Tax Assistant I - Collections

Job Summary

The Collections Tax Assistant is responsible for accurate processing, balancing, and research of property tax payment transactions. This position requires strong attention to detail, excellent customer service skills, and the ability to effectively manage payment discrepancies.

Essential Duties

• Prepare and Reconcile Property Tax Payments: Process and manually enter transactions, ensuring that payments are accurately applied to taxpayer accounts and tax years, and reconcile property tax payment transactions daily to maintain accuracy and compliance.

• Perform Property Tax Transfers and Cancellations: manually update payment records to ensure accurate account maintenance and compliance with statutory requirements.

• Manage Bank Transactions: Manage the receipt and sorting of all documents from the bank, including processed/rejected payments and other correspondences for further processing.

• Customer Service and Research: Provide outstanding customer service to taxpayers and other departments, addressing inquiries and resolving issues related to property tax payments and transactions.

• Payment Research: Investigate payment discrepancies, including those submitted through the bank or bill pay systems, to ensure accuracy and proper application to taxpayer account.

• Telephone Support Overflow: Provide assistance for phone coverage during overflow periods for the property tax and voter departments, ensuring that all incoming inquiries are handled efficiently.

• Check Scanning and Documentation: Operate the remote lock-box scanner to process and scan checks, ensuring all payment data is accurately recorded and uploaded into the system. Manage and maintain records of processed payments and related correspondence in compliance with the record retention standards.

• Corrective Workstation Research: Investigate and resolve payment discrepancies flagged by the bank through the Corrective Workstation, ensuring that errors are promptly addressed.

• Bill Pay System Research: Review payments submitted via the bill pay system, ensuring accuracy in payment application and resolution of any discrepancies.

About The Tax Assessor-Collector

The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office is essential for ensuring the proper administration of tax laws and providing vital services to the community. The office handles various financial and administrative tasks including: Property Tax Collection, Motor Vehicle Services, Voter Registration, and Additional Revenue Collection.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For special services or accommodations, please contact (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net. This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

• Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent from an accredited U.S. institution.

• Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of experience in customer service, banking, collections, or property tax-related roles.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Customer Service: Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to handle inquiries and resolve issues efficiently and professionally.

  • Attention to Detail: Strong attention to detail, ensuring the accuracy of payment processing, research, and documentation.

  • Problem Solving: Ability to analyze and resolve payment discrepancies, ensuring that issues are identified and corrected promptly.

  • Time Management: Effective time management and ability to prioritize tasks, especially during high-volume periods.

  • Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) and experience with payment processing software or banking systems is preferred.

  • Telephone Support: Ability to manage phone support efficiently, particularly during overflow periods, and provide helpful assistance to callers.

Preferences

• Knowledge of property tax payment processes and relevant legal or procedural guidelines.

• Experience with payment processing, payment research, and customer service.

• Familiarity with payment systems, including remote lock-box scanning, bill pay systems, and corrective workstations.

General Information

• Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in an office setting subject to frequent interruptions with extensive work at a computer workstation and site visits to various Tax Offices, Harris County and community facilities, both outdoors and indoors.

• Physical Demands: This role is a standard office role that requires remaining stationary for long periods of time. At times, boxes or equipment must be transported weighing up to 30 lbs.

• Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

• Note: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration.