Description

The City of Tukwila is searching for a Senior Fiscal Coordinator - Business & Occupation (B&O) Tax.

This position serves as the City's subject matter expert and leader over its B&O Tax Operations Section. This position is in charge of, and enhances all aspects of, the B&O Tax. The position also serves as: the City's liaison with State staff operating the State's business licensing and tax information system; and represents the City to local businesses that need help complying with the City's B&O tax and other tax programs.

The successful candidate will have the education and experience in establishing new programs, supervising staff, working independently, and performing audits of the various taxes collected by the City with emphasis on the B&O tax but including other taxes such as gambling, admissions, and utility taxes.

The position is also required to develop and maintain important external relationships and communications on behalf of the City's interests. Educating and outreach are also important aspects of this position as the incumbent will work in collaboration with the business community and City management to identify opportunities to minimize the administrative burden associated with filing and remitting the Business & Occupation tax as well as other City taxes. A high level of integrity and honesty, as well as excellent customer service skills, are essential to success in this role.

General Purpose:
Under the direction of the Deputy Finance Director or designee, perform a wide range of independent, professional, and complex duties primarily associated with the creation and administration of the City of Tukwila's B&O tax program. In addition, assist with the City's admissions tax, gambling tax, all utility taxes, and the City's business licensing program. This position will perform a lead role as it relates to tax auditing. The successful candidate will be able to develop, maintain, and grow the City's B&O tax program. Upon launching the B&O tax program, this position will be directly involved in the supervision of an additional staff member in operating and maintaining the B&O tax program.

The position will remain open continuously until filled. First review will be May 1, 2023.

This is a full-time, benefited position represented by the Teamsters, Local #763.

How To Apply:
Initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the "education" and "work experience" sections of your application in the Government Jobs website, along with your cover letter and resume. To be considered for this position you MUST apply online and complete the entire application.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for establishing, administering, enhancing, and maintaining the City's B&O tax program.
• Provides directives to staff. Leads, delegates, coaches, and mentors direct reports.
• Obtains reasonable assurance that tax revenues due to the City at the individual tax payer level are properly calculated, supported, and remitted to the City timely and intact.
• Ensures all entities doing business in Tukwila obtain licenses, have, and understand tax forms, and file City tax reports on a timely basis.
• Actively build trusting relationships with business partners. Work in collaboration with the business community to identify opportunities to minimize the administrative burden associated with filing and remitting tax.
• Educate and update internal partners and City leaders on the B&O tax process.
• Maintain current knowledge in the field by reviewing court cases and new statutes and other regulatory requirements impacting City B&O taxes, admissions taxes, gambling taxes, and utility taxes.
• Develop Business Rules, Tax Advisory Notices, Tax Division policies and procedures, updates to the Tax Division website, and taxpayer correspondence.
• Proactively provide taxpayer notification of changes in requirements governing City business and occupation taxes, admissions taxes, gambling taxes, and utility taxes.
• Attend and, as appropriate, participate in a variety of staff, management, and committee meetings, including meetings sponsored by external organizations.
• Respond to questions and inquiries from city staff and taxpayers concerning the city's B&O tax and provide other guidance as appropriate. Serve as staff lead for the external workgroup that will be established as part of the long-range financial sustainability project.
• Plan, develop, and provide B&O tax training workshops for taxpayers and other stakeholders.
• Select tax accounts for audits based on audit risk and other appropriate factors including an emphasis on taxpayer equity.
• Conduct audits in accordance with Tukwila City Municipal Code, applicable state and federal laws and prevailing court decisions.
• Develop proper audit plans designed to address highest areas of risk and adjusting audit plans during the audit as appropriate.
• Tracks payments and sees that amounts owed are collected.
• Process manually filed returns by ensuring information is recorded in the City's tax and licensing program. Assist with recording monthly, quarterly, and annual payments.
• Review and analyze taxpayer financial records, reports, and documents; verifying reported gross income, and related deductions and exemptions; and providing reasonable assurance whether the reported tax due to the City was consistent with the Tukwila City Municipal Code and applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
• Create and maintain proper audit working papers fully supporting the audit plan and related modifications, examination of books and records, and audit conclusions including, as applicable, assessments and refunds and related penalties and interest.
• Work collaboratively and in a professional manner with the taxpayers to ensure preliminary audit results are valid and are properly and timely provided to the taxpayer for review and evaluation.
• Investigate and resolve businesses' complaints.
• Process refund requests, balance due billings, assess penalties and interest, review waiver requests, monitor and process journal entries for business tax accounts, monitor quarterly and annual business tax filings for accuracy.
• Ensure proper and timely communication with the taxpayers, including but not limited to; audit scope including period covered and areas under audit, obtaining prerequisite records and other information, communication of preliminary audit results, and issuance of clear and concise audit report and, if applicable, schedule of audit adjustments.
• Prepare and maintain a variety of financial records and reports related to audits, bankruptcies, contracts, licenses, and expenses.
• Assist in training and providing guidance to other employees related to the tax audit and collection function.
• Develop and maintain city tax ordinances, Business Rules and other documents governing the city taxes.
• Develop and maintain tax returns, schedules and other documents associated with City taxes.
• Develop and maintain Tax Division policies and procedures including, but not limited to audit selection, audit planning, working paper standards, amended tax returns, tax assessments and refunds.
• Work with appropriate city personnel regarding certain processing activities including but not limited to processing payments for refunds, processing billings for assessments, recording taxpayer returns and related documentation to the city's document imaging system, updates to tax returns and related documents.
• Train and provide direction to other employees related to the tax audit and collection function.
• Actively support and follow the vision, mission, values and goals of the department and the City.
• Develop metrics, in partnership with internal leadership, to measure success and challenges of the B&O program.

Peripheral Duties and Responsibilities:

• Performing other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 
  State of Washington and Washington municipal tax requirements with an emphasis on business & occupation taxes
• Supervision of staff
• Diverse financial management practices
• Program development, preferably direct experience with developing a B&O program
• Computer systems and applications related to accounting and auditing
• 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
• 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

• 
  Critical thinking skills in developing understanding of specific tax questions, issues, and related areas
• Clear attention to detail while maintaining awareness of the overarching topic under review
• Use of research and analytical methods, practices, and procedures to define and resolve issues
• Providing directives to staff. Leading, delegating, coaching, mentoring direct reports. Experience with leading union team members is a plus.
• Performing a wide variety of professional auditing and other tax duties
• Analyzing complex operations and making recommendations for improvement
• Effective organization and expression of ideas through use of oral and written communications and ability to analyze complex topics and translate documentation into layperson terms
• 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
• Building trusting, collaborative, and ongoing relationships with internal and external partners
• Active listening
• Tailoring communications to the unique needs of Tukwila business leaders
• Using networks and resources to develop, maintain and grow a successful B&O program

Education, Experience and Other Requirements

DESIRED:
Experience leading union team members is a plus.

• 
  Valid Washington State driver's license, or the ability to obtain within thirty (30) days of employment.
• Must successfully pass a position relevant background inquiry

City of Tukwila
Summary of Benefits for Teamsters Represented Employees:

Benefits are provided as per the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE
The City of Tukwila offers a comprehensive benefit package to all regular full-time and regular part-time employees and their eligible dependents, including domestic partners (DP) and domestic partner's children (a tax penalty applies to the domestic partner portion of the premium). Part-time employees pay a pro-rated share of the premium.

Employees have the option of choosing from the City's self-insured plan that is administered by Healthcare Management Administrators (HMA) and is part of the Regence Preferred Provider network; or Kaiser Permanente, an HMO, for medical and prescription coverage.

The dental plan is provided through the City's self-insured plan and covers preventative, basic, and restorative services to an annual maximum of $2,000. An incentive level applies to these services ranging from 70% to a maximum of 100% coverage. Orthodontia is available for dependent children to age 19.

Vision coverage is provided via Teamsters through Northwest Administrators, Inc. Coverage includes an annual eye exam and vision hardware.

PAID LEAVE
Sick leave: Sick leave accrues at the rate of 4 hours per pay period (pro-rated for part-time employees.)

Vacation: After six months continuous employment, six (6) days of vacation is awarded and then accrues at the rate of 4 hours each pay period (pro-rated for part-time employees). Additional vacation days are awarded annually after 3 years through 15 years of service, to a maximum accumulation of 384 hours.

Holidays: The City of Tukwila recognizes ten (10) holidays and two (2) floating or "personal" holidays each calendar year, unless otherwise specified in a labor contract.

RETIREMENT
Membership in the Washington State Retirement System PERS 2, PERS 3, or PSERS 2 plans, as applicable, is required. The employee and employer both contribute to the plans.

Deferred Compensation Program (457B): Employees may choose to set aside a portion of their earnings on a tax-deferred basis for retirement purposes. The City offers three investment programs: Mass Mutual, ICMA-RC, and Security Benefits Group.

LIFE AND LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE
A basic life insurance policy of $50,000 is provided for Teamsters represented employees. (Part-time employees pay a pro-rated share of the premium.)

Supplemental life insurance is available at group rates through payroll deduction for employees and their dependents.

A long term disability (LTD) policy is provided for Teamsters represented employees at no cost. The policy provides for up to 60% of salary replacement to a maximum of $6000 monthly.

FLEXIBLE BENEFITS
The Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allows employees to set aside a portion of their salary, tax-deferred, to pay for out of pocket medical expenses; dependent care expenses (child and adult); and adoption expenses.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The City of Tukwila contracts with an outside agency to provide confidential personal or job related counseling and referral assistance to employees and their eligible dependents at no cost.

LONGEVITY
Longevity pay is awarded after five years of service and increases at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years.

OTHER INFORMATION & BENEFITS

Commuter Incentives: ORCA Cards for commuting via regional transit; Van Pool - may be eligible for $100 monthly incentive; Alternate Commuters - carpool/rideshare, walk, or bicycle may be eligible for $60 monthly incentive.

Career Opportunities: The City encourages career development for its employees and, when possible, seeks to promote qualified employees from within the City.

Hours of Work: The normal work week is forty hours, Monday through Friday. Flexible work schedules may be available, based upon business necessity. Some positions require weekend, shift, holiday, or overtime work. A shift differential applies for regularly scheduled hours worked between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Pay Days: Pay days occur on the 10th and 25th of each month (24 pay periods annually). Direct deposit of pay is available.

Payroll deduction is available for the Washington State Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program.