Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Cardiff About the job Job summary The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are the public sectors property valuation experts and advisers with a vision to be a world-leading provider of public sector valuations. Our work is vital to the collection of over £60 billion of revenue which goes back into communities, touching every citizen and every business across England and Wales. We champion the values of professionalism, integrity, respect and innovation. We are committed to providing a collaborative and supportive working environment that encourages every colleague to contribute, grow and excel together. With opportunities to drive your own development and growth, we empower our colleagues to succeed by ensuring support at every step of their career journey. Job description Property Researcher Council Tax Reform Role Overview Were looking for talented people who are eager to contribute to vital public services and assist us to deliver taxation support to the government and local authorities. Your skills and experience will enable us to provide an efficient, effective service right at the heart of the public interest. The Council Tax reform team plays a pivotal role in the Valuation Office Agency in transforming Council Tax processes in Wales. You will be part of a team who are responsible for ensuring our property data is correct, through interrogating internal and external sources, which will be used with the Mass Appraisal Valuation model and ultimately the valuations of domestic properties in Wales. As a Property Researcher, you will be in a varied and multifunctional role, helping to support the Valuation Office Agency to achieve Council Tax reform within Wales. Full training will be provided on the systems we use to assist your decisions, and you will have the full support and guidance from your line managers to help you develop. Property Researcher Council Tax Reform Key responsibilities The responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: Investigate and update residential property data in line with agreed operating procedures in a timely and efficient manner. Know when to escalate or seek support from the operational management team. Be flexible to undertake additional responsibilities to support the team to deliver priorities if required. Be able to undertake repetitive work, such as data input and investigation, whilst ensuring information is recorded accurately. Communicate verbally and written with a range of colleagues and stakeholders. Building relationships by working closely with Caseworkers, and wider teams within the Valuation Office. 100% Office attendance is required to undertake training and get comfortable with new processes. This will be expected until you complete your training to the required expectations where you will then be invited to discuss a hybrid working pattern with your manager in agreement with VOA policy. Person specification We are looking for ambitious candidates who have an awareness or interest in domestic property valuations. You will be self-motivated, with the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team. Essential Requirements Able to ensure that results are achieved on time, monitoring your work against milestones. Excellent language skills (Welsh and English). To undertake this role Welsh language skills are required to a level 4 (speaking, listening, reading and writing) as set out in the Welsh Language Commissioners Welsh Language Skills Matrix. The ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of people both verbally and in writing. Good attention to detail. Flexible and dedicated. Willingness to learn and develop. Have a working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook (training will be provided on other applications you will be working on). Computer literate and possess good keyboard skills. Desirable Criteria A knowledge of the Welsh property market. Languages As part of this role, you will need to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, with customers, colleagues and stakeholders in both Welsh and English. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Working Together Delivering at Pace Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: In the application and interview process, your technical ability will be assessed against your Welsh language skills at Level 4 (speaking, listening, reading and writing). The Welsh Language Skills Matrix is attached below for further guidance. Benefits Alongside your salary of £26,734, Valuation Office Agency contributes £7,744 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. We offer a range of flexible working options, a generous leave allowance that starts at 25 days and goes up to 30 days after 5 years service and a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Learning and development tailored to your role. An environment with flexible working options. Family friendly policies including 26 weeks full pay for maternity, adoption or shared parental leave. Employee Assistance Programme offering comprehensive wellbeing support. To learn more about the extensive benefits we can offer you as a VOA employee please download our Benefits Booklet: VOA_benefits_booklet.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk) Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability, Experience and Technical skills. If you can meet our person requirements above, we are keen to hear from you. To apply for this post, you must complete the first stage of the application. After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete an online Casework Skills Test. Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 17th February 2025. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. If you are successful, you will be invited to complete an online application with the following: A Personal Statement (maximum 500 words), please outline your suitability for the role. Please pay particular attention to the Essential Criteria, Person Specification and Technical as outlined in the advert when providing your answer. Your Personal Statement must be submitted in Welsh. Sift - 18th & 19th February 2025. Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change. Should there be a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be made on Personal Statement against the lead essential criteria: Able to ensure that results are achieved on time, monitoring your work against milestones. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview. Interviews - W/C 3rd March 2025 Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change. These will be confirmed should you be invited to interview. Interviews are currently taking place using Microsoft Teams Video. We will provide more detail if you are shortlisted for interview. We will assess you on the Behaviours listed in the job description, Strengths and technical skills. As part of the interview, you will be asked questions in a mixture of Welsh and English to assess your technical skills. Further information on the structure of the interview, including which parts will be in Welsh and English, will be provided to candidates who successfully pass the sift and are invited to interview. At the interview, the panel can then probe further and ask applicants to provide further specific examples that show how they best demonstrate their skills. Technical In the application and interview process, your technical ability will be assessed against your Welsh language skills at a Level 4 (speaking, listening, reading and writing). Please read the Welsh Language Commissioners Welsh Language Skills Matrix attached for further details and guidance. Behaviours The distinguishing Behaviours (the required skills, knowledge and behaviours) for this role are set out in the Civil Service Behaviours Framework 2018 ( Success Profiles - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) ) and should be referred to when making this application. You are required, under the Behaviours approach, to describe how you have dealt with a specific situation. You must give evidence of your knowledge, skills and behaviours and how you have applied this, such as what you did or said and how you interacted with other people. When you are giving your examples, do not spend too many words on description and background information. Avoid using general or unspecific statements. Instead say what the situation was, what you did what your thought process was and so on. Application Hints and Tips For more information on Success Profiles, tips on how to write a successful application and find out more about whats involved in the application process please visit About the application process, Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk) Further Information Any move to VOA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk The VOA is an office-based organisation that supports flexible working. By default, everyone in the VOA is a hybrid worker with options to work in the office, at home or out and about, depending on the work theyre doing that day and where its best done. Applicants who do or wish to work an alternative working pattern are welcome to apply. The preferred working pattern may or may not be available. You should discuss this with the vacancy holder. VOA employees only: If you are currently in receipt of DTA as a result of a VOA office closure/restructure and it is agreed for you to take up this role in your current location, you may continue to receive DTA for the remainder of the period you can claim for. Please check with the Vacancy Holder on preferred locations for this role before you apply. If you would require a Certificate of Sponsorship from the VOA to undertake this role, please contact resourcingteamvoa.gov.uk before submitting your application. Pre-employment Checks In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. Reasonable Adjustment We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition, or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate. If you need a reasonable adjustment or a change to be made so that you can make your application, please: Click here for more information: Reasonable Adjustments, Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk) and Contact voarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. Terms & Conditions Voluntary terms apply. Reserve Lists If we have more successful candidates than available vacancies, we will hold a 6-month reserve list. During that time, we may use the list to fill the same, or similar roles with closely matching essential criteria, without further testing of merit. Any appointments from the Reserve list will be made in strict merit order. Starting Work The successful candidates will normally take up duty within one month from notification of successful completion of pre-employment checks. Applying All applications for these vacancies must be made online. There are limited exceptions to this. Paper applications will only be considered if you have a disability that will prevent you from applying online. If this is the case, please email voarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Once you have submitted your application it cannot be amended; only submit your application when you have completely finished and answered all the relevant questions. Please note that late applications will not be accepted. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section. New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. Use of AI You may utilise artificial intelligence (AI) tools and platforms to support you during the application process however, as with any application all information submitted must be factually accurate and all examples provided must be taken directly from your own experience. All presented information will be assessed at interview. Any applications where factual inaccuracy, plagiarism or copying of examples/answers from internet sources is detected will be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving internal candidates. Concerns/Complaints The Valuation Office Agencys recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the Central Recruitment Team at the following address: resourcingteamvoa.gov.uk If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint you have the right to complain to the Civil Service Commissioners. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Cerys Lundregan Email : cerys.lundreganvoa.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : VOARecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Attachments Matrics sgiliau iaith _Language skills matrix Opens in new window (pdf, 171kB) Share this page Print Email Gmail Facebook LinkedIn