Tax Collector

**Job Number***:
**48062**

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Looking for a unique career opportunity that will challenge your research, negotiation and customer service skills?_**

The Tax Collection team of the Assessment and Taxation Branch is seeking a highly motivated and ambitious individual for the collection of municipal taxes and administration of business improvement area taxes. Responsibilities include:

- Review, prioritize, investigate and collect overdue taxes for property, business improvement area (BIA), manufactured home, and leased accounts by contacting debtors, business owners, lawyers, financial institutions, and other lenders and interested parties
- Independently negotiate and secure payments and repayment agreements and initiate appropriate collection activity and effective legal remedies that consider the financial circumstances of the debtor while protecting the City from loss
- Maintain timely collection activity on all overdue accounts through telephone calls, correspondence and in-person field visits
- Prepare documents and correspondence related to provincial court orders, bankruptcy and insolvency claims, and register and discharge tax notifications
- Coordinate and administer collection activities related to the annual public auction of tax sale properties
- Review bi-weekly posse reports of business licenses and create tax accounts for new businesses. Determine eligibility for exemption status, create exemption records and update business ownership changes, relocations and closures in TACS. Conduct field visits as needed to verify data
- Conduct annual re-inspections of BIA zones to ensure the integrity and completeness of data in TACS. Create/correct account information based on results
- Review and research returned mail to determine whether a business has relocated, closed, or the mailing address has changed
- Respond to inquiries and concerns regarding BIA accounts and prepare BIA levy reports on an annual and adhoc basis. Respond to changes, concerns and discrepancies
- Validate customer requests and determine account adjustments related to payment transfers, journal vouchers, cheque requisitions, and other related matters
- Explain legislation, bylaws, and City policy that govern assessment and taxation in an accurate, thorough, and timely manner to property owners, the business community, interested parties, other City departments, and the general public
- Provide recommendations for TACS system enhancements to improve efficiencies, and perform testing of changes prior to implementation
- Participate in special projects undertaken to support or enhance Section, Branch and Corporate initiatives
- Perform other related duties as assigned

**Qualifications**:

- Twelfth (12th) grade, plus completion of an appropriate business related certificate program from an approved business school/college, or other post secondary education in an appropriate area of study
- Minimum of five (5) years progressively responsible collection experience in the public sector; preferably in taxation, including a minimum of two (2) years experience dealing with difficult customers on the telephone and in-person, as well as demonstrated experience in conducting field visits
- Extensive knowledge of provincial legislation, municipal bylaws, collection practices; and familiarity with applicable provincial statutes including: the Business Corporations Act, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, Civil Enforcement Act, Unclaimed Personal Property and Vested Property Act, privacy laws, and other related statutes and enactments, as they pertain to legal rights and remedies of a creditor
- Ability to work autonomously throughout the collection process and formulate independent decisions within established policies
- Thorough knowledge of collection techniques, and ability to deal effectively with irate or abusive debtors in volatile circumstances
- Excellent verbal, communication and negotiation skills
- Exceptional organizational skills with demonstrated ability to identify and implement new processes and procedures
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with citizens, the business community and other City departments
- Valid Alberta Class 5 driver’s license (or provincial equivalent). Must arrange for own transportation to be reimbursed in accordance with City of Edmonton policy. This may require business auto insurance
- Hire is dependent on a Criminal Records Check (CRC) security clearance that is satisfactory to the City of Edmonton and is a requirement of this position. There may be a cost associated with this requirement
- Demonstrate alignment with the Cultural Commitments of Safe, Helpful, Accountable, Integrated and Excellent, fostering an environment for others to do the same. For more information on the City’s Cultural Commitments, please visit edmonton.ca/our-culture
- Demonstrate the foundational competencies, key behaviours and attributes of the City’s six leadership competencies: Courage,