Head of Revenues & Benefits

My high performing local authority is looking to recruit an Interim Head of Revenues and Benefits to lead and develop it's large team as well as overseeing the full scope of statutory Revenues and Benefits functions including Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefits, Local Council Tax Support and the Council's Corporate Fraud Team.

This is a senior leadership role with a strong focus on the Collection Fund, policy development 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 c90 staff across multiple teams delivering Council Tax, Business Rates, Housing Benefits, Local Council Tax Support and Corporate Fraud.
• Take strategic responsibility for the Collection Fund, ensuring effective billing, collection and financial control across Council Tax and Business Rates.
• Oversee the administration and delivery of Housing Benefits and Local Council Tax Support, ensuring support is targeted to vulnerable residents and statutory requirements are met.
• Oversee the administration of discretionary schemes including housing payments and council tax 13a (1) (c) hardship payments and business rate reliefs.
• 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.
• 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.

This is an interim role with a rate of £550 to £650 a day inside IR35. The role offers hybrid working arrangements with 1 day a month needed in the office.