Head of Revenues

Slough is a dynamic economic hub at the gateway to London and the Thames Valley, with excellent transport links including the Elizabeth line and proximity to Heathrow Airport. We are seeking exceptional finance professionals ready for a challenging, career-defining role. With a new S151 officer and a balanced budget for 2025/26, we are poised for financial resilience and a bright future. Our Finance and Procurement Teams have a robust improvement programme focused on career development. Be part of our critical transformation and thrive in a supportive, demanding and rewarding environment.

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Head of Revenues to join our team. Reporting to the Director of Revenues and Welfare Services, this role is crucial in maximising income to the council while understanding that the cost of living crisis is affecting residents ability to pay council tax, rent, and other financial commitments. You will drive up collection rates, manage billing and recovery processes, and lead a committed team through a significant period of change and transformation that will include new technologies and the move to a proactive supportive approach to collection.

Responsibilities:

• Collection of over £350m in 2025/26

• Continue to improve council tax, housing rent and accounts receivable collection rates

• Manage billing, administration, and recovery of council tax

• Conduct data cleansing to understand and optimise collection processes

• Incorporate new recovery measures to enforce and collect outstanding debts

• Own and manage the re-procurement of business rates service partner

• Sensitively address arrears in adult social care charges

• Sit on the council’s debt board

• Managing 3 direct reports (Revenues Manager, Housing Recovery Manager, AP/AR Manager)

• Liaise with business rates contractor to delivery efficient and timely services

Key Priorities:

• Drive up collection rates and improve billing and recovery processes

• Utilise all available powers to enforce and collect debts

• Manage re-procurement of business rates service partner

• Address adult social care arrears effectively and sensitively

• Engage politically with Members and the council’s corporate leadership team developing and presenting business cases and cabinet proposals

• Transform the culture of the service and establish best-in-class protocols ensuring officers have the tools to do the job

• Embed a methodology of using data and insight to drive what we do

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Experience in leading and imporoving billing and collection of council tax, business rates, housing rent, accounts receivable and adult social care charges

• Strong understanding of debt management and enforcement measures and their use in driving up collection

• Ability to transform service culture and address legacy issues

• Innovative and risk-taking mindset, compliant but forward-thinking

• Savvy political engagement and communication skills

• Excellent knowledge and experience of using data and insight to focus resources to achieve the best results

• Ability to write and present compelling business cases and proposals

Are you ready to lead and transform Slough's financial landscape? We need resilient, adaptable professionals who can develop sustainable strategies, drive procurement excellence, and support broader economic objectives. If you thrive on complexity and see challenges as opportunities, join us in making a real difference. We offer a genuine career-defining opportunity for those who are prepared to step up, challenge the status quo, and make a real difference. If you are a finance professional who thrives on complexity, sees challenges as opportunities, and wants to be part of a transformative journey, we want to hear from you. Apply now and turn potential into performance.

Closing date: Monday 14 April 2025

For more information please contact Andrew Barton, CIPFA Penna on andrew.barton@penna.com / D +44 (0) 7922 386 432