Local government revenues officer

You would help to collect the money needed to pay for local public services. You’d explain to people how much their contribution is. You could also help people get the financial help they're entitled to. You would work for a local council and deal with housing benefits, rents, council tax and non-domestic rates.

As a revenues officer you would collect rents, council tax, non-domestic or business rates and deal with the related administrative work. You’d apply the rules carefully and fairly so that everyone pays the right amount and gets the money they are entitled to.

You would:

• Calculate rents, council tax and business rates
• Send bills and reminders
• Collect and record payments
• Deal with enquiries face to face and by phone, email and post
• Keep accurate clerical and computerised records
• Recover arrears of rent or council tax
• Make home and business visits
• Identify possible discounts on charges like council tax and business rates
• Take legal action where necessary
• Attend court when required

As a benefits officer, you would arrange the payment of housing and council tax benefits.

You would:

• Check if a person is eligible for benefits
• Check and process claim forms
• Arrange payments
• Communicate with other services like social services, housing associations and government departments
• Deal with enquiries face to face and by phone, email and post
• Keep accurate paper and computer records get back money when a benefit has been wrongly paid
• Arrange legal action when necessary

With experience, you may also work on housing valuations or investigate potential cases of fraud.

In both roles, you would deal with a wide variety of people and need to clearly explain complex rules and processes to them. People may become upset or angry, so you’d need to be tactful but also assertive.