Tax Program Assistant

Harnett County, NC; Lillington (NC); On-site; USD 36,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Harnett County in North Carolina seeks a Tax Program Assistant to support the Tax Department with clerical duties and public service. You will handle inquiries, assist with property valuations and tax listings, and enter data into the tax software to generate reports.

The role requires courteous communication, attention to detail, and the ability to work with minimal supervision while following laws and department policies. Experience in tax processes is helpful.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Knowledge of property tax listing, assessment and collections is expected.
• Ability to explain tax policies and procedures to the public.

Responsibilities

• Assist the public at counter or by phone with tax information and procedures.
• Respond to complaints and irate taxpayers in person, by phone, or email.
• Answer questions on valuations, tax bills, listings, and procedures.
• Enter data into tax software; generate records and reports as needed.
• Assist with exemptions and parcel numbering and recording processes.
• Research property information to locate unlisted properties and bill accordingly.

Skills

Data entry

Customer service

Tax knowledge

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

NC Fundamentals of Property Tax Listing Course

NC Fundamentals of Property Tax Collection Course

Tools

Tax software

Job description

Tax Program Assistant performs a variety of clerical, research, processing and public contact work in the County Tax Department. An employee in this class performs a variety of advanced clerical duties in support of County tax functions. Employees are expected to perform at the journeyman level requiring knowledge of collections, listing or valuation programs, and to have a general knowledge of the full tax process. Duties include assisting the public in a variety of transactions, maintaining and updating records. Independent judgment must be exercised in applying laws, policies and procedures to specific situations. Considerable tact and courtesy must be exercised in dealing with the public on tax questions and advanced customer service skills are required at all times. Work is performed under general and direct supervision; however, the employee is often assigned to work independently on a specific tax functions under limited supervision. Work is evaluated through conferences and overall effectiveness of work performed.

Hiring Range: $40,459.00

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:

• Work will include attending to the public at a counter or over the telephone giving information regarding departmental operations and answering questions on programs, procedures, and regulations.
• Responds to complaints and irate taxpayers in person, on the phone, or via email
• Assists taxpayers, mortgage companies, attorneys’ offices, and others with questions on property valuations, tax bills, tax listings, and other procedures.
• Enters a variety of data into various tax software; retrieves information upon request; and generates a variety of records and reports from the computer.
• Assists public with filing applications for elderly or disability exemptions/bond cards as well as church, builders’ inventory, circuit breaker, and the military exemptions, affix parcel numbers to documents for recording in the Office of the Register of Deeds.
• Researches information on a variety of forms of property to contact, discover, and bill unlisted property.
• Explaining policy and procedures for making corrections on incorrect listings
• Performing specialized collections and listing functions such as determining statuses for motor vehicles and creating motor vehicle bills.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• One (1) year of related work experience;
• Or equivalent education and/or experience

Licensing and Certifications:

Successful completion of the North Carolina Fundamentals of Property Tax Listing and Assessing Course or the North Carolina Fundamentals of Property Tax Collection Course within 24 months from date of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of the procedures, laws, forms and records used in the listing, assessment, billing or collections functions.
• General knowledge of the full tax process affecting the public.
• Skill and knowledge in automated systems and their applications in the tax office.
• Skill in data entry and retrieval
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
• Ability to make arithmetical calculations and handle money accurately.
• Ability to deal courteously and tactfully with the general public in explaining tax laws and policies.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to maintain accurately records and reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Must be able to perform sedentary work and occasionally exerting up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. This work also involves the physical abilities of perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, lifting, using mental acuity, reaching, performing repetitive motion, speaking, standing, and expressing ideas by the spoken word. An incumbent must also possess the visual acuity to analyze data, work with numbers, and use a computer.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The employee works inside in an office type of environment.