Senior Assessment and Client Services Officer

The Council's Exchequer Service is responsible for Billing, Collection and Recovery of Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefit Overpayment, Sundry Debt, the administration of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support and Financial Assessments relating to Social Care.

We are looking for enthusiastic and positive individuals to work as part of our teams responsible for Financial Assessments, Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Support including subsidy, specified and supported accommodation as well as liaise with the Department of Work and Pensions, external subsidy auditors, Valuation Tribunal and Tribunal Appeal Service and stakeholders such as Community Hubs and Housing Associations.

As Senior Assessment and Client Services Officer, you will be expected to;

Administer the more complex transactional activities within the service, to monitor performance and ensure the legislation and policies are adhered to, supervise the administration and workload of the team, ensuring all processes are carried out in a timely and consistent manner.

Monitor and evaluate the performance levels within the team with a view to identifying ways of improving performance levels.

You will be the first line manager to a fast-paced team, ensuring staff are fully trained in all aspects of their role and working towards or at their competencies, as well as acting as the 'go-to' specialist for more complex queries and actively support the continuous improvement of the Exchequer Service; ensuring team members reach their maximum potential, through EPIC check-in's, coaching and developing individuals.

About you

Your style and approach will reflect our values and behaviours: you will be committed to continually learning & improving the way you do things to ensure effective outcomes; valuing and respecting others' contribution, you will work together to deliver service; you will take ownership of your actions and strive to getting things right first time and learn from when things do go wrong; you will enjoy taking personal responsibility to resolve issues and change what you do and how you do it to make a difference.

You will be IRRV qualified (Full/Tech/Apprenticeship) or have a willingness to obtain this qualification within 12 months and have at least 2 years work experience in a Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support environment, with up to date specialist knowledge including supported accommodation with a proven experience of dealing with complex cases, including making discretionary decisions, and experience of delivering a difficult outcome to residents in a professional, sensitive but assertive manner.

Trafford Council and its partners in the public, private and third sectors have a Vision which sees us working together to close inequality gaps and maximise Trafford's huge potential.

Our vision: Trafford - where all our residents, businesses and communities prosper

Trafford really is a great place to work. We're keen to recruit someone with the right values and behaviours that can help us ensure our workplace values are at the heart of everything we do

You will be welcomed into a friendly environment where your personal and professional development will be encouraged. You will have the opportunity to work and grow in a people-centred and values based organisation that promotes a positive permission culture. Your opinions matter so you will have the opportunity to shape how we do things here at Trafford.

Trafford recognises the importance of staff wellbeing and offer a number of initiatives for staff including mental health first aiders, staff network groups (LGBT+/Carers/BAME/Disability) and health and wellbeing events.

Our great benefits include:-
Local Government Pension Scheme

Home Technology Scheme
Car Lease Scheme
Cycle to Work scheme
Simply Healthcare
Employee Discount Scheme - 'Perks at Work'