Local Taxation and Benefits Service Manager

Do you have the vision, leadership and expertise to shape the future of Local Taxation and Benefits services across North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire?

If you're someone who thrives on leading high-performing teams, enjoys driving service improvement and transformation, and can balance strategic thinking with operational delivery, we'd love to hear from you. You'll be confident influencing stakeholders at all levels, building strong partnerships and making informed decisions in a complex environment. With your expertise in Local Taxation and Benefits, you'll be passionate about delivering excellent services, supporting local communities and ensuring residents receive the right support while helping both councils achieve their objectives.

What's the role all about?

This is an exciting opportunity to lead an established shared Local Taxation & Benefits Service across North East Lincolnshire Council and North Lincolnshire Council. As Service Manager, you'll be responsible for the strategic leadership, performance and continuous improvement of a service that plays a vital role in supporting residents, collecting income and administering benefits across both authorities.

You'll provide direction to a large and diverse team, ensuring services remain compliant, customer-focused and efficient, while delivering positive outcomes for local communities. As a member of the Finance Services Senior Management Team, you'll also help shape wider organisational priorities and provide expert advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.

What your day will look like

You'll provide strategic leadership for a high-performing Local Taxation and Benefits service, leading and inspiring teams across two councils to deliver excellent outcomes for residents. Your role will focus on driving service performance, transformation and continuous improvement, ensuring services remain compliant with legislation while maintaining strong financial controls. You'll develop and implement service strategies, business plans and improvement programmes that support the priorities of both authorities, while building effective relationships with elected members, senior leaders, partners and external organisations. Alongside leading organisational change projects and service reviews, you'll represent the service at local, regional and national forums, championing the important role that benefits administration, income collection and debt management play in promoting financial inclusion and reducing poverty within our communities.

Who we're looking for

We're looking for a strategic and inspirational leader with significant experience managing Local Taxation and Benefits services within a complex public sector environment. You'll bring a strong track record of delivering high-quality services, leading large teams and driving transformational change.

You'll also have:

• Extensive knowledge of Local Taxation, Benefits administration, debt recovery and related legislation.
• Experience managing substantial budgets and maintaining effective financial controls.
• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• The ability to influence, negotiate and build credibility with a wide range of audiences.

• Experience translating strategic priorities into successful operational delivery.

• A relevant professional qualification, such as IRRV, CIPFA or equivalent, together with a degree-level qualification and/or equivalent professional knowledge, skills and experience.

Why join us?

This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-profile shared service at a time of transformation and collaboration. You'll have the chance to shape the future of Local Taxation and Benefits delivery across two councils, influence strategic decision-making and make a meaningful difference to residents and communities.

You'll join organisations that are committed to continuous improvement, innovation and putting people at the heart of what they do. Working with supportive senior leaders and talented teams, you'll play a key role in delivering services that matter

For more information, please refer to the attached role profile. If you would like an informal discussion, please contact: Richard Catlyn via Richard.Catlyn@nelincs.gov.uk

Key Dates

Advert closing date: Sunday 22nd November 2026

We aim to interview candidates:1st & 2nd December

We want you to have the best interview experience with us, we will provide candidates selected for interview their questions in advance of meeting us by 4pm the evening before.

We reserve the right to close our adverts early if we have received a significant volume of suitable applications.

We love AI and think it plays a great role in the world of work. However, for your application, we want to hear from YOU! As such, we will be testing applications to determine the use of AI, and applications that have heavily utilised the function will be scrutinised for suitability.

Check out our NELC Benefits brochure attached for more information on the brilliant benefits available working at North East Lincolnshire Council!

Do you need support?

If you need any help applying for this position, please contact Wendy Trask on 07702 338542 (text or call). Wendy can support with digital access as well as offering advice and guidance about completing the different sections of the application form.