Revenue Officer I/II/Senior - Ventura, United States - County of Ventura

Description

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package that includes:

• A general salary increaseof 3.5% effective December 22, 2024.
• Educational Incentive -An educational incentive of 2.5% for completion of an associate's degree, 3.5% for completion of a bachelor's degree, OR 5% for completion of a graduate degree.
• Bilingual Incentive -Based on agency need,proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Vacation Accrual - New regular, full-time employees shall accrue approximately 14 days of vacation a year for the first 10,400 hours or 5 years of service; vacation accruals increase at 5, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 20 years of service topping out at 26 days a year and 400 hours of vacation hours banked.
• Vacation Redemption - After 14,560 hours of continuous County service an employee may elect to "cash in" or redeem up to 80 hours of vacation accrued in the same year after using 80 hours of vacation in the preceding 12 months.
• Sick Leave - Full-time regular employees accrue 3.08 hours of sick leave per bi-weekly pay period with an advance at hire of 40.04 hours which will be balanced at the completion of 13 bi-weekly pay periods.
• Deferred Compensation - Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3.00% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans-Full time employees are given a flexible credit allowance of up to $23,530 annually to offset the purchase of medical, dental, and/or vision insurance for you and your dependents.
• Employee only - $502 per biweekly pay period
• Employee plus one dependent - $730 per biweekly pay period
• Employee plus family - $905 per biweekly pay period

Flexible Spending Accounts-Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental and vision care and/or dependent care expenses.

Pension Plan-Participation in the County's defined pension plan, which has reciprocity with CalPERS.Holidays- 12 paid days per year which, includes a scheduled floating holiday.

Additional Benefits -Tuition Reimbursement, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Wellness Program.

OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY

Ventura County is located on California's "Gold Coast," approximately 35 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 20 miles southeast of Santa Barbara.

The County includes 42 miles of coastline which is home to the following cities and points of interest:

Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura as well as national protected areas such as parts of the Angeles National Forest, Channel Islands National Park, and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Ventura County's beauty and weather combined with a wonderful quality of life are among the many reasons our residents choose to call Ventura County "home.

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Agency:
Treasurer-Tax Collector

Revenue Officers work in the Special Collections Unit of the Tax Collector Department.

These positions collect on monies owed for delinquent unsecured and secured taxes pursuant to the authority of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of California.

Additionally, they perform investigative and enforcement activities and related work as required.

Special collections in this unit include, but are not limited to, unsecured taxes, delinquent unsecured taxes and collections, Power to Sell properties and auctions, business licenses, Transient Occupancy Taxes, franchise fees, bankruptcy cases, Racehorse Taxes, and other duties as required.

Distinguishing Characteristics:
Revenue Officer I is the entry level classification in this series.

Under direct supervision, incumbents learn how to research and investigate delinquent taxes and ensure collection of average difficulty and sensitivity.

Revenue Officer II is the next level of classification in this series. Under general supervision, incumbents handle more complex and sensitive cases and enforcement activities. They may be responsible for handling more than one type of special collections for the unit.

Senior Revenue Officer under general supervision, provides lead direction in assigning, directing and reviewing the work of a group of Revenue Collectors.

The incumbent has the main responsibility of coordinating the Power To Sell Secured Property Auction, as well as being able to handle other responsibilities in this unit as the need arises.

APPROXIMATE SALARIES

Revenue Officer I:
$ $31.05 hourly

Revenue Officer II:
$ $34.50 hourly

Senior Revenue Officer:
$ $37.95 hourly

Revenue Officer I/II/Senior are represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and are eligible for overtime compensation.

Examples Of Duties

Depending on assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Revenue Officer I/II

• Learns how to (I) / Collects and enforces collection efforts of delinquent revenues utilizing phone, electronic and personal visits or field work to locate and contact individuals and organizations to secure information and enforce compliance with specific provisions of tax laws, rules, or regulations; understands how to disseminate relevant information in order to enforce compliance with the County procedures and legal requirements.
• Learns to (I) / Investigates and analyzes accounts, up to and including tax evasions.
• Learns to (I) / Conducts skip tracing/investigation to locate taxpayers.
• Assists with (I) / Seizes and impounds personal property and/or bank accounts for tax delinquencies and investigates complaints.
• Assists with (I) / Issues written demands to title companies; learn to (I) / completes title searches.
• Interacts with the public, notaries, state, local, and federal agencies and private fiduciary institutions, and non-profit organizations.
• Keeps accurate records, reconcile accounts, prepare reports, and keep up to date correspondence; learns how to (I) / reviews bankruptcy and State and Federal court files; assists with cases that require (I) / testifies in court when required.
• Works in conjunction with the County Clerk-Recorder and learn to (I) / perform maintenance on liens on property.
• Learns how to (I) / Researches returned tax bills and notices for new addresses; coordinates efforts with the Assessor and the State of California.
• Learns how to (I) / Researches county records at the Assessor, County Clerk-Recorder, Auditor-Controller, and Superior Court offices; assist with (I) / responds to phone calls for Tax Enforcement Investigators as needed.
• Cross trains with Public Service staff to learn how to process varied transactions and assist in phone queue as needed.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Senior Revenue Officer

• Handles auctions of Power to Sell Properties; seizes and impounds personal property; arranges for the sale of seized items; reviews court files to identify parties of interest and/or determine equity on real or personal property for seizures or liens; performs site visits to property on the tax sale list and makes personal contact with the owners; prepares Board of Supervisors letters and exhibits; prepares rescissions and handles liens on property; completes title searches; reconciles accounts.
• Enforces collection of delinquent unsecured property taxes; conducts skip tracing/investigation to locate taxpayers; investigates possible tax evasions; investigates and resolves the more complex and repeat delinquent tax accounts through person contact and other enforcement actions.
• Disseminates relevant information to enforce compliance with tax law; verifies tax liability and secures evidence for court prosecution; represents the county at administrative hearings; handles small claims court cases; prepares and testifies in Superior Court cases.
• Reviews work of Revenue Officers I/II and front-line staff for accuracy and provides coaching when opportunities arise.
• Provides support for additional areas of special collections, including bankruptcy cases, business licenses, and Transient Occupancy Tax.
• Interacts with the public, notaries, state, local, and federal agencies and private fiduciary institutions, as well as County Counsel and non-profit organizations.
• Prepares reports, reconciliations, and correspondence.
• Interprets and analyzes legislative changes to the areas of collection enforcement and taxation, and establishes strategy, policy and procedure for the collection of said taxes.
• First point of contact for all escalations from Revenue Officers I/II; assists superiors in the more difficult investigations and works with County Counsel in legal matters.
• Trains new Revenue Officers in Special Collections Unit.
• Provides basic information and training on special collections to front line staff.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the exam process and assure neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Revenue Officer I:

One (1) year experience in a fiscal, office, or customer service environment that involved direct contact with the public to explain policies and procedures.

College courses and/or training seminars in relevant courses of study (example: business administration, criminal justice, behavioral science, etc.) may be substituted for six (6) months of experience.

Revenue Officer II:
Three (3) years' experience in a fiscal, office, or customer service environment that involved direct contact with the public to explain policies and procedures;

OR,

One (1) year of experience as a Revenue Officer I or Collections Officer II.

Senior Revenue Officer:
Three (3) years of experience as County of Ventura Collection Officer III, Revenue Officer II, or investigator or enforcement officer in a California Treasurer-Tax Collector's Office;

OR,

Three (3) years of experience as a credit manager, loan officer, or collection officer for a financial institution.


Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Revenue Officer I/II

Working knowledge of:

how to utilize search engines to locate California Revenue and Taxation code, state law, civil and bankruptcy laws, IRS rules and regulations, and county ordinances; understanding investigative procedures; knowing or being able to find real estate and tax related legal procedures and terminology; understanding collection methods and techniques; telephone and email etiquette.

Skill and ability to:

work well in a team environment; treat people with respect; gather information through interview and investigation; deescalate situations; assemble facts in order to draw conclusions and make sound recommendations; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; exercise appropriate judgement in answering questions and releasing information; make accurate calculations; works well with Microsoft Suite, specifically Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Senior Revenue Officer

Working knowledge of:

California Revenue and Taxation code, state law, civil and bankruptcy laws, IRS rules and regulations, and county ordinances; investigative procedures and interview techniques; real estate and tax related legal procedures and terminology; rules of evidence and court procedures; collection methods and techniques; basic knowledge of or willingness to learn leadership and supervisory skills.

Skill and ability to:

assemble, analyze and evaluate facts in order to draw conclusions and make sound recommendations; handle the most difficult public contact situations involving irate individuals; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; exercise appropriate judgement in answering questions and releasing information; analyze and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations; experience in project or team leadership; ability to train others; ability to interpret, apply and explain legal provisions and County policies regarding delinquent or defaulted accounts; works well with Microsoft Suite, specifically Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Recruitment Process


FINAL FILING DATE:

This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it.

Your application must be received by County of Ventura, Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.


FIRST REVIEW:

A first review of applications is anticipated to occur on or around Friday, May 10, 2024, and subsequent reviews may be conducted until sufficient applications are received to meet business needs.

To apply online, please refer to our web site at If you prefer to fill out a paper application form, please call for application materials and submit them to County of Ventura, Human Resources, 800 South Victoria Avenue, L-1970, Ventura, CA

Information for Transfer Candidates:

If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible.

If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.

Note:

It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications.

A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire; however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam at the time of filing.

The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the recruitment and hiring process to assist in determining qualifications for the position.

Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in removal of the application from further consideration.

APPLICATION EVALUATION - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the examination process.

WRITTENEXAMINATION - 100%: An un-proctored, internet-based job-related written examination will be conducted to test applicants' knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to Math, Office Practices & Customer Service, and Reading Comprehension.

Applicants must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.


ELIGIBLE LIST:

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill present and future regular, temporary, fixed-term, intermittent and extra-help vacancies.

There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy.


VALIDATING PROCTORED WRITTEN EXAM:

Offers of employment may be conditional to the candidate until taking and passing an on-site, proctored exam similar to the un-proctored, internet-based exam.

NOTE:

If appointed at the lower levels, an employee may be promoted to the higher level(s) up to Senior Revenue Officer without further examination upon meeting the minimum requirements, demonstrating satisfactory performance, and in accordance with the business needs of the department.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:

A thorough pre-employment, post offer background investigation which may include inquiry into past employment, education, criminal background information, and driving record is required for this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
For further information about this recruitment, please contact Judy Larson by email at or by telephone at