Trainee Clerk

Remote working (anywhere in the UK)

Our work at the Valuation Tribunal Service (VTS) is relevant to everyone in their day-to-day lives as our remit covers business rates and council tax appeals. 

We currently have vacancies to join our new training programme for Trainee Clerks – initially on a two-year fixed term contract. If successful during the two-year training programme we will then look to transition you into permanent clerking roles.

During your structured training programme, you will be supported to build your expertise in local taxation and gain professional qualification status as a member of the Institute of Revenues, Rating & Valuation (IRRV).

You will find our work is varied and interesting. If you are successful in being appointed, you will receive: 

• a structured training programme delivered by expert professionals 
• an experienced mentor to support your development along the way 
• career-developing experiences and an opportunity to network with a wide range of property professionals 
• help and support to achieve membership of the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation (IRRV). 

The VTS offers a competitive salary for our trainee positions ranging from £26,845 to £29,439 (we are also awaiting agreement of a further pay award). Once appointed, to progress within the grade you will need to demonstrate successful performance and successful progress in your IRRV studies.

Among our benefits, we offer membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and a generous leave allowance that starts with 26 days, increasing to 28 after three years’ service and 31 days after five years of service). Our leave year starts on 1 April each year, so if you join us after that then your leave will be pro-rationed accordingly.

You do not need to have any previous experience of local taxation, but you must be willing to learn and also progress in your studies for the IRRV professional qualification. Our eligibility criteria to be considered for these roles is listed below.

Our commitment is to train you to understand the full appeal journey from first receipt of an appeal to writing a decision.

This will be a home working position, but you will be expected to travel and regularly attend our London office as part of your training and development.

If successful during the fixed term contract our intention would be to transition you into the permanent role of Tribunal Clerk where you will be picking up your own caseload and facilitating Tribunals in an advisory capacity. The full clerking role can command a salary up to £42,503.

As part of your initial training and development (initially about 4 months, but some of these activities may continue throughout your whole two-year training period):

You will shadow colleagues and develop appropriate skills and knowledge in providing administrative and clerical support to tribunal users and tribunal panels to assist in the efficient running of local taxation appeals. You will organise and coordinate hearings, managing case files, and ensuring all relevant documentation is prepared and distributed in a timely manner. You will also be responsible for maintaining excellent customer service top appellants and other stakeholders.

 Key Responsibilities

• Providing customer facing services in addition to first point of contact (email, telephone), including responding to enquiries from appellants, their representatives, and other stakeholders, providing information and assistance regarding the appeal process, hearing dates and documental requirements.
• Liaising with local authorities, appellants, professional agents and legal representatives to ensure smooth co-ordination of documentation in progressing appeal registration.
• Assist in the preparation and co-ordination of appeal hearings, including scheduling hearings, notifying parties, and arranging necessary facilities and equipment, close-down of Tribunals, liaison with colleague Tribunal Clerks etc.
• Providing administrative support during hearings, including responding to connectivity issues.
•  Dealing with tribunal member allocation and availability and maintaining liaison with tribunal members.
• Ensuring all documentation and correspondence related to appeals are accurately recorded, filed and tracked, including amendments via manual and IT systems.
• Analyse and produce accurate data and information in a user friendly format for both internal and external use, following laid down office procedures.
• To follow and implement laid down office and business procedures to ensure that all appeal arrangements are made.
• Work with and assist administrative colleagues to ensure that a comprehensive office based service is provided to stakeholders.
• Maintaining confidentiality and adhering to relevant data protection and privacy regulations.
• Staying updated on relevant legislation, regulations and procedural guidelines related to local taxation appeals.

After approximately four (4) months, if you are progressing successfully, you will begin to learn the clerking role and this will continue during both the probation period of nine months and for the rest of your two year fixed term contract period. Please note that you may be expected to contribute to any work in the operations team during your training to help develop you as a rounded Trainee Clerk.

Specifically you will:

• Shadow Tribunal Clerks and develop the required skills and knowledge in providing technical and procedural expertise in advising tribunal users at hearings on their relevant local taxation appeal and to support tribunal panels in allowing them to make decisions that accurately reflects legislation.

 Key responsibilities

• Provide expert advice to VTE Members, external stakeholders and members of the public on processes and protocols relating to appeals, while maintaining highest levels of impartiality and fairness at all times so as to ensure full confidence in the system of administrative justice.
• Act as a hearing clerk in providing technical and procedural advice at hearings to VTE Members, legal and professional representatives, respondents and members of the public attending hearings, while maintaining highest levels of impartiality and fairness at all times so as to ensure full confidence in the system of administrative justice.
• Ensuring no conflict of interest exists in the appeal processes, and where such conflict might arise raise the matter formally at the earliest opportunity with operational management.
• Active case management of allocated appeals and managing effectively the hearing of them, preparing case management papers for submission to tribunal members and liaising with all parties to ensure all required documentation is available.
• Have a working understanding of VTE Consolidated Practice Statement.
• Prepare case management papers for submission to tribunals.
• Accurately draft decisions made by the Tribunal, complying with laid down quality standards, ensuring written decisions are ratified and despatched to all relevant parties and working within key performance indicators.
• Assist in the preparation of statistical reports and data analysis related to appeals.
• Maintaining confidentiality and adhering to relevant data protection and privacy regulations.
• Staying updated on relevant legislation, regulations and procedural guidelines related to local taxation appeals.

By the end of Year 2, the expectation is the individual will have successfully attained  the IRRV Technical examinations as a minimum.

Where a successful applicant for the trainee role is an internal appointment and already immersed in the VTS’s admin processes, you are likely to move more quickly to the clerking aspects of the role.

GENERAL WORKING CONDITIONS • Able to work across all venues/sites operated or used by the Valuation Tribunal Service • Willing to undertake travel as required by the job, including overnight stays where appropriate. • Able to work flexibly • To work in a disciplined manner having due regard to the level of work required to be undertaken • Able to work on your own initiative. • To communicate effectively at all times with stakeholders. 

ATTRIBUTES WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• Highly engaged, self-motivated, IT literate individuals.
• Working under pressure and being able to manage your own time to meet strict deadlines are key requirements in all our trainee and clerking roles.
• Demonstrable organisational skills accompanied by excellent customer care skills with high levels of communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to demonstrate an ability to pick up complex matters quickly
• Likely to be degree educated although that is not essential; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds who are looking to develop a career with us.
• Excellent analytical skills and have an ability to communicate clearly and concisely in English both orally and in writing.
• Able to distil information quickly from a range of sources and be able to summarise the key issues that require discussion and decision.

More specifically the Trainee Clerk role will require you to have:

• Good level of literacy and numeracy.
• Capability to develop professional competence and knowledge in Rating/Council Tax Law, Tribunal procedures. 
• Excellent attention to details and accuracy in handling documentation and records.
• Demonstrable confidence and clarity in conveying information and advice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact professionally with appellants, professional representatives and other users.
• Customer care orientation, with focus on quality and continual improvement.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines, adhering to quality and service standards.
• Ability to produce clear and concise written reports and to articulate complex issues simply and effectively.
• Ability to research and assimilate information quickly and accurately to provide sound advice
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, demonstrating flexibility and adaptability.
• Proficient computer skills, including good understanding of IT packages particularly Microsoft packages, including Word and Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.
• Good people and team building skills with commitment to promoting equality and diversity.
• Good diplomatic and influencing skills.
• Demonstrable willingness and commitment to study for IRRV qualifications and attain the qualification levels within a reasonable time period as specified by management.
• Maintaining confidentiality and adhering to relevant data protection and privacy regulations.
• Staying updated on relevant legislation, regulations and procedural guidelines related to local taxation appeals.
• Provide technical, procedural, legal and case law training to VTS staff and VTE as and when required.

• Learning and development tailored to your role • A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity • A competitive salary with the opportunity to progress within the VTS; we want our recruits to become our senior managers of the future • Local Government Pension Scheme – auto-enrolled membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme administered by the London Pension Fund Authority (but you can decide to opt out) • Healthy Work/Life Balance – a 37 hour working week, with some flexibility on daily start and finish times • Generous Annual Leave – Minimum of 26 days paid holiday, rising to 28 days and then 31 days after five years of continuous service. In addition, you get two paid non statutory days – normally between Christmas and New Year. Plus you’ll get the normal 8 bank holidays in England and Wales • Commitment to health and wellbeing – including access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) • Use of technology to book your annual leave, register sickness etc and receive electronic pay slips and P60s – so no more chasing paper! • Contribution towards eye-tests and glasses • Season ticket loan – Interest free public transport ticket loan. • Commitment to ongoing development – payment of one set of professional membership fees. Regular training and development workshops and access to our sophisticated Learning Management System and modules to help support your learning. • Access to all levels of management and colleagues in a supportive professional environment. We want you to enjoy your time working for us and be proud to say you work for the VTS. You will have opportunities to attend our Head Office location in a vibrant, up-and-coming and cosmopolitan part of London with easy access to transport and some of London’s most spectacular sights. Please note that there is no continuity of service with the Civil Service • Pension is Local Government Pension Scheme NOT Civil Service

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

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Job contact :

• Name : For application queries contact the HR team on the e-mail indicated
• Email : hr.admin@valuationtribunal.gov.uk
• Telephone : Please send e-mail to address shown

Recruitment team

• Email : hr.admin@valuationtribunal.gov.uk