Tax Clerk

The Tax Clerk is responsible for providing a high volume of excellent, efficient, and professional assistance and customer service to the public in person, written and via the phone in a fast-paced environment.  Performs a variety of accounting and clerical work including balancing and reconciling financial accounts.  Assignments vary and require knowledge of specific departmental procedures and practices of varying complexity and interpretation.  Works under varied levels of supervision.Duties and Responsibilities:

• Disburse various receipts into appropriate funds; balance receipts and funds; prepare deposits, postings, and ledger entries.  
• Prepare and mail personal property, oil/gas, and real estate taxes.
• Collect taxes over the counter, online and via mail and post collections to appropriate tax rolls and records.
• Research and file claims on bankruptcy cases.
• Maintain tax records and files.
• Create and maintain Excel spreadsheets; prepare financial documents; and ability to research and identify discrepancies.
• Create, balance, and maintain monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Balance daily receipts and run reports.
• Write checks, balance checkbook daily and reconcile monthly bank statements.
• Receipt and balance other County department’s deposits daily.
• Assist with some Motor Vehicle transactions as needed, more simple transactions such as renewals, placards, lien releases.
• Balance funds and process transfers/EFTs if required.
• Bank statement reconciliation.
• Quarterly publications.
• Quarterly reports and transfers- Joint Mtg, Financial statement, Clerk filing fees, etc.
• Explain tax statements and penalties to the public.
• Tax Sale prep all year, then sale date once per year
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required, a minimum of 2 years clerical experience, government experience preferred
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Mandatory overtime, sometime on short notice, and at certain times during the tax year, required

 
Knowledge:

• Computer software programs and applications such as MS Office.
• County and/or city government administration.
• Mathematic, accounting and/or statistical principles.

Skills:

• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to interact in a positive and professional manner to develop and maintain strong working relationships with co-workers, management, and the general public.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate goals, interests, and positions during discussions.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to prioritize.
• Complex decision making and problem solving.
• Organization and time management.
• Strong data entry skills.
• Maintain and balance cash drawer.

Abilities:

• Ability to explain tax statements and penalties to the public.
• Ability to create and maintain Excel spreadsheets, prepare financial documents, and to research and identify discrepancies.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and meet deadlines.
• Ability to research and analyze data, interpret directions, procedures and regulations and develop appropriate responses to the public.
• Ability to learn, interpret and apply State and local laws and regulations pertaining to tax collection and tax recordkeeping procedures.
• Ability to maintain accurate financial records with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with employees and project a positive attitude.
• Ability to communicate effectively under stress.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
• Ability to operate computer programs/software/platforms used by the County to perform job duties.
• Ability to use basic office equipment.
• Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to manage difficult/stressful situations when dealing with the public using tact and professionalism.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and meet deadlines.
• Ability to compose correspondence pertaining to delinquent taxes and refunds
• Ability to independently resolve and correct discrepancies by making changes and/or corrections to financial paperwork.
• Ability to react with an appropriate sense of urgency, coupled with good judgment and discernment.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with employees, ability to manage conflict; communicate effectively under stress and project a positive attitude.
• Ability to maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Work location(s) of the job:
  1. Indoors – Constantly.   Usually well lit, heated and/or air-conditioned indoor office setting with adequate ventilation.
  2. Outdoors - Never
• Objectionable condition(s) found on the job:
  1. Computer Use – Constantly
  2. Driving/Travel – Occasional travel, which may involve exposure to extreme weather conditions.
  3. Stressful situations may occur when dealing with the public.
• Undesirable health and safety condition(s) under which employee must perform:
  1. None
• Machines, Tools and/or Equipment Used:
  1. Basic office equipment to include computer, postage machine, copy machine, fax machine, printer, telephone system.
• Physical characteristics/requirements of the job:
  1. Sit/Stand/Walk - Constantly
  2. Kneeling – Occasionally
  3. Crouching – Occasionally
  4. Using Fingers/hands – Constantly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms.
  5. Talking - Frequently
  6. Hearing – Frequently; noise level is usually moderate.
  7. Seeing – Constantly
  8. Vision Abilities – close and distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
  9. Lifting/Moving – Occasionally; lifting/moving a maximum weight up to 50 pounds with assistance.