Recovery, Revenues & Welfare Officer - Visiting Officer

Closing date: 14 June 2026

Salary: Grade 12, ranging from £28,598 - £32,061 per annum

Step into a role where you’ll be out in the community and making a visible difference every day. As a Recovery, Revenues and Welfare Visiting Officer specialising in and focusing on external visits, you’ll combine investigative work, customer engagement and problem-solving to ensure Council Tax and Business Rates are fair, accurate and up to date.

From visiting both residential and commercial properties and uncovering key information, to supporting residents through complex or sensitive situations, and in supporting your colleagues in the office, this is a role that offers real variety and purpose. You’ll be part of a service that directly protects funding for local communities, while working on meaningful cases and contributing to improvements across the service.

At Somerset Council, you’ll join a supportive and forward-thinking organisation where your expertise is valued, your autonomy is trusted, and your work has a genuine impact on people’s lives.

Role Summary

As our Recovery, Revenues and Welfare Officer – Visiting Officer, you will help ensure the accurate administration of Council Tax and Business Rates by carrying out property visits, gathering evidence and making informed decisions in line with legislation. Your work supports fair billing, effective recovery and the delivery of vital council services, while contributing to a responsive and customer-focused revenues and welfare service.

What you’ll do – Key Responsibilities

• Conduct property visits and inspections across the Somerset area to verify occupancy, liability, and property details for Council Tax and Business Rates.
• Gather, assess and record evidence accurately using mobile technology and internal systems to ensure correct billing and compliance.
• Make informed decisions on liability, discounts, exemptions and reliefs in line with relevant legislation and local policy.
• Support the prevention and reduction of Council Tax arrears by working closely with recovery teams and contributing to enforcement processes where required.
• Engage directly with residents, businesses and vulnerable customers, providing support, resolving complex enquiries and signposting to appropriate services.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners such as the Valuation Office Agency, DWP, enforcement agents and advice organisations to resolve cases.
• Identify potential fraud or discrepancies and refer cases through the appropriate channels, contributing to initiatives such as the National Fraud Initiative.
• Process changes to property and valuation records, ensuring data is accurate and up to date to maximise the council tax base.
• Manage a varied and demanding caseload independently, including planning routes and prioritising visits effectively.
• Assist with service improvements and project work, contributing ideas and technical input to enhance processes and respond to legislative changes.

What we’re looking for – Knowledge, Experience, & Skills

Essential

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of Revenues and/or Benefits legislation, and financial and recovery processes within a local government context.
• In-depth understanding of property valuation principles and their impact on Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates liability.
• Strong experience of lone working, including safely carrying out visits and inspections using appropriate tools and processes.
• Experience in property inspection or field-based roles, including data gathering and reporting for compliance or enforcement purposes.
• Extensive experience in Revenues, Welfare and Benefits within a local authority setting.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, customer-facing environment, dealing with complex or sensitive enquiries.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities, plan workloads effectively and meet deadlines.
• Excellent analytical, observational and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage confidently and empathetically with a wide range of customers and stakeholders.
• Confident IT skills, including experience using relevant systems and databases.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, using initiative and taking responsibility for own work.
• Full UK driving licence with no endorsements.
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Safeguarding, Health & Safety/lone working, and conflict resolution/de-escalation training.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Valuation Office Agency (VOA) processes and property valuation practice.
• Experience of working with external agencies such as government bodies, solicitors or advisory services.
• Experience of providing advice, guidance or support to others.
• IRRV qualification (or equivalent professional qualification).
• Ability to identify opportunities for service improvement and contribute to process development.
• Ability to adopt a structured approach to problem-solving and implement practical solutions.

Additional Information

• Permanent, Full-time role (37 hours per week).
• 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 28 days after 5 years’ service (additional to Bank Holidays).
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities.
• This role requires regular travel across Somerset to conduct property visits and inspections, so a full UK driving licence with no endorsements is essential.
• Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact William Walsh, Business Rates Manager, on 01823 219713 or william.walsh@somerset.gov.uk

A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request via recruitment@somerset.gov.uk