Local Government Revenues Officer
What is the work like?
Revenues and benefits officers work for local councils, collecting and administering rent and council tax, or paying housing and council tax benefits.
As a revenues officer your work would include:
- calculating rents, council tax and business rates
- sending bills and issuing reminders
- collecting and processing payments
- dealing with enquiries face-to-face, by letter or by phone
- keeping accurate clerical and computerised records
- recovering arrears of rent or council tax, taking legal action where necessary.
As a benefits officer you would be involved in:
- assessing whether people are entitled to housing and council tax benefits
- checking and processing claims forms
- making payments
- communicating with social services, housing associations and Department of Work and Pensions staff
- dealing with enquiries face-to-face, by letter or by phone
- keeping accurate clerical and computerised records
- recovering overpayments of benefit, taking legal action when necessary.
With experience, you could also work on housing valuations or investigate benefit fraud.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
The qualifications and experience you need could vary from one council to another, so you should check with individual employers.
Some councils may ask for four or five GCSEs (A-C) including maths and English. Many employers do not ask for any specific qualifications, but will test you in the skills needed for the job, such as communication, IT skills and ability with numbers.
Whatever qualifications you have, employers will expect you to have computer skills, and previous experience of working in a team in an administrative, financial or customer service job.
You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
What further training and development can I do?
When you start your job you will usually receive in-house training in benefit rules and specialist computer software, and you will also learn on the job from experienced staff.
You could also work towards a qualification from the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV), such as:
- Level 3 Certificate in Local Taxation and Benefits
- NVQ Level 3 in Housing and Council Tax Benefit
- NVQ Level 3 in Local Taxation.
You must already be working in local authority revenues or benefits administration to take these qualifications. They lead to Technician membership of the IRRV.
With experience, you could take the IRRV Full Professional Qualification, which could help your career if you want to become a revenues or benefits team leader or manager. Before you can start the Full Professional Qualification, you will need either:
- an IRRV NVQ or the Level 3 Certificate, or
- at least five years' experience in revenues or benefits administration.
You can study for the IRRV qualifications by work-based training and assessment, day release, block release or distance learning. See the IRRV website for more details.
Where can I go for more information?
41 Doughty StreetLondon
WC1N 2LF
Tel: 020 7831 3505
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Staring salaries can be around £13,000 to £15,000 a year.
- With experience this can rise to £17,000 to £21,000 a year.
- Team leaders, fraud investigators and managers can earn between £20,000 and £34,000.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
In a full-time job you would work 35 to 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Part-time work, flexitime and job sharing are often available.
You would be based in an office which would be partly open to the public, and spend some of your time dealing with enquiries at a counter or reception. In some jobs you would travel around your local area to visit benefit claimants at home.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good spoken and written communication skills
- an assertive but tactful manner with customers who may be angry or upset
- the ability to understand complex rules and explain them clearly to customers
- good mathematical skills
- computer literacy
- the ability to work as part of a team
- accuracy and attention to detail
- problem-solving skills.
What opportunities are there?
You could work for local councils all over the UK, or for one of the growing number of private companies that are contracted to provide benefits services to local councils.
Jobs are advertised in the local press, Jobcentre Plus, council websites, the IRRV website and www.LGJobs.com.
Promotion prospects are good and you could become a team leader, department manager, or move into other local government jobs. Alternatively, you could move into benefits advice work with organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureaux.
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