View Vacancy -- Graduate Officer - Operational Finance

This is a fixed term post for a two year period and will start in September 2016.

This is an exciting and challenging time for Local Government as it seeks to continue to deliver high quality services at the same time as improved value for money. The role of local government in shaping the future of local communities will be more important than ever.

Working in Local Government offers some of the toughest and most intellectually stimulating challenges, as the services we provide affect thousands of lives in many different ways.

The Council is once again preparing to recruit to its Graduate Programme, which runs every two years and offers a vibrant environment in which to learn new and transferable skills, meet people from a range of backgrounds and develop a professional career.

The Operational Finance Unit provides a range of front line and support services to residents, businesses and other Council Departments. The Revenues Service manages Council Tax and Business Rates Administration & Enforcement, as well as Sundry Debt collection, and together they have responsibility for the collection of over £200m in local taxes and fees and charges; this revenue is critical to the provision of Council services both now and into the future.

The Benefits Service has responsibility for the calculation and payment of over £100m in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support to 30,000 households, who are generally the most vulnerable residents in Rhondda Cynon Taf; they also ensure that these households maximise take up of additional benefits such as free school meals for children. Clearly, this service provides assistance to residents who are in difficult financial circumstances and it needs to be responsive and ensure people receive help with their rent and council tax liabilities in a timely manner. 

The day to day management and administration of the Revenue and Benefits Service requires significant interaction with the general public and a range of stakeholders, including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), private sector landlords, third sector organisations such as Citizens Advice, Enforcement Agents and Court Services, to name but a few. The Service works closely with other Council Services such as Customer Services, ICT and Marketing in our ambition to make best use of technology to digitalise and automate many of its business processes.

If you are expecting to gain a 2:1 degree in an financial services related discipline (or have been in a Finance based workplace since gaining your 2:1 degree) and have drive and passion to help us meet a wide range of responsibilities, then you could apply for the position of Graduate Officer (Revenues and Benefits). 

For further information about the post, please contact Darren Notley on 01443 424092. 

Rhondda Cynon Taf welcomes applications from all sections of the community.