Business Rates Manager

Business Rates Manager – Permanent – upto £50,000 + Car Allowance – Hybrid Working
Main Purpose of Role
in summary will involve the management of the property taxes demands ensuring that our clients total liability is as low as possible with the use of their property tax consultant where services are contracted.

Key Responsibilities

• Initial assessment of whether our client is responsible for the relevant property tax demand considering the construction of the company portfolio.  Saving all Demands to file structure to allow other departments access such as Finance.
• Responsible for the validation of property tax demands in all jurisdictions checking that the correct multiplier, RV/NAV has been used following change in circumstances at the facility or recording successful appeals etc.  Assessing for transitional relief and other dispensations resulting in the correct charge being applied to our client.
• Approve payments to allow the Finance Department to make payment of the Demands and approve Direct Debit schedules in accordance with the Finance Department requests.
• Either conduct directly (depending on experience and workload) or instruction of property tax appeal packs to consultants instructing an appeal of the property tax valuation placed on the Company Infrastructure Facility.
• If conducting the appeal directly a valuation is to be produced for each appeal to be submitted using our clients usual appeal pack information.
• Report on progress and anticipated savings on each matter to form part of the monthly report for the Head of Estates.
• Maintain detailed records of all appeal results and the impact to customer refunds etc.
• Production and management of the recharge of property taxes to customers in the relevant jurisdictions taking into account recharge clauses or other reasons why a recharge to a particular customer is not appropriate.
• Pass the completed recharge schedules to the Finance Department addressing any queries raised in order that invoices can be raised.  Deal with Finance and Key Account Relationship Managers on any debt queries that arise from customers to provide a resolution to the matter.
• Prepare for consideration of the Operations Director any customer refunds due following the appeal and refund of any Property Taxes.  Deal with any customer enquiries on refunds in line with company policy.
• Be the recipient of the recharge schedules and Demands from the client for the assets they attempt to recharge to the company.  Validate the recharge against the previous years schedules noting/seeking explanations of any changes.  
• Prepare the customer recharge using the information supplied by the client taking into account recharge clauses or other reasons why a recharge to a particular customer is not appropriate.
• Pass the completed recharge schedules to the Finance Department addressing any queries raised in order that invoices can be raised.  Deal with Finance and Key Account Relationship Managers on any debt queries that arise from customers to provide a resolution to the matter.
• Manage the company retained consultant and their contract obligations/services. Supply instructions for the raising of Purchase Orders in line with the contract core services and additional incentive based fees.
• Meet with key personnel on a quarterly basis from the Consultant to assist the management of the relationship and the contract.
• Receive key industry updates from the Consultant and disseminate to relevant staff.

• Procure ad hoc services outside of contract as and when the need arises, agreeing scope and fees as part of the process
• Manage the receipt of information/process of customers joining and leaving site and the impact that has on the Property Taxes at a particular Infrastructure Facility.
• Be the lead on any disclosure exercise or request for information from any relevant authority in accordance with the timescales permitted ensuring WIG is compliant with the request.
• Feed in the strategic positions of the company into the valuation methodology directly or via the consultant, agent forums and VOA/SAA etc These include items such as ECC changes, vacant sites, indoor cells etc.
• Author of all business processes/policies that underpin the activities the Property Tax department is responsible for.  Current processes include:-
  • Bill Validation Process
  • Appeal Management
  • Customer Recharges
  • Decom Management Process
  • Validation of Incoming Customer Recharges
  • Recharge Policies
  • Refund Policies
• Seek approval of Head of Estates if any process/policy requires changes/updates.
• Use & update the database repository hosted on-line ‘Siterra’ to record all information about the property tax demands, appeals management and customer recharge prohibition.
• Provide reports as requested by Head of Estates for inclusion in the monthly report including but not limited to:-
  • Property Tax – Standing Statistics
  • Project Sky Integration
  • Appeals
  • Rates Debtors

Person Specification

• General property or rating experience.
• Degree level in property related subject matter.
• Commercially astute
• Ability to communicate successfully with people at all levels both inside and outside the company, both verbally and in writing
• Sound negotiation skills and experience
• Effective stakeholder management skills
• Computer literate, intermediate skills with Microsoft Office and in particular Excel
• Highly motivated with a will to succeed