Fiscal Specialist; Business License and Sales Tax

The City of Kodiak is recruiting for a full-time non-exempt Fiscal Specialist (Business License and Sales Tax) in the Finance Department. Under general supervision, this position is responsible for administering the sales tax and business license programs, including but not limited to interpreting the sales and bed tax codes, issuing business licenses, mailing sales tax and exemption forms, reviewing and processing sales tax remittances, collecting on delinquent sales tax accounts, auditing sales tax returns, issuing sales tax exemption certificates;

providing backup and assistance for other department staff; and maintaining all related procedural documentation and compliance. Cross-trained in other areas of coverage in the Finance Department.

The Finance Department has several areas of responsibilities and is committed to providing accurate and timely financial information and support to other City departments and citizens. The Finance Department is responsible for the financial and budgetary operations of the City and the operations of the City’s information technology services. The Fiscal Specialist performs as an individual and team member in the delivery of providing advanced technical support and is frequently required to make high level independent, sound judgements, and to work without direct supervision.

The Fiscal Specialist must perform these duties in a manner that reflects positively on the City and the department.

• Interprets, administers, and applies sales tax and business license requirements in accordance with the Kodiak City Code.
• Conducts all aspects of the City’s sales and bed tax revenue collection, which includes receiving, reviewing for compliance and accuracy, processing and filing all business license applications and sales tax returns; maintaining business license and sales tax records and files; processing sales tax payments.
• Provides customer service and assistance to the public; answers customer questions and inquiries or refers inquiries to the appropriate party; and explains steps, appropriate forms, policies and procedures, and requirements for various transactions, services, or activities to the public.
• Assists business owners and the public by answering all questions relating to the business license code and sales tax code.
• Issues business licenses and exemption certificates to qualified registrants; provides notices to businesses that have not applied for a business license; researches tax issues/problems and takes appropriate corrective action.
• Performs data entry to merchant accounts, reporting any monthly and quarterly activity, including but not limited to creating accounts for new merchants; ensuring accurate entry of sales tax data, discontinue/deactivate merchant accounts; address changes; correct any duplicate accounts and electronically archive all tax records.
• Performs collections related activities for delinquent accounts and recommends actions such as preparing and filing liens, preparation and execution of payment agreements under the direction of the Finance Director.
• Prepares and mails delinquent and over/under payment notices.
• Generate and mail letters to all non-registrants of sales and/or bed tax; audits sales tax records for accuracy and timeliness.
• Enter a variety of financial information into spreadsheets and/or databases; compile reports; test and maintain support systems; review and balance transactions and ledgers; prepare journal entries.
• Prepare a variety of basic accounting reports and documents related to assigned area of responsibility utilizing established guidelines; disseminate information and reports to appropriate individual(s); monitor documentation compliance with internal and external regulations.
• Cross-train in areas of finance – accounts payable, cashier, utility bill inquiry – covering for absences and other duties as assigned.
• Protect the confidentiality of customer information and sales tax records.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

High school diploma or General Education Development (GED) and Associate’s degree or two-year technical certificate in accounting, business, or related field and three to five years of progressively responsible accounts receivable, accounting, or bookkeeping experience; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Valid Alaska Driver’s License or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.