Business Rates Manager (MRICS Senior Surveyor)

At S&W, we help our clients thrive by simplifying the complex, illuminating new paths, and shaping solutions that make a difference. As one of the UK’s top 10 fastest-growing accountancy firms, we have been a trusted partner since 1881—helping businesses and individuals meet challenges and seize opportunities across generations.

Built on expertise and driven by ambition, we provide a comprehensive range of services, including tax and accountancy, advisory and assurance, corporate finance, and restructuring. We are defined by our purpose—to help navigate challenges, unlock potential, and achieve the extraordinary.

What will you be doing? 

We are seeking a talented individual to join our Business Rates team in London. You will be expected to value commercial property assets across all property valuation methods including the comparable rental, contractors and receipts and expenditure methods. You will be responsible for managing key client accounts and for undertaking quarterly meetings as well as providing regular appeal status, liability and accrual reporting.

The successful candidate will be able to competently use and operate the CPI Inform Riverlake and Analyse business rates software programmes and co-star in order to record, populate and submit relevant information as well as to aid the compilation of comparable evidence to utilise for negotiation.You will understand and competently utilise and navigate the Check, Challenge and Appeal business rates framework for England and will be able to independently raise Checks and submit challenges on behalf of clients for the 2023 revaluation. Candidates should also have awareness of the seismic changes afoot in business rates to advise clients accordingly with full understanding of the content of the Non-domestic Rating Bill 2022-23, the live consultations relating to empty rates relief and transparency and disclosure of valuation information.

As a Business Rates Manager your responsibilities will include among others

• Manage a diverse business rates caseload covering the comparable, receipts and expenditure and contractors' valuation methods.
• Understand and keep abreast of all the latest business rates case law developments and valuation and upper tribunal cases to aid advice based on the latest legal developments.
• To understand and confidently navigate the Check, Challenge and Appeal Framework in England for business rates and to be familiar with and understand the Government Gateway for reviewing and challenging business rates.
• You will manage key client accounts as well as be responsible for an allocated rating case load.
• Key responsibilities will involve arranging and undertaking client site inspections requiring comprehensive understanding of measuring all types of commercial buildings to assess the opportunity to raise Checks and eligibility for relief applications.
• You will present facts and advise clients accordingly to manage risk and achieve best outcome.
• You will be a confident negotiator when dealing with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) as well as having a very good regional network amongst rating agents and key commercial property professionals.
• Good analytical valuation report writing skills are a pre-requisite to aid comprehensive Challenge documents for submission on behalf of clients to the VOA and for referral to in valuation and upper tribunal settings.
• Have experience of and knowledge of attending valuation tribunals as an expert witness and advocate to present client cases.

To be successful in this role, you should have the following

• BSc/MSc in an MRICS accredited real estate undergraduate/ postgraduate degree or have an IRRV accreditation
• MRICS qualified Chartered Surveyor
• PQE experience as a business rates surveyor in the London and South East region

As a colleague here at S&W you will have access to benefits that include

• Competitive salary
• Private medical insurance
• Life assurance
• Pension contribution
• Hybrid working model (role dependent)
• Generous holiday package
• Option to purchase additional holiday
• Shared parental leave
• Fully funded training towards professional qualifications
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Eye care support

We are proud to value the differences that a diverse workforce brings, representative of society and our clients. At S&W we have a wide range of highly active employee resource groups and we’re delivering multiple diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the organisation. It is our commitment to provide a workplace where all colleagues, regardless of identity, background, or circumstance, feel respected as individuals and feel that they can achieve their full potential and work in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.

We are happy to make any reasonable adjustments to accommodate for your needs throughout the application process. Please let your Recruiter know.