Rating Officer

Our Story:

Halton is a vibrant local authority with a rich history and heritage, featuring two iconic bridges that connect communities across the River Mersey. Located in Cheshire, Halton boasts excellent transport links between Liverpool and Manchester, as well as close proximity to both Liverpool John Lennon and Manchester Airports.

Our progressive community strategy aims to bring about meaningful, long-term improvements that enhance lives. It’s an exciting time to join us as we develop new policies and transform the way people access services.

We are immensely proud that when asked what’s great about working for Halton, the most popular response from our workforce has been ‘our colleagues’. 

Our Team:

Halton Borough Councils Finance Department is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, motivated and conscientious team player to the role of Rating Officer.

The Business Rates team is a friendly and accommodating team, in a fast paced environment, dealing with all aspects relating to the accurate and prompt processing of work associated with Business Rates.

The Business Rates department collects over £70m of rates on annual basis which helps fund a wide range of services across the borough.

The ideal applicant will help support the dedicated team to undertake work concerning the billing, collection and recovery of Business Rates, delivering a professional and exceptional service to local businesses

The position on offer is: 

• Part Time (Permanent) -18.5 hours per week. Working full days Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

Based at DCBL Stadium, Lower House Lane, Widnes

Your Contributions:

To undertake work concerning the billing, collection and recovery of Business Rates.

Process amendments to the Revenues systems, including changes in liability. Assess and award rate reliefs and exemptions, in accordance with legislation and within agreed guidelines.

Answer queries and resolve discrepancies regarding Business Rates liability, reliefs, exemptions, recovery and enforcement action, by telephone and in writing. Identify and report more complex cases to the Revenues Manager

To identify, prepare, check and authorise, within agreed guidelines, refunds of overpayment of business rates or refer for verification/certification and to transfer or reallocate moneys between taxpayers accounts /funds.

To check and verify accounts where Direct Debits have been returned unpaid and take appropriate action.

To assist and identify any necessary action regarding charging orders, bankruptcy, insolvency, administration orders and winding up of companies. 

Our Offer:

Aside from working with a great team, our employees have access to a fantastic range of benefits, including:

• A generous annual holiday allowance starting at 34 days per year (including bank holidays), increasing with long service
• Membership of our defined benefit, salary-linked Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with generous employer contributions
• 3 x Salary Life Cover via Local Government Pension Scheme
• Investment in your personal development
• Free Car Parking at HBC sites
• Flexible working arrangements
• Car leasing schemes

Next Steps:

At Halton Borough Council, we want all of our candidates to feel well-informed so if you would like to have an informal chat about this role, please contact Louise Bate on 0151 5116926

Interviews will take place on 7 and 8 April 2025

At Halton Borough Council we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce and a vital part of this is to encourage diversity in all respects. We are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and tailored to best suit the needs and strength of the individual. This includes making adjustments for people with a disability, neurodiversity or with long-term health conditions. If you require accommodations, please reach out during the recruitment process so that we can make this the best possible experience for you – resourcing@halton.gov.uk

Please refer to the attached Job Profile for further information about the role and our values.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications. If you’re interested, please complete your application as early as possible.

We look forward to receiving your application!