Local Government Revenues Officer

Job Description:

Revenues and benefits officers work for local councils and deal with housing benefits, rents, council tax and business rates.

Job Category:
Government & Public Services

What you will do:

In your day-to-day tasks you could:

  • calculate rents, council tax and business rates
  • send out bills and reminders
  • collect and process payments
  • recover rent and council tax arrears
  • arrange legal action against debtors
  • get money back from customers who have been overpaid
  • attend court

Skills:

You’ll need:

  • administration skills
  • business management skills
  • customer service skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

As well as:

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
  • the ability to work on your own (drive)
  • to be flexible and open to change (adaptability skills)
  • excellent verbal communication skills
Illustration of employee looking at workspace

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in a subject like public administration or business administration, although it’s not essential.

College

You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job. In the UK, for example, relevant subjects include a Diploma in Business and Administration.

Apprenticeship

You can get into this job through a revenue and welfare benefits practitioner higher apprenticeship.

This typically takes around 12 months to complete and is a mix of workplace learning and study.

Work

You could start as an administrative assistant and work your way up with training on the job.

Direct Application

You can apply directly for jobs. Employers will expect you to have experience in customer service, especially in accounts and finance, or in local government.

Some employers may ask you to sit assessment tests to check that you have the skills needed for the job.

Working Hours and Environment:

A typical week consists of 37-39 hours of work. You could be required to work between 8am and 6pm.

You could work in an office.

Career Path & Progression:

With experience and qualifications you could progress into senior roles, including fraud investigations, property valuation or management.