An understanding of and experience of compliance with data protection/sharing and audit/financial standards.

More broadly, you’ll take the lead in identifying improvements to processes and systems, while effectively working as a team member to deliver our shared purpose.  

Working for Camden

We’re ready to welcome your ideas, your views, and your rebellious spirit. Help us redefine our corporate services, and we’ll redefine what a career can be. 

At Camden, you’ll receive a host of benefits as well as joining a flexible working employer. Visit 'www.camdenjobs.co.uk/staff-benefits' to see full details of our benefits. 

Additional information 

To view the Job Profile, please click HERE or copy and paste the below URL into your browser: http://camdocs.camden.gov.uk/HPRMWebDrawer/Record/10294379/file/document?inline

To apply for this job please follow the "Apply" link. In the ‘Why you?’ section of the application you will be required to demonstrate how you meet the role criteria noted in the Job Profile under the “About You” section.

Inclusion and Diversity 

We want Camden Council to be a great place to work and to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do. 

To discover more about Camden and our commitment towards diversity, equality and safeguarding, please visit our 'www.camdenjobs.co.uk/staff-benefits'. 

Asking for Adjustments 

Camden is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions. If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please contact us on 020 7974 6655, at resourcing@camden.gov.uk or post to 5 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG.