Fiscal Specialist IV Collections

Summary

The Fiscal Specialist IV Collections position performs advanced financial, accounting, and fiscal support functions that are critical to the operations of the Treasurer's Office, Clallam County, and its taxing districts. This position is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial transactions, processing and reconciling accounting records, supporting tax collection and enforcement activities, and preparing complex financial, legal, and property-related documents in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and County policies.

Responsibilities

• Determine accounting inconsistencies or errors; prepare corrections and verify accuracy of accounting reconciliations.
• Perform financial or other fiscal numerical work utilizing the application of accepted bookkeeping or basic accounting methods and applications.
• Research and summarize specialized or technical information from varied sources; select the most appropriate material; use spreadsheets and customized database applications; and verify and reconcile data discrepancies.
• Interpret established policies, procedures, codes and regulations for internal and external customers over the telephone, in writing and in person; handle sensitive, confidential and potentially volatile situations.
• Provide financial, accounting and fiscal training to coworkers as assigned.
• Write and review complex legal documents.
• Process incoming mail and documents that may require attaching related correspondence or information before forwarding; select mail to handle personally where response requires specialized knowledge of the assigned function; identify priority and time-sensitive matters; and maintain security and confidentiality.
• Organize work, establish work methods, monitor workloads, recommend changes to procedures to enhance accuracy and office efficiency.
• Process Real Estate Excise Tax transactions, accurately posting property tax payments, processing returned mail and address changes.
• Performing complex collection operations including detailed research and notation, preparing pre-distraint legal actions, conducting inventory/on-site visits, hosting/co-hosting distraint sales and preparing treasurer’s tax deeds and excise.
• Performing complex review and research of tax title properties, obtaining legislative authority, hosting sales, preparing deeds and excise for all transactions and allocating PILT (payment in lieu of taxes) for each property sold.
• Preparing intricate and accurate advance tax request and senior proration removal request.
• Researching and fulfilling public records requests in accordance with the PRA (public records act).
• Cashier Support:
• Provide support to the Cashier position by backing up daily duties or filling in as needed.
• Importing banking files and disbursing them to districts.
• Processing incoming receipts for fund distributions and entering them accurately into our financial reporting system.
• Processing all online payments.
• Balancing all department accounts daily.
• Notifying and processing NSF payments with records.
• Maintaining adequate cash on hand for exchange as needed.
• Initiating repeat wire and manual wire transfers over the phone and by using banking software.
• Updating investment worksheets.

Qualifications

• Requires knowledge of the field of assignment sufficient to perform thoroughly and accurately the full scope of responsibility as illustrated by examples in the above job description.
• Education: Associate’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field. In lieu of the Associate’s degree, an additional two (2) years of directly related accounting, financial, legal, banking or title company experience may substitute.
• Coursework in governmental accounting, or public sector finance is highly desirable.
• Experience: Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in collections, banking, title services, governmental finance, legal document processing, tax administration, accounts receivable, or closely related financial operations, preferably including governmental finance or public sector financial operations.
• Ability to apply financial, accounting, and collection principles to complex delinquent accounts, tax collection activities, and related financial processes.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to collections, distraint, bankruptcy, garnishments, tax foreclosures, and other legal or financial enforcement processes.
• Strong financial, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyze detailed information, draw conclusions, and present findings or recommendations both verbally and in writing.
• Exercise independent judgment and discretion while handling sensitive financial matters and confidential information.
• Utilize computerized financial systems, spreadsheets, databases, and office software proficiently and accurately.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with taxpayers, attorneys, title companies, financial institutions, County departments, outside agencies, and members of the public regarding complex or sensitive collection matters.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders while managing difficult or sensitive interactions professionally, respectfully, and with empathy toward a diverse population.
• Organize and prioritize multiple assignments, maintain detailed records, and consistently demonstrate strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Persevere and adapt as required while working in a multi-faceted, fast-paced, and sometimes ambiguous governmental environment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a Notary Public commission is preferred but not required.

Benefits

County Paid Benefits Include Medical - Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield Dental - Delta Dental of Washington Vision - Northwest Benefit Network Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) HRA Veba (select positions) Life and disability insurance (select positions) Wellness Benefit Program Infant at Work Program Employee Assistance Program Transportation Program/Transit Pass Training and Career Development Program Retirement Employees are covered under the PERS retirement plan provided through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and Social Security. Sheriff's Office Employees are covered under LEOFF2 and PSERS. Deferred Compensation Deferred Compensation Program 457(b) - Tax Deferred Savings Program Deferred Compensation Program 401(a) - Tax Deferred Savings Program Vacation Generous Vacation and Paid Sick Leave 11 Paid Holidays AnnuallyNew Year's Day Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Presidents' Day Memorial Day Juneteenth Day Independence Day Labor Day Veteran's Day Thanksgiving Day day following Thanksgiving Christmas Day 4 Personal Days (32 hours floating holiday) Employment Vacation Donation Program Vacation Leave Accrual (Unless otherwise provided by contract, all regular full-time employees shall accrue vacation leave monthly based upon the following schedule):0-48 months = 8 hours per month 49-108 months = 10 hours per month 109-168 months = 12 hours per month 169-204 months = 14 hours per month Over 204 months = 16.67 hours per month Sick Leave Full-time employees accrue sick leave at the rate of 8 hours per month. Eligibility for use of sick leave is established after one month of continuous employment.Part-time employee's benefit contributions and leave accruals are prorated. NOTE: This is a general overview of the benefits offered through employment with Clallam County, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. Please contact Human Resources at 360.417.2402 if further clarification is needed.