Job Summary

The City of Fort Collins is seeking a Specialist, Sales Tax & Revenue to join our Finance department. This is a full-time salaried position with the City with an anticipated hiring salary range of $62,000-$77,000 a year! The Sales Tax Department is responsible for approximately 50% of the City’s governmental revenue. Sales and use taxes are the key source of funding for core government functions like safety, roads, multi-use path infrastructure and parks. The Specialist, Sales Tax & Revenue will play a pivotal role in ensuring the accurate collection, reporting, and compliance of sales and use tax revenues. Your responsibilities will include managing some of the department’s 14 categories of licenses (sales and use tax, lodging, liquor occupation tax, short term rentals, tax exempt organizations, outdoor vendors, second-hand dealers, solid waste collectors, solicitor permits, places of entertainment, special vending events, movie theaters, pawn brokers, and auctioneers). With a keen eye for detail and strong analytical skills, you will collaborate cross-functionally to optimize revenue collection processes, uphold regulatory standards, and contribute to the fiscal health and transparency of our community.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Administers the City sales tax delinquent account program. Identifies, monitors, & resolves delinquent accounts.
• Manages the department’s 14 categories of miscellaneous licenses including liquor occupation tax, short-term rentals, and outdoor vendors.
• Customer service contact responding to vendors and citizens inquiries, requests and complaints.
• Researches, compiles, and/or disseminates information and reports.
• May support audit functions such as project cost reports and voluntary disclosure agreements.
• Collaborates with other city departments and other jurisdictions.
• Conducts in depth review of accounts to determine whether legal action must be initiated to resolve delinquent accounts and collaborates with the City Attorney's office to ensure compliance with relevant City Code Sections.
• Keeps manager informed about the status of issues that may arise from taxpayer questions or questionable sales/use tax accounts.
• Supports the department’s month end process with manager, accounting and systems analyst team.
• Performs data entry of tax return information. Maintains files, databases, and spreadsheets.
• Point of contact with sales tax software provider including project management of change orders and implementation of system updates.
• Manages sales tax administration and customer support projects and programs.
• Manages invoices and refunds for the department with accounts payable.
• Designs and builds reports for ongoing reports and new inquiries
• Conducts internal training and process improvement in in the sales tax administration department.
• Taxpayer education on various taxes, licensing, audition, collection procedures and assists Revenue Specialist team with taxpayer classes.
• Assists with processes and procedures for the sales tax administration office.
• Works with Accounting and Accounts Receivable monthly on bank account reconciliation.
• Assists vendors in preparation of returns. Process amended tax returns & adjustments of balances on accounts. Performs payment reversals on accounts.

Management Responsibilities

No

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• General knowledge of the city organization and operations.
• Advanced knowledge of city code for all categories of licenses administered by the department.
• Specific knowledge of the automated sales tax system.
• Possess critical thinking skills, analytical thought processes and business acumen.
• Able to effectively manage multiple projects with limited guidance and various priorities.
• Ability to effectively summarize and communicate financial issues, complex problems and analytics, both orally and in writing to peers and management.
• Ability to interpret and explain the ordinances, policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Specific knowledge of the city code.
• Knowledge of bankruptcy laws and proceedings.
• Ability to work with limited supervision and exercise independent judgement.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with citizens, vendors, other agencies, city departments and staff.
• Ability to use spreadsheet, database, word processing, GIS and financial software.
• Ability to deal with stressful situations and vendors and citizens.
• Advanced math and accounting skills.
• Excellent customer service and negotiating skills.
• Excellent organization skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Required Qualifications

Minimum

College degree or equivalent work experience. Some positions may require functionally related certification or advanced degrees.

Preferred

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.

Experience Requirements

• Two to three years of responsible and related customer service, accounting, taxation, or program coordination experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use:

Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender identity and expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, genetic information, and, in certain specific circumstances, marriage to a coworker or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIRED.

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.