Job Details

Council Tax Billing Officer

Organisation: West Northamptonshire Council
Location: Northampton – hybrid working, 1–2 days on-site per week
Contract: 3 months initially, with potential extension
Hours: 37 hours per week
Pay Rate: £19.71 per hour PAYE
Start Date: 9th November 2026

About the Role

West Northamptonshire Council is seeking an experienced Council Tax Billing Officer to join its Revenues team and support increased workload demands.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the accurate and timely administration of Council Tax accounts, processing billing amendments and assessing applications for discounts, exemptions and reductions. You will need recent local authority Council Tax or Revenues experience, a strong understanding of Council Tax legislation and the ability to manage a high volume of cases while delivering excellent customer service.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and update Council Tax accounts, ensuring accurate and timely billing.
• Process changes in liability, billing amendments and account updates.
• Assess and process applications for discounts, exemptions, disregards and Council Tax Reduction.
• Apply Council Tax legislation and ensure decisions are accurate and compliant.
• Respond to resident enquiries by telephone, email and written correspondence.
• Provide advice and guidance on Council Tax matters, delivering a professional and customer-focused service.
• Set up and amend payment methods, including Direct Debits, in line with relevant requirements.
• Manage a busy caseload, prioritising work to meet targets, deadlines and service standards.
• Liaise with internal departments and external stakeholders to resolve queries and support service delivery.

Essential Requirements

• Recent experience working within a local authority Council Tax Billing or Revenues team.
• Strong knowledge of Council Tax legislation, billing processes and account administration.
• Experience processing discounts, exemptions, disregards and Council Tax Reduction applications.
• Experience using MRI Revenues & Benefits (formerly Academy) is essential.
• Ability to manage high volumes of work accurately and efficiently.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills, including handling sensitive or challenging enquiries.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office, alongside good organisational and time-management abilities.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise competing demands and meet targets and deadlines.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills, with GCSE English and Maths at grade C or above, or equivalent proven ability.

Working Arrangements

This is a hybrid role requiring attendance in Northampton approximately 1–2 days per week. The initial contract is for three months, with the possibility of an extension.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be an experienced Council Tax Officer who can hit the ground running, confidently manage Council Tax accounts and apply relevant legislation. They will have recent local authority experience, hands-on knowledge of Council Tax billing and discounts, and the ability to use MRI Revenues & Benefits to support the team from day one.