Location
Kent, WA | United States
Job description
Come work at a place where you have a direct impact on the quality of life for Kent residents, business owners and visitors alike!
The City of Kent is currently accepting applications for a Desk Auditor. The successful candidate will have the education and experience necessary to independently perform a wide range of duties meant to ensure that local businesses are in compliance with the City of Kent’s business licensing and various tax programs. This is complex work that may frequently be of a confidential and deadline-driven nature.
Incumbents in this position will perform desk audits and assist with field audits. Research, investigative, and analytical skills are required to monitor matters relating to the city-imposed taxes and business licensing ordinances.Educating and outreach are also important aspects of this position as the incumbent works to provide explanations to taxpayers. A high level of integrity and honesty, as well as excellent customer service skills, are essential to success in this role.
This is a full-time, benefited position that is represented by AFSCME.An unranked eligibility list may be established at the conclusion of the selection process. This list would then be in effect for up to 12 months.
Applications will be accepted through Friday, March 8th.
**Please note that you must attach your cover letter and resume to your application in order for your application to be considered complete. Uploading your resume to auto-fill portions of the application does not automatically attach it to your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered for this position. If you experience technical difficulties, please contact our office Monday-Friday, between 8:00 AM- 5:00 PM at (253) 856-5270 and we will do our best to assistyou.**
SALARY:
$7,527.00- 9,176.00 monthly, depending on experience
For a listing of benefits, please use the following link: Employee Benefits | City of Kent (kentwa.gov)
Additional information may also be found in the AFSCME contract, which you can access at Human Resources | City of Kent (kentwa.gov)
GENERAL PURPOSE:
Under the direction of the Tax Manager or designee, perform a wide range of duties associated with assuring compliance of local businesses with the City of Kent's business licensing and Business and Occupation (B&O) tax, utility, admissions, and gambling tax programs. These duties include, but are not limited to, customer service and education for business owners regarding licensing and tax requirements; field investigations of businesses; enforcement of city business licensing and tax requirements; professional input to city business licensing and tax requirements, as well as input to other Tax Division policies and procedures.
Work is characterized by professional level and complex work to effectively enforce compliance and educate businesses on the city's business licensing and B&O, utility, admissions, and gambling tax programs. Duties include, but are not limited to, investigating, and inspecting business practices; preparing enforcement plans according to established procedures; coordinating with Police Department for issuance of citations; following up on licensing and tax payment commitments made by business owners; coordinating efforts with internal stakeholders; and education of business owners on the City of Kent's business licensing and tax requirements. The incumbent is frequently required to perform work in confidence and under pressure for deadlines. The incumbent is frequently involved in politically sensitive issues requiring the effective use of tact and diplomacy and may be subject to verbal confrontation from business owners.
Work is performed under limited supervision. Supervisor sets the overall objectives and available resources. Incumbent and supervisor work together to develop the deadlines, projects, and work to be completed. Incumbent is responsible for the work, plans and carries out the assignment, resolves most conflicts that arise, coordinates work with others, and interprets policies on own initiative in terms of established objectives. Incumbent keeps supervisor informed of progress, potentially controversial matters, or far-reaching implications. Work is reviewed in terms of feasibility, compatibility with other work, or effectiveness of results.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Obtain reasonable assurance that organizations operating in the City have obtained the prerequisite City business license. Compliance is ensured through various methods including communication direct with business owners, conducting field visits, and completing infraction declarations for Kent Police Department. The Kent Police Department will review the declaration before issuing infraction to the noncompliant business.
Locate unlicensed or unregistered businesses within the City of Kent. Bring businesses into compliance regarding tax and licensing obligations. Perform tax discovery using data mining techniques, random field compliance inspections, and application of code requirements.
Review and approval of new business license and relicense applications routed to the Tax Division for initial and final approval and issuance. Facilitate creation of business license certificates and mailing.
In a limited scope, assist in audits by verifying business activity by registered businesses; audit information is obtained through verification that business square footage is accurate, observation that business activity corresponds with reported tax classification, or confirmation of the number of employees who are working at the business.
Conduct desk audits of tax returns, including compliance with city ordinances and tax rules, computation checks and verification of proper classification and reporting; contact taxpayer for additional information as needed.
Obtain reasonable assurance that tax revenues due to the City at the individual taxpayer level are properly calculated, supported, and remitted to the City timely and intact.
Administer and oversee the City gambling tax. Send quarterly returns to businesses, work with the State Gambling Commissioner, and handle any compliance issues related to delinquent or unpaid tax returns.
Administer and oversee the City admissions tax. Review and audit quarterly returns and handle any compliance issues related to delinquent or unpaid tax returns.
Administer and oversee the City utility tax. Review and audit quarterly returns and handle any compliance issues related to delinquent or unpaid tax returns.
Prepare journal entries for applicable tax and business license payments, recording dishonored payments, and other related activities to the city’s accounting system.
Prepare proposed tax and business license assessments and refunds.
Review and approve proposed tax and business license assessments and refunds prepared by certain positions within the Tax Division.
Work in collaboration with the business community to identify opportunities for enhancements to filing and remitting taxes, applying for and renewing City business licenses, and other related functions of the Tax Division.
Maintain current knowledge of city-imposed taxes including business & occupation taxes, admissions taxes, gambling taxes, and utility taxes.
Assist in the development of Business Rules, Tax Advisory Notices, Tax Division policies and procedures, updates to the Tax Division website, and taxpayer correspondence including reminder notices.
Respond in a professional and timely manner to questions and inquiries concerning the city’s taxes and provide other guidance as appropriate.
Assist in the planning, development, and delivery of city-imposed tax training workshops.
Prepare and maintain a variety of financial records and reports related to audits, bankruptcies, contracts, licenses, and expenses.
Actively support and follow the vision, mission, values, and goals of the Finance Department and the City.
PERIPHERAL DUTIES:
Perform related duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
KNOWLEDGE OF:
State of Washington and Washington municipal tax requirements with an emphasis on business & occupation taxes
Computer systems and applications related to accounting, auditing, tax, and business licensing operations
Municipal government policies, procedures, practices, objectives, and structure
Applicable local, state, and federal laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances
Current literature, trends, and developments in the field of tax auditing and collection
Modern office practices, procedures, and equipment including personal computers related software such as word processing and spreadsheets programs
SKILLED IN:
Use of research and analytical methods, practices, and procedures to define and resolve issues
Performing a wide variety of professional auditing and other tax and business licensing duties
Effective use of interpersonal skills in a tactful, patient, and courteous manner
Exercising a high degree of independent judgment in problem solving and decision making
Providing technical expertise and information regarding city-imposed tax and business licensing principles, practices, and policies in an organized and easy-to-understand manner
ABILITY TO:
Establish and maintain trust, confidence, and effective working relationships with co-workers, elected officials, managers, supervisors, employees, and the public
Read, interpret and apply codes and ordinances relating to tax and licensing
Analyze and prepare a variety of complex reports and financial documents using various computer applications including the City’s financial accounting system and various sub-systems
Work independently with little direction
Read, analyze, interpret, and explain government rules, regulations, codes, policies, legal documents, general business periodicals, and professional journals
Compose, proofread, and edit general correspondence, routine and complex reports, contracts, tax and financial policies and procedures
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing with business owners, city staff, elected officials, and the public. Employing correct usage of English grammar including, but not limited to spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary in the creation of correspondence and tax related documents.
SKILLS FOR THE POSITION MAY BE GAINED THROUGH EDUCATION,
CERTIFICATION, RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE or a COMBINATION, SUCH AS:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or related field; and
Experience: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience in professional accounting, including one (1) year of B&O auditing experience.
Or: In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may have any equivalent combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the essential duties listed above.
LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Valid Washington State driver's license, or the ability to obtain within thirty (30) days of employment and maintain an acceptable driving record
Certified Public Accounting (CPA) License, highly desirable
Tax and licensing compliance experience with State of Washington and/or municipal B&O tax highly desirable
Desk audit experience with state and/or municipal B&O tax highly desirable
Multilingual desirable
Must successfully pass a position specific background inquiry
MACHINES, TOOLS, AND EQUIPMENT USED:
Typical modern office machinery and equipment including, but not limited to, personal computer including spreadsheet and word processing software, printers, telephone, fax and copy machine, and calculator.
The incumbent may also be required to operate a City vehicle to attend off-site meetings or assist in conducting field audits.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear. The incumbent is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with or without assistance.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Work is performed in a typical office environment, subject to multiple interruptions and may involve travel from site to site. The position requires public contact and the incumbent may be exposed to individuals expressing concerns related to adherence to City-imposed taxes and business licensing requirements. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
The City of Kent is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Please click on the link below to apply for this position. A new window will open and direct you to apply at our corporate careers page. We look forward to hearing from you!
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