Grants Admin Assistant - Northumberland County Council

Northumberland County Council - Grant Administration Assistant (Lead)

Location: County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF

Contract: Initial six-month contract with possible further extension.

Hours: Full Time – 9:00am to 5:00pm – Monday to Friday

Payrate: £19 an Hour

Description:

This role will be undertaken from home, and so applications are welcomed from any location, though you may be required to visit County Hall, Morpeth,

Northumberland to collect the IT equipment that will be provided. The candidate will be working in a specific project team to administer the Covid Grants Scheme.

Job Purpose:

To assist the Revenues Manager in the overall running of the Covid Grant Schemes and the Revenues Recovery Section and to manage one of

the Recovery teams to ensure that the day-to-day collection and enforcement of Council Tax, National Non-Domestic Rates, Housing Benefit Overpayment and

Sundry Debt are conducted effectively and efficiently in accordance with all legislative requirements.

Duties and key result areas:

To manage the team and the Section and organise and monitor all aspects of work and to support and guide the other Recovery Team Leaders/Sundry Debt Team Leader and Senior Recovery Officers.

To compile and arrange and adhere to the annual Recovery Timetable.

To act as the lead officer in specialist areas of Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates, Sundry Debt and Housing Benefit overpayment recovery and to provide advice and expertise where required.

To liaise with officers of the Court in order to organise Court schedules for Council Tax, Business Rates, Sundry Debt and Housing Benefit overpayment nonpayers.

To represent the Council and present cases at the Magistrates Court and County Court with the required documentation.

To set up and maintain debt escalation process for Sundry Debt and Housing Benefit overpayments to include County Court procedures and debt collection agencies.

To assist in the procurement of bailiff and other services as required and to introduce a bailiff protocol and ensure adherence to it.

To assist with setting team objectives and targets as part of the business planning process and take corrective action to resolve performance issues where necessary.

Ensure that customer requirements and expectations are in line with agreed service standards.

Evaluate staff development needs, conduct staff appraisals and arrange appropriate training and development.

Assist in the development of policies, procedures and strategies in accordance with the service’s business plan, objectives, legislation and software developments.

To hold regular review meetings with bailiff’s and debt collection agencies to evaluate and monitor SLA’s and day to day issues.

To deal with members of the public, welfare rights agencies and Money Advice agencies regarding customers with financial difficulties.

Produce monthly statistics and quarterly returns ready for authorisation and return.

To assist in focussed project work where required.

To reconcile and balance accounts and propose accounts for write off.

To manage the team in accordance with the Council’s policies and procedures, in particular, sickness, disciplinary and grievances, staff development and training,

equality and diversity, health and safety and any policies relating to the team’s specific area of work.

Participate in meetings and service reviews with managers and other sections and external bodies as required.

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.

To discuss this vacancy or other vacancies in your area please contact Nana Kyeremeh on 0208 514 9137 or Email nanayawk@4recruitmentservices.com