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About this job

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Council Tax team as a Council Tax Officer. We are responsible for billing and collecting over £100 million each year from approximately 80,000 households across the borough. This income is vital in funding essential council services that support our communities.

This is not a typical debt collection role - our approach is balanced, resident-focused, and driven by a commitment to both maximising collection and supporting the financial wellbeing of our residents. We take a modern, holistic approach to collection to tailor our approach and deliver fair, proportionate outcomes.

The role is varied and challenging, with all team members contributing across the full range of Council Tax functions, including billing, collection, and enforcement. A knowledge of Council Tax legislation and its practical application is essential.

You will work collaboratively across Revenues services, including Rents, General Income (Sundry Debt), Housing Benefit Overpayments, and Business Rates, ensuring a coordinated approach to collecting income owed to the Council. The role also involves close partnership working with Welfare services and external organisations to ensure vulnerable residents receive appropriate support. Supporting individuals in financial difficulty and helping them regain control of their finances is a core priority of the team.

A key aspect of the role is the ability to assess cases effectively to identify affordability.

This role requires sound judgement, and the ability to interpret and assess a wide range of information to inform decision-making. The role also includes investigative work, such as tracing “gone away” debtors and proactively pursuing cases of persistent non-payment. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual who is committed to delivering a fair, effective, and responsive service.

About you

• You are currently working in local government and have experience dealing with Council Tax administration. You have a good understanding of the Council Tax process and its interactions with other Revenues, Welfare and Support services.
• You can demonstrate a commitment to delivering excellent customer service, ensuring residents receive the best outcomes.
• You have demonstrable communication skills, both verbal and written and can explain complex matters in plain English. You can process a wide range of information to extract relevant key facts.
• You work well under pressure, both independently and part of a team. You are driven and can work to set targets. Your organisational skills mean that you can prioritise a workload of competing deadlines.
• You are a creative thinker and will challenge the way things are done to improve the way the service is delivered. You are fully committed to your on-going learning and professional self-development.

About us

Barking & Dagenham is changing. It Starts Here.

Think you know Barking and Dagenham? Think again. While this small corner of east London might have a reputation for needing development, scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find active communities and a place that consistently punches above its weight. The borough is changing – and changing for the better. And It Starts Here.

Yes, the borough has its challenges. But it’s on the cusp of something exciting. With one of the youngest populations in the country, ambitions are high and rightly so. 98% of our schools are rated Good or Outstanding and every year more of our talented teenagers get into Russell Group Universities and hotly sought after apprenticeship schemes.

We have award winning parks, centuries old manor houses full of relics and artifacts you can go and see, and the ruins of one of Anglo-Saxon England's most powerful and wealthiest religious sites. We’re even bringing beavers and white storks to the borough to help rewild the local landscape and boost biodiversity.

Over the past few years, we’ve been working hard to improve how we deliver services and support our community. From tackling inequality to making sure our services are the best they can be, we’re focused on what matters most to local people.

We’re creating the conditions for people to thrive - so everyone can enjoy a good quality of life, feel proud to call this place home, and be part of something bigger.

#ItStartsHere - with our streets, our schools, our neighbourhoods. And with your application to join our determined team who are passionate about doing what’s best for the future of Barking and Dagenham.

As an Investors in People Gold Award employer, we’re serious about supporting our staff. From flexible working, professional training and career development to wellbeing initiatives, we want our people to feel valued and supported in everything they do.

Our values, known as

• DRIVE, shape how we work: Deliver our best every day – and do what we promise
• Respond in a prompt, positive way to our community’s needs
• Inspire others with our attitudes and actions
• Value people for who they are and what they can do
• Engage with others to improve our resilience and flexibility We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

Additional Information

Special Requirements Please note that this is a working from home role. However, you may occasionally be required to attend the office in Barking, with reasonable advance notice provided.

Please also note that applications will not be accepted from candidates who have applied for this role within the last six months.