Tax Specialist IV (Tax Office Employees Only)

Salary: $56,687.32 Annually
Location : Austin, TX
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 24-09484
Department: Tax Collector
Opening Date: 10/23/2024
Closing Date: 10/30/2024 11:59 PM Central
Job Summary
Are you a Travis County Tax office employee interested in taking the next step in your career? The Heflin Branch Motor Vehicle Division is recruiting for a Tax Specialist IV to add to their division! Responsibilities include training, supervising, and evaluating new Tax Specialists, conducting Quality Assurance reviews of incoming phone calls and emails, and updating job resources used by Tax Specialists such as knowledge bases and job aids. If this opportunity for advancement is of interest to you. Apply now!
Under limited supervision, performs advanced clerical tasks involving independent judgment. Performs various tasks of a specialized nature, including processing registrations, property tax payments, court fines, fees and complex titles. Completes special projects. Analyzes and completes financial reports. Applies knowledge of motor vehicle, tax, court, and voter registration policies to customer circumstances and works to resolve customer issues. Performs as a lead worker and acts in a supervisory capacity, as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This is the fourth in a series of four tax-related job classifications within the Administrative Support job family. This classification is distinguished from the Tax Specialist III in that incumbents typically have specialized training, perform detailed application and job duty review/ audits, perform advanced cash handling procedures in remote substations, create and deliver specialized training and perform in a supervisory capacity, as required.
Duties and Responsibilities

• Providing day-to-day supervision and evaluation of employees in their first 120 days of employment.
• Overseeing the department orientation and training schedule for new employees.
• Conducting one-on-one and small-group training.
• Documenting procedures for new and experienced employees.
• Coaching new and experienced employees side-by-side.
• Conducting random reviews of emails and recorded calls using a quality assurance checklist.
• Providing quality assurance documentation and feedback to Tax Specialists and Tax Supervisors.
• Tracking and communicating performance trends and identifying areas needing improvement.
• Applies functional knowledge to analyze and respond to matters requiring basic knowledge of department policies and procedures. Performs and conducts research and interpretation in various substantive areas, including whether registrants comply with Texas Traffic Laws, Property Tax Code, Alcoholic Beverage Code, and Texas Election Law. Applies knowledge to system of court fines and fees to determine necessary method of transaction completion. Analyzes extremely complex tax accounts/court cases and legal documents.
• Processes registrations, motor vehicle title applications, property tax payments, court fines, and fees. Determines eligibility and compliance of voter registration applications. Returns incomplete voter registration applications to applicants with explanation of additional information required. Performs tasks necessary to complete mail-in license registration, subcontractor renewals and processes complex title applications.
• Records transactions and maintains manual and computerized journal entries. Processes financial reports, including receipts, claims, and disbursements. Performs cashiering functions on a rotating basis and balances cash drawer at the end of shift. Balances tax revenues to tax payments and receipts daily. Receives, posts, and issues receipts for fee payments or other charges and submits monies and pertinent information to appropriate departments.
• Assigned to a substation, performs detailed office opening and closing procedures. Performs all cash handling duties, including start-up funds, balancing, and cash variances of subordinates.
• Interviews and communicates with difficult defendants and complex property owners regarding financial status and delinquency of accounts or cases and with great latitude approving payment terms. Reviews delinquent accounts and contacts responsible party(s) for payment. Initiates and approves subordinates legal action, as required.
• Maintains effective document, file, and record retrieval system. Maintains accountability for files processed through the system. Enters data from document receipts into automated record system. Compiles information using computer systems. Audits data entry reports and prints final reports for other departments.
• Provides customer service and responds to customer inquiries in-person, by phone and email regarding services, policies, procedures, laws and regulations, including gathering information and statistical data, creating databases, and generating reports using spreadsheet and database software. Submits written responses to the public and division stakeholder. Provides direction and information to the public on procedures, forms and regulations. Provides public with file information in person and by telephone and may act as the primary contact for assigned functions. May perform general office activities, such as ensuring facility availability, opening, closing doors, and assisting in administrative staff support.
• May staff service counters, information booth, drive-through, and lobby areas to assist customers.
• Performs detailed application review of tax office, title service and substation transactions. Works with accounting/ auditors to ensure title service compliance with contracts and state and local laws.
• Creates and delivers advanced training related to property tax and motor vehicles. Monitors training and works with supervisors/ managers to schedule continuing education classes.
• Performs special projects, as required. Serves as a reference to subordinate personnel and routinely reviews the work of others for completeness and timeliness. Performs supervisory duties, as needed.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements
Education and Experience:
High School diploma or G.E.D. AND eight (8) years of increasingly responsible customer service, office/clerical experience, including the operation of modern office procedures and computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages;
OR,
Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to perform the duties and responsibilities of this job successfully.
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Received designations as a Professional County Collector (PCC), Certified Tax Office Professional (CTOP) and Professional Deputy Assessor-Collector (PDAC)
Completed the Travis County Lead I, II, and III Classes
Completed all required TXDMV Learning Center Modules per Transportation Code Section 520.023 based on the access level
Preferred:
Negotiation experience
Call center experience
Auditing experience
Valid Texas Driver's License
Knowledge of:

• Advanced customer service skill and conflict resolution.
• Advanced knowledge of Texas Traffic Laws, Motor Vehicle Title and Registration laws, Property Tax Code, Alcoholic Beverage Code, and Texas Election Law.
• Advanced knowledge of Texas Local Government Code and Texas Code of Criminal Procedure pertaining to civil and criminal offenses.
• File management and techniques.
• Principle and procedures of record keeping.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

Skill in:

• Serving as a backup to the supervisor.
• Working with customers, both in person and on the phone.
• Assisting employees with complex problems.
• Resolving complex problems.
• Attention to detail.
• Accounting best practices.
• Creates and conducts specialized training.
• Conducting research and presenting information.
• Processing financial reports, including receipts, claims, and disbursements.
• Performing cashier duties, such as receiving cash, issuing and posting receipts for fee payments or other charges.
• Working independently.
• Analyzing data.
• Negotiating payment plans.
• Recording and compiling material for reports.
• Operating a variety of modern office equipment, including a computer.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Resolve customer issues and maintain a production schedule.
• Compile data and present it clearly and comprehensively.
• Understand and carry out verbal and written directions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with department clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public

Work Environment & Other Information
Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to sitting for extended periods, client/customer contact, standing, walking, vision to monitor, repetitive motion, stooping/kneeling, squatting, bending, and reaching to perform the essential functions.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.
This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.
Work Hours: 7:45am - 4:45pm, Monday - Friday. May Vary based on business needs.
Department: Tax Collector
Location: 4705 Heflin Ln, Austin, TX, 78721
Location and times are subject to business needs.
Criminal Background Check required.
Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.
FY2024 Travis County Benefit Guide
In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.
Credit Union
Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.
Deferred Compensation
Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.
Direct Deposit
Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.
Employee Assistance Program
Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.
Employee Organizations
Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.
Employee Health & Wellness Clinic
Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.
Holidays
An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Insurance
Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.
The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.
Longevity
Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.
On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.
Parking
A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.
Personal Holidays
Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:
January - March
3 personal holidays
April - June
2 personal holidays
July - September
1 personal holiday
October - December
None
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.
Retirement
Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.
Sick Leave
Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
Parental Leave
Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.
Tuition Refund
Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.
Vacation
Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:
0 to 5 years
4.0 hours per pay period
6 to 10 years
4.5 hours per pay period
11 to 15 years
5.0 hours per pay period
16 to 20 years
5.5 hours per pay period
21 plus years
6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.
Workers' Compensation
The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.
01
Are you a current Travis County tax office employee?

• Yes
• No

02
Do you hold any of the following certifications? If yes check all that apply.

• Professional County Collector (PCC)
• Certified Tax Office Professional (CTOP)
• Professional Deputy Assessor-Collector (PDAC)
• I do not hold any of the certifications listed

03
Have you completed Travis County Lead I, II, and III Classes?

• Yes
• No

04
Do you have a valid Texas driver's license?

• Yes
• No

Required Question