Job Abstract

Are you Richmond R.E.A.D.Y?
Respect. Equity. Accountability. Diversity…YOU!!!

This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

The Department of Finance is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Financial Regulatory Specialist. The successful candidate will respond to citizen inquiries related to assessments of business personal property and the review and filtering of tax returns for business licenses, business personal property, and perform related work as required. This position is responsible for providing assessment and collection of individual, business, and property taxes for the City.

Incumbents provide a variety of paraprofessional tasks such as investigating allegations of City and State tax law violations, and assisting with case management and preparation of cases for court prosecution. As assigned, work may include:

• Canvassing the City to identify unregistered businesses or business activities
• Assisting in obtaining financial information from non-complying customers
• Compiling and calculating the level of tax debts
• Communicating with offending taxpayers
• Inspecting businesses, special events, and other functions subject to payment of taxes
• Conducting tax settlement negotiations and initiating prosecution activities when necessary
• Testifying in court as required
• Assisting with case file management and determining the best course of action for revenue recovery
• Assisting with the design of forms and letters to delinquent taxpayers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Reviewing and making adjustments as needed to the impacted business population
• Data cleanup
• Citizen outreach
• Beginner adjustment project
• Statutory assessment project
• Canvasses the City to identify non-compliant businesses, unregistered businesses, and business activity; decides type of action required to facilitate compliance
• Issues 5 Day Notice or criminal summons; requests assistance from other agencies if needed.
• Communicates regularly with delinquent taxpayers in most effective and efficient way
• Compiles information to confirm the liability of the tax and the severity of action that needs to be taken.
• Performs joint inspections, investigations, and research with local, state, and federal agencies
• Ensures appropriate classification
• Enforces business tax regulations
• Collects and analyzes data
• Evaluates and resolves issues of non-compliance and regulatory violations.
• Works outside normal business hours
• Inspects businesses such as night clubs, restaurants, special events, and festivals;
• Determines which businesses to inspect; requests assistance from appropriate agencies if needed.
• Identifies unlicensed businesses, business activities at existing licensed businesses which may not yet be assessed, untapped revenue, and illicit business activity
• Utilizes various mediums for discovery purposes such as print media, TV, radio ads, and flyers.
• Initiates prosecution; testifies in criminal tax cases
• Provides testimony in cases for other agencies
• Identifies and recovers monies owed to the City.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Associate's degree in business, accounting, or related field
• One year of experience in a related field
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

• Valid Virginia Driver's License

• Accounting and finance
• Computer programs such as Microsoft Office Suite
• Electronic databases and related software applications such as Business Tax Enforcement systems (BTE), social media, and applications for retail liquor sales
• Governmental tax policies and procedures
• Notary Law and Procedures for Virginia Notaries Public
• Standard office technology and equipment
• State and City codes pertaining to the licensing of business and excise taxes
• Street vending regulations

• Answering inquiries regarding unique situations such as street vending regulations, vacancies in the Central Business District, and food trucks
• Assisting customers with obtaining initial license, acquiring an additional license, and renewals
• Communicating with a variety of internal and external departments
• Compiling different lists such as a delinquent list for business licensee, business personal property, and excise taxes
• Comprehending various agency requirements to resolve tax or other code compliance issues
• Enforcing City codes such as those pertaining to the licensing of business and excise taxes
• Identifying and locating unregistered businesses or business activity, untapped sources of revenue, and unreported excise taxes
• Facilitating the collection of business license and excise tax revenues
• Performing investigative duties in-house using databases, publications, social media, building permits, subcontractor lists, and websites
• Preparing presentations and reports using visual aids
• Researching a variety of topics such as complaints regarding tax violators, illegal business activities, fraud or zoning permits, and unregistered businesses
• Responding to customer request service tickets
• Using City vehicles, tablets, cell phones, cameras, and other City property
• Using discretion to issue criminal warrants or summons
• Using discretion to decide if there is enough evidence to take a case to court

• Follow standard procedures and established practices
• Exhibit integrity
• Maintain a professional demeanor

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly perform repetitive motions, see, hear, talk, feel, finger, lift, walk, balance, and stand; frequently push, reach, crouch, grasp, and kneel; and occasionally climb, stoop, crawl, pull, and lift. The working conditions may include environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be light work , exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Talent Acquisition Partner, Senior at (804) 646-4705 or by email at Jessica.McKenzie@RVA.GOV.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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