Senior Rates Officer

A job with Council comes with job flexibility and career benefits to help you grow. 

The City of Port Lincoln is seeking a full-time, permanent, Senior Rates Officer that is responsible for the administration, integrity and maintenance of Council’s rating system. The role ensures accurate and efficient rate modelling and levy preparation, to generate and issue annual and quarterly rates notices to ratepayers, ensuring that public funds are collected timeously and in accordance with the Local Government Act 1999 and Council policy, to support Council essential services such as infrastructure, waste management and community programs.

• Full-time, Permanent Position
  
• Estimated start July - August 2026
• Relocation support available
• $82,498.5915 per annum 
• Salary package includes:
  • Laptop
  • Uniform Allowance
  • Plus 12% Superannuation
  • Additional 3% Council superannuation contribution

How does this Position contribute to our community?

The Senior Rates Officer is responsible for the administration, integrity and maintenance of Council’s rating system. The role ensures accurate and efficient rate modelling and levy preparation, to generate and issue annual and quarterly rates notices to ratepayers, ensuring that public funds are collected timeously and in accordance with the Local Government Act 1999 and Council policy, to support Council essential services such as infrastructure, waste management and community programs.

What does this position do?

The Senior Rates Officer is responsible for the overall administration and maintenance of Council's rating system, ensuring accuracy in rate calculations, debt collection, and compliance with relevant legislation including the rating provisions of the Local Government Act 1999. The position plays a critical role in supporting Council’s financial sustainability through effective revenue collection, robust reconciliation processes, and high-quality reporting. The role also contributes to broader finance operations, including budgeting, reporting and acting in the position of Revenue Accountant as required, including cross training into the Accounts Receivable position.

Key Objectives

• Efficient and accurate processing of rates data;
• Maintaining accurate property and assessment records including:

• • Adjoining properties and land parcels;
  • processing rates journals and adjustments;
  • Oversee changes of address and ownership;

• Manage the preparation, modelling and generation of annual and quarterly rate notices in

accordance with adopted budgets;

• Ensure timely and accurate issuing of rate notices and correspondence to ratepayers;
• Oversee administration of Chapter 7 Searches;
• Undertake monthly reconciliations of rates revenue, control accounts and property data to ensure accuracy and completeness;
• Administer Council’s rates debt collection processes in accordance with policy and legislation;
  • Monitor and manage outstanding rates, including payment arrangements and follow-up actions including:
    • Liaising with Council’s debt collection agency regarding outstanding rates balances;
    • Administration including set up and follow up for debtors on payment arrangements;
    • Recommend and implement appropriate recovery actions in line with legislative and Council directive;
  • Facilitate statutory processes including the sale of land for non-payment of rates;
• Prepare monthly reporting on rates arrears and recovery actions for management review;
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of reconciliations and reports in accordance with internal timeframes;
• Maintain strong data integrity across rating and financial systems;
• Manage and resolve ratepayer enquiries, including complex matters relating to assessments and objections, escalating sensitive or complex issues appropriately;
• Crosstrain and provide backup support for the Accounts Receivable function;
• Act in the position of Revenue Accountant as required, ensuring continuity of critical financial processes;
• Provide support and guidance to team members where required;
• Contribute to continuous improvement of systems, processes and service delivery;
• Work collaboratively with members of finance and customer experience teams;
• Processing of banking transactions daily;
• Daily bank reconciliations, reporting and associated general journals;
• Reporting of incidents, near miss, injuries, property damage and identified hazards;
• Taking reasonable care to protect their own safety and the health and safety of others;
• Following reasonable instruction on health and safety and injury management;
• Actively participating in training and WHS programs as required.

Essential Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• Experience in a similar position or industry;
• Knowledge of the Local Government Act 1999;
• Proficient IT Skills;
• Proficient Customer Service Skills.

Highly regarded (but not essential)
Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• Rates Diploma;
• Demonstrated Experience in Records Management

Key performance indicators

• Rates Modelling completed timeously and accurately;
• Debt Collection referrals are regularly maintained and kept up to date;
• Rate Notices are generated and issued to ratepayers according to set timelines;
• Rates data is accurate and up to date;
• Rates queries are addressed within one week of receiving the query;
• Ensure identified WHS responsibilities are being undertaken within required times.