Accounting Tech/Tax Specialist na Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK

About the Department

Conducts all functions of sales, excise, and transient occupancy tax, resale certificates, non-profit certificates, and senior citizen tax exemption certificates for the Finance Department. Works independently and performs accounting and administrative work in sales, excise, and transient occupancy tax, and business personal tax. Give general assistance to the public in person or by telephone on all other borough accounts, including other duties as assigned within Finance.

Position Duties

• Conducts all aspects of the Borough's sales, excise, and transient occupancy tax revenue collection, which includes receiving, processing and filing all tax returns.
Generate and mail monthly/quarterly tax returns to each merchant. Create and mail invoices on an as needed basis for penalty and interest or any overage/shortage as merchants report tax activity. Update and mail any unpaid invoices monthly.
• Assist business owners and the public by answering all questions relating the sales, excise, and transient occupancy tax code as it is intended in Title 4 of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough's code of Ordinance. Obtain legal opinions from the Law Department if needed.
• Research tax issues/problems and take appropriate corrective action.
• Merchant accounts - perform data entry to merchant accounts daily, reporting any monthly and quarterly activity, including but not limited to creating accounts for new
merchants; discontinue/inactivate merchants; address changes to merchant accounts; correct any duplicate accounts and electronically archive all tax records. Reconciles daily returns with the computer -generated data entry.
• Performs collections related activities and recommends actions such as filing of small claims, placement of liens, execution of payment agreements etc.
• Prepare payment agreements- Upon written approval of the Finance Director, initiate and prepare an amortization schedule, and all documentation for the payment agreement(s). Post and monitor all payment activity within the written schedule.
• Prepare Delinquent accounts for collection - prepare all documentation for collections or civil/small claims. On an as needed basis, submit the documentation to the Borough Attorney's office.
• Non -registrants- Generate and mail letters to all non -registrants of sales, excise, and/or transient occupancy tax, comparing the State business license registers with the Borough's registrants. Review newspaper ads, including classified ads, various websites, and social media for new business/closed activity, mailing required registration information to all non -registrants. On a seasonal basis, physically check the downtown business district for all new businesses for registration compliance.
• Balance cash drawer daily- Balancing of the daily cash drawer from the previous days' activity, keeping dual control of money received.

ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES:
• Provides instruction to other employees of this or a similar job classification in all aspects of procedure and technique relating to the duties required by this job description unless such instruction requires a specialized certification which the employee doing the training does not have.
• Senior Citizen Tax Exemptions- Upon application review and approval, issue tax exempt cards to qualified senior citizens, in accordance with the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Code of Ordinance, Title 4.50.240. Update and file the computer data reflecting all new registrants, deceased, and relocated seniors.
• Inform the Assessment Department of new business registrants and new Senior Citizen Tax exemption registrants for the purpose of business personal tax requirements and/or property tax exemption status.
• Sales Tax Resale Certificates- On an annual or as needed basis, issue sales tax resale certificates to all qualified, registered sales tax merchants who are incompliance with current returns.
• Non -Profit Tax Exemption Certificates- On an as needed basis, issue non-profit tax exemption certificates to all qualified registrants in accordance with the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Code of ordinance, Title 4.50.230(h)(1)(2)(3).
• Cross train on the Accounting Tech II — Customer Service position to fill-in during lunch hours, vacations, sick days, etc.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Working knowledge of Accounts Receivable procedures, governmental operations, basic accounting knowledge, computer operations and office procedures.
• Ability to learn complex code sections and clearly explain requirements and applicability to business owners of very diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain accounting records (both manually and on the computer); to make decisions in accordance with ordinances, regulations, and established procedures of the department.
• Ability to maintain a positive working relationship with the public, other employees, and other governmental agencies.
• Willingness to perform various job -related duties as situations arise, a strong sense of teamwork, and ability to work cooperatively with others.
• Works independently and maintains confidentiality of all merchant revenue and tax information as legally required by the code of ordinance.
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently in a high -volume atmosphere while maintaining accuracy.
• Ability to multi -task, prioritize and meet critical deadlines.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:
Must be able to hear. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch; and taste and smell. Each of the listed activities also requires standing, sitting, walking, bending, stooping, climbing on stools and ladders, and routinely lifting and carrying items and boxes weighing up to forty (40) pounds. Frequently spend long hours sitting or standing at a desk and in front of a computer. Using a variety of office machines, including personal computer, printers, 10-key, and telephone; long hours sitting, writing, and handling large amounts of cash and paperwork; quickly and successfully completing errands, including but not limited to bank deposits.

Other Qualifications

LICENSES:

• Valid State of Alaska Driver's License, with driving record acceptable to the Borough's insurance carrier.

• High School diploma or GED equivalent. Two-year degree or certificate in a related field strongly desired.
• A minimum of three years accounts receivable experience or three year of general office experience required. Must be proficient with Excel and Word and must be able to write letters on a professional level.