Tax and Accounting Specialist I

About the Department

Performs complex duties related to the collection of taxes assessed on County properties. Balances receipts; collection work; answers taxpayers’ questions. Preforms duties associated with the validation, examination, coding, and reconciliation of fiscal, financial, and statistical records. Follows strict requirements and duties surrounding the tax foreclosure process. Use independent judgment to properly record and document transactions and may require the handling of large sums of money. This position requires knowledge of departmental policies, procedures, and applicable state and federal laws relating to tax collection. Work is performed under general supervision with assistance and/or direction being provided on unusual or difficult problems. Work is reviewed for accuracy, as well as for compliance with applicable policies, procedures, and/or regulations. 

Position Duties

(Illustrative Only. Any single position in this classification will not necessarily involve all the listed duties below and other 
positions will involve duties which are not listed. These duties represent the essential functions needed of persons in 
this classification.) 
1. Provide customer service to the general public and complete front desk duties including answering questions in person and over the phone; providing information related to property taxes, answering inquiries, and giving pay-off information. Search records for information as needed.
2. Maintain various internal accounting processes, including entering data into various computer systems, preparing and reconciling Josephine County Department accounts, completing forms, and providing technical assistance as required.
3. Review and prepare bank deposits from other departments or sources for accuracy and conformance with County procedures and GAAP. Reconcile account balances for Josephine County.
4. Develop fiscal/accounting procedural recommendations, changes, and/or projections based on independent analysis and research of data.
5. Maintain accounts receivable which includes billing, preparing receipts, and posting to proper accounts.
6. May be cross trained to assist with minor accounts payable and payroll functions as needed.
7. Maintain fiscal records, compile data, and prepare summaries, statements, statistical information, and other reports.
8. Reconcile report discrepancies and problems; make necessary corrections and recommendations.
9. Work directly with federal and independent auditors to explain transactions or answer questions.
10. Collect current and delinquent taxes, account for tax monies, and compute interest. Post cash receipts, roll corrections, adjustments and refunds to tax rolls. Balance daily receipt totals. Maintain balance control registers and verify balance to the daily totals turned over to the Tax and Treasury Department
11. Maintain and continually update mailing addresses for property accounts.
12. Receive, process, and monitor bankruptcy documents.
13. Ensure work processes adhere to department procedures and state/federal rules.
14. Develop and prepare a variety of correspondence dealing with taxpayer accounts and problems including notices, letters, and reports.
15. Receive and post payments made via cash, checks, or credit card. Verify the amounts of money turned in by various County departments. Provide receipts for money taken in, and post transaction to general ledger. Make changes for other County departments when needed.
16. Prepare daily deposit bags for the bank.
17. File and dispose of documents according to department policies and County, State, and Federal policies and procedures.
18. Review and follow applicable State and Federal tax laws continuously.
19. Scan Tax and Treasury Department documents into applicable databases.
20. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Considerable knowledge of recordkeeping practices used in the maintenance of fiscal accounts, tax and treasury laws, and general office principles and practices. Perform detailed work involving numerical data; use independent judgment to properly record fiscal transactions; make accurate mathematical computations using decimals, fractions, and percentages; prepare detailed fiscal reports; establish priorities and organize own workload; maintain effective working relationships with other departments, employees, and the general public. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE 
High school graduation or GED equivalency, preferably supplemented by additional coursework in bookkeeping or accounting; and three years of progressively responsible experience in accounting and/or bookkeeping work; or any satisfactory combination of experience and training which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and ability to perform the above described duties.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS 
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent in practical situations and to create and interpret graphs and charts. Ability to identify patterns and errors in statistical analysis. Knowledge of the structure of and underlying principles of government finance.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon Driver's license; safe driving record.

Other Qualifications

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION 
Those employed in this position may be subject to pre-employment drug testing and a background investigation, including but not limited to criminal background investigation. Conviction of a crime will not necessarily disqualify an individual for this classification.