We''re recruiting an experienced Head of Revenues and Benefits to lead a high-performing local authority service, overseeing the full scope of statutory Revenues and Benefits functions including Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefits and income collection.

This is a senior leadership role with a strong focus on the Collection Fund, system re-procurement and service transformation. The successful candidate will act as the Council''s lead expert on Revenues and Benefits legislation, advising senior leadership and driving performance, compliance and financial stability across a large and complex service.

The Role
- Lead and manage the Council''s Revenues and Benefits service, overseeing c135 staff across multiple teams delivering Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefits and income collection services.
- Take strategic responsibility for the Collection Fund, ensuring effective billing, collection and financial control across Council Tax (c£200m) and Business Rates (c£65m).
- Oversee the administration and delivery of Housing Benefits (c£100m) and Council Tax Support, ensuring support is targeted to vulnerable residents and statutory requirements are met.
- Lead on sundry debt recovery (c£20m), developing and implementing debt strategies to maximise collection and manage recovery processes.
- Oversee the administration of discretionary schemes including hardship payments, crisis grants and other financial support mechanisms.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, government policy and regulatory requirements across Revenues and Benefits services.
- Act as the Council''s lead advisor to senior leadership, including the s151 Officer, on all Revenues and Benefits matters, strategy and performance.
- Lead on system re-procurement and digital transformation, ensuring systems support efficient, automated and customer-focused service delivery.
- Oversee customer access channels including online, contact centre, face-to-face and correspondence, ensuring a high-quality resident experience.
- Manage enforcement activity including recovery processes, court action and bailiff engagement where required.
- Lead financial monitoring, forecasting and reporting, supporting budget management, audit requirements and government returns.
- Develop and embed performance frameworks to monitor productivity, mitigate risk, prevent fraud and drive continuous service improvement.
- Build and maintain strong internal and external partnerships, representing the Council at senior level and driving collaborative working.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, learning and innovation to enhance service delivery and resident outcomes.
- Deputise for senior leadership and contribute to corporate priorities, strategy and cross-council initiatives.

Key Requirements
- Extensive experience operating at senior level within a Revenues and Benefits service in a local authority or similar environment.
- Strong expertise in Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefits and income collection, including Collection Fund management.
- Proven experience leading large, multi-disciplinary teams and delivering high-performing services.
- Strong understanding of relevant legislation, regulation and government policy relating to Revenues and Benefits.
- Experience overseeing or leading system implementation or re-procurement within a Revenues and Benefits environment.
- Demonstrable experience improving collection rates, service performance and customer outcomes.
- Strong financial acumen with experience managing large budgets, forecasting and audit processes.
- Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships, including senior leadership, members and external partners.
- Excellent leadership, communication and strategic thinking skills.
- Ability to drive service transformation, innovation and continuous improvement.

What You Need to Do Now
If you are interested in this role and meet the criteria above, please click APPLY NOW and send us your application today.

If you do not hear from us within 48 hours of applying, your application has been unsuccessful.

Footnote
If you feel that this job matches your skills but not the rate, location or seniority, please feel free to send us your CV anyway. We constantly recruit for similar roles across all levels, UK-wide, and would be pleased to speak with you confidentially about your employment status.
Even if you''re currently satisfied in your role, we welcome calls from Revenues and Benefits professionals, Heads of Service and Income specialists looking to make future connections. Our specialist team at Carrington West has over 100 years of combined experience in housing recruitment.
For more information, call Zubair at Carrington West on (phone number removed).
By applying for this position, you agree for Carrington West to hold and process your personal data in accordance with our Data Protection Policy. Your data will only be shared with third-party clients for roles relevant to your application. You may withdraw consent at any time by contacting us.