About the job Salary: £26,409 - £28,624 a year Hours per week: 37 Contract type: Permanent Are you detail-oriented, organized, and ready to make a meaningful impact on local financial operations? We're looking for a Business Rates Officer to join our team, supporting the billing and collection of National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR). In this role, you'll handle critical tasks such as processing credit balance reports, managing refunds, suspense items, and transfers, and coordinating new and cancelled Direct Debits for NNDR. You'll issue bills and reminders in line with agreed procedures, responding to queries and processing amendments, including changes to occupation, banding, direct debits, reliefs, discounts, exemptions, and payment methods. Your responsibilities will also include managing correspondence and maintaining manual and computer records, ensuring all updates align with pre-determined targets. You'll assist in determining statutory reliefs, discounts, and exemptions for NNDR and Council Tax, including systematic renewals of entitlements. Working collaboratively, you'll make referrals to visiting officers for cases involving void properties, exemptions, or occupation changes, contributing to the efficient and accurate administration of local revenues. If you're a proactive professional with a keen eye for accuracy and a passion for delivering excellent service, we'd love to welcome you to our team Please note this role does not attract sponsorship. About you Are you an organized and customer-focused professional looking for a role that combines strong communication skills with a commitment to excellence? Join our team as a Business Rates Officer, where you'll play a vital role in supporting the efficient billing and collection of National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR). In this role, your ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of customers, both verbally and in writing, will be essential. You'll use tact and sensitivity to navigate challenging conversations, ensuring positive outcomes while maintaining professionalism. You'll also be responsible for maintaining accurate manual and computer records, drawing on your strong organizational skills to meet deadlines and targets. We're seeking someone with demonstrable knowledge of high-volume billing procedures, alongside a solid understanding of numeracy skills for handling calculations. Ideally, you will have attained or be working towards the IRRV Technician qualification or have equivalent relevant experience. A commitment to equality principles and their application in the workplace is highly valued. The role occasionally requires working outside normal hours (monthly) and embraces agile working practices. This flexibility means you may work from varying locations, including home, according to business needs. If you're ready to thrive in a dynamic environment and bring your expertise to our team, we'd love to hear from you About us Our ambitious Luton 2040 Vision - that no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty - is at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that our people are remarkable, talented, committed and passionate about serving our residents. The people of Luton depend heavily on this council - and that means our workforce Are you ready to realise the remarkable and help us deliver our vision? Benefits We offer a range of excellent staff benefits which include: - From 25 to 32 days' annual leave: linked to length of service and grade - Buying annual leave scheme: buy up to 20 days additional annual leave - Career Pathways: step up in your career or move into a specialist area - Pension scheme: with generous employer contributions of up to 20.2 per cent (at July 2023) and 3x salary death in service grant - Generous relocation package: up to £8,000 (subject to eligibility) - Employee Assistance Programme: a free, 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support service available to all employees, their partner or spouse and dependent children over 16 still living at home - Work/life balance: flexible working options including working from home where possible. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements including part-time hours and alternative working patterns - Training and support: unlimited access to development courses, mentoring and support and clear career pathways - Staff offers: includes discounts on your MOT, gym and fitness, restaurants and salons - Arriva Travel Club: great value savings on local bus travel