Revenues Officer (Business Rates)

Location: Maidstone, Kent
Salary: £24,673 to £28,964 pa
Contract: Permanent – Full Time

About the Role
A vacancy has arisen for a conscientious, motivated individual to deal with correspondence and enquiries relating to Business Rates within the Revenues Team of the Mid Kent Revenues and Benefits Partnership (MKS). MKS is an innovative shared service model, and the Revenues function is delivered on behalf of Maidstone Borough Council, Swale Borough Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

The Revenues Team deals with high volumes of correspondence which needs to be turned around within the corporate timescales. This post predominately deals with billing matters including the issuing of bills, the processing of moves, awarding reliefs and exemptions and maintaining local taxation records.

This role is customer-facing and the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is an essential element of the role.

This is a full-time position on a permanent contract. Whilst the role is full time applications for part time may be considered. Please specify within your application if you would prefer part time and the number of hours you are able to work. This post is career graded and you will be appointed on the scale depending on your previous experience.

About You
You need to be a good communicator and have a sound knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel. You will need to effectively communicate by telephone, face to face and in writing. You need to be able to work on your own initiative and as part of a small team.
Candidates should ideally have experience in local government.

We are now working in a hybrid way which allows more flexibility for people to manage working hours around their own needs. This includes working either from the office or at home (once trained) depending on individual needs and gives the ability to flex hours within service needs. This role gives the ability for high levels of homeworking based on the needs of the successful candidate.

Selection Process
Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.

About Maidstone Borough Council
Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy. We continue to build on our strengths - assets, knowledge and expertise and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans.

We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people. You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.

At Maidstone Borough Council we recognise the importance of flexible working and the benefits this can bring to both our staff and the Council. We know that by offering employees a range of flexible working opportunities we can positively impact their wellbeing and engagement, and drive productivity in return. As such we have developed a highly flexible hybrid working policy, alongside our flexi time and flexible working policies, enabling staff to shape their working patterns around building a greater work life balance.

Our Offer:

A range of benefits including:
• Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities
• 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most roles
• Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave
• Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year
• Free parking
• Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time
• Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
• Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family
• Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing, and road tax
• Annual flu vaccine
• Cycle to work scheme
• Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
• Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
• A professional fee payment, if required for the role

Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Nicola Street, Business Rates Team Leader on 01622 602467

Closing Date: 14 July 2024.
Interview Date w/c 24 July 2024.