Tax Specialist I

Responsible for the residential, discovery, and enforcement of Fairfax County businesses to ensure compliance with state and local tax requirements. Educate and guide the business community on state and county tax codes and filing requirements in writing and by telephone. Investigate and bring Schedule C filers into compliance with Business Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) tax requirements. Review business financial records and asset listings for accurate and uniform taxation of tangible personal property. Interpret and apply state and county codes and guidelines covering various tax and license situations. Responsible for processing special tax groups, including but not limited to transient occupancy, short-term daily rental, state sales, and bank franchise taxes.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Assists in performing research into various factors that affect tax liabilities of businesses, and/or individuals e.g., type, size, location, gross receipts, capital investments, income, assets, and equipment inventories;
• Performs financial and investigative audits;
• Ensures compliance with county tax laws;
• Under close supervision makes audits of specific business firms and/or individuals to assess their accounts as to taxes and/or licensing;
• Assists in negotiating differences with business and/or other representatives in order to resolve as many as possible;
• Applies appraisal techniques to conform to legislative changes and insure uniform assessments of personal property and/or assessment of other County tax obligations;
• Contacts other agency staff to obtain necessary data; Writes reports on assessments or studies made.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of accounting and management principles;
• Ability to gather, analyze, and present data;
• Ability to maintain effective relationships with the general public, business representatives, and other public officials;
• Ability to write and to communicate effectively.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited two-year college or university with an associate degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a closely related field; plus, two years of related work experience in local tax assessments or closely related area.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a credit check, and a driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduation from an accredited two-year college or university with an associate degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or a closely related field.
• Two or more years of related work experience in local business tax assessments or closely related area.
• Ability to perform basic financial auditing.
• Knowledge of methods used in the assessment and discovery of Business, Professional & Occupational License (BPOL) and Business Personal Property Taxes.
• Experience interpreting state and county codes to determine business classifications and tax assessments.
• Practical experience in using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience with Business Income Tax Returns (Schedule C).
• Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of state and county codes related to state sales tax, transient occupancy tax, short-term daily rental, and bank franchise tax.
• Strong writing communication skills.
• Detail oriented, ability to multitask, and prioritize.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov EEO/AA/TTY.

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