Assistant Director of Taxpayer Services

General Definition of Work

Performs difficult professional work providing direction and oversight for the Finance Division's taxpayer services activities and support functions involving the setting of policies, establishing divisional goals, budgeting and finance, technology services, accounting, collections, contracting, and purchasing. Work is performed under the general direction of the Finance Director. Divisional supervision is exercised over personnel within the Division.

Essential Functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Administers and monitors Taxpayer Services operations in the areas of elections, license center, and property tax services to ensure that the County is meeting its statutory requirements and the needs of the County residents.
• Uses independent judgment providing supervision and leadership to personnel under position's span of control; makes and participates in decisions on matters of hiring, transfer, suspension, layoff, recall, promotion, discharge, assignment, reward, adjusting grievances or disciplining employees under position's span of control; sets goals and objectives for others to work towards and monitors performance; creates and maintains a positive work environment fostering effective performance of staff.
• Manages and directs the administration of local elections including election judge and local election administrator training, candidate filings, equipment procurement and maintenance, voter registration and voter record maintenance, ballot preparation and accuracy, absentee balloting functions, election day support and reporting. Ensures compliance with Minnesota election laws.
• Manages and directs the administration of local property taxation including the tax calculation and settlement, tax collection, management of delinquent accounts, tax forfeiture, special assessment, and tax increment financing. Ensure compliance with Minnesota property taxation laws.
• Manages and directs the administration of the license center services and operations including vehicle licensing, driver licensing, DNR licensing, and class D license examinations in compliance with state agency procedural requirements and state laws.
• Responsible for managing the budget process for the Taxpayers Division; determines departmental goals and objectives, evaluates operations, develops and monitors the annual budget, and implements policy and legislative changes. Monitors procedures to ensure that both the public need and statutory requirements are being met.
• Responsible for monitoring funding sources for current and future projects and negotiates contracts for current and future programs.
• Oversees implementation of State, Federal, and agency program and/or grant requirements; collaborates with internal and external partners in administration of programs; manages staff and systems to administer programs as effectively as possible with the resources allocated; fosters an environment of innovation and continuous improvement. Coordinates the Taxpayer Services Division's technology development and direction; prepares annual technology plan; oversees hardware and software purchases and expenditures; evaluates and measures the effectiveness of automation systems and projects; oversees security and access; supervises physical inventory of equipment and makes appropriate adjustment entries to ensure proper allocation.
• Acts as Division Head designee for County Board meetings, leadership meetings, County committee meetings, and in daily decision making when directed by the Finance Director.
• Performs other duties and activities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications & Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, public fiscal management, business management or related field, and six years of experience in governmental related finance or business administration including two years of supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Master's degree is preferred.

Special Requirements
A valid driver's license or evidence of equivalent mobility is required upon hire.
County Election Administration certification within two years of employment.
Possession of Minnesota Department of Revenue Property Tax Calculation certification or the ability to obtain within two (2) years of employment.
Legal description training within two (2) years of employment.
Obtain MAAO Assessment Laws and Procedures (ALP) successful course completion and examination within two years (2) of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of government practices in the areas of property tax administration and State of Minnesota election management and licensing program methods, principles, and practices; knowledge of County government work flows and processes; knowledge of financial and accounting systems and programs used to support the Taxpayer Services Division's financial function; knowledge of, and ability to interpret and apply, laws and regulations related to State and Federal grants; knowledge of governmental programs and funding sources; knowledge of methods, procedures, and principles of public and business administration; knowledge of computer systems used to administer financial and/or County programs; skill in the use of standard office equipment, including computer and software programs; verbal and written skills sufficient to effectively present information and respond to questions from a wide variety of audiences; reading comprehension skills sufficient to read and interpret technical financial documents; interpersonal skills sufficient to exchange and/or convey information, give and receive work direction; and maintain effective working relationships; ability to prepare and analyze program budgets and financial reports; ability to perform data entry into various databases; ability to effectively organize time and anticipate, plan, and successfully respond to changing circumstances; ability to perform all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices; ability to communicate courteously and professionally while maintaining positive working relationships with others when carrying out all job functions.

Physical Requirements

This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires repetitive motions and occasionally requires standing, reaching with hands and arms and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Wright County offers an exceptional benefit package including vacation, sick leave and holiday pay. Also included in this benefit package is health, preventative dental and life insurance; medical and dependent care reimbursement accounts (Section 125 Plan); deferred compensation plan and Public Employees Retirement (pension).