TAX ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST - BILINGUAL

The City of Milwaukee is proud to employ a workforce dedicated to delivering exceptional service to its residents. If you are passionate about being part of an inclusive team of public servants, please consider the following opportunity.

The Tax Enforcement Specialist-Bilingual provides administrative support related to tax enforcement, vacated judgments, bankruptcy administration, and customer relations.

The Tax Enforcement Specialist-Bilingual provides translation and interpretation services in Spanish and English.

Delinquent Tax Enforcement

• Maintain appropriate enforcement status and in rem number coding for all delinquent tax accounts.
• Identify and flag delinquent property tax accounts eligible for in-rem foreclosure in accordance with the City’s policies and procedures.
• Maintain the in-rem foreclosure file database.
• Prepare all required documents related to foreclosure action, including requesting to vacate foreclosure judgments and proceeding with the sale of foreclosed properties.
• Confer with taxpayers and their legal counsel regarding tax account status, payments, complaints, ownership difficulties, and vacated judgments through in-person, written or telephone contact.
• Maintain working relationships with various City departments and elected officials relative to tax enforcement actions.
• Process property tax payments made in person at the service counter.
• Provide language interpretation and translation for customers who speak Spanish.
• Translate departmental documents and web pages from English to Spanish.

Bankruptcy Administration

• Research accounts affected by bankruptcy actions using City Assessor, Munis Tax System, and City Clerk-License Division database information.
• Monitor multiple and serial filers; request a lift of stays when deemed necessary.
• Monitor debtor payment plans for compliance.
• Check the status of bankruptcy cases using the Court Voice Index System or the Public Access to Court Electronic Records System (PACER).
• Create bankruptcy administration statistical reports for departmental management.
• Process monthly payments received from various bankruptcy trustees, by mail and over the counter, in accordance with bankruptcy-allocated interest rates.
• Prepare, submit, amend, and withdraw proof of claims to the federal bankruptcy court electronically for delinquent property tax amounts due.
• Maintain the database of active and closed bankruptcy case files.
• Monitor debtor payment plans for compliance.
• Confer with legal counsel regarding discrepancies in the debtor’s plans.

• Serve as a department liaison to the City’s collection agent relative to property tax collection matters.
• Identify and flag delinquent property tax accounts eligible for transfer to the collection agent.
• Review tax account data files before transmission to the collection agent to ensure accuracy and appropriateness.
• Review collection agent correspondence and reports relative to bankruptcy filings, judgments taken, and uncollectible accounts; enter and maintain the appropriate coding on the respective tax accounts in the tax collection system.
• Reconcile the Financial Management Information System (FMIS) general ledger collection agent accounts receivable every month.
• Maintain the agent’s collection activity files.

Tax Billing and Collection

• Make required tax account adjustments and status changes at the request of the Customer Services Division staff.
• Prepare delinquent property tax collection and enforcement activity reports for department management.
• Process property tax payments made over the phone and in person at the service counter.
• Process escrow agent property tax payment files.
• Financial Services
• Manage and monitor inventory and the use of check stocks for accounts payable and payroll accounts.
• Monitor the daily printing of accounts payable checks.
• Enter monthly and quarterly property tax settlement vouchers in FMIS.
• Prepare annual bill payment documents for animal license fee revenue, allocating expenditures to the appropriate accounts, and make the requisite FMIS entries.

Office Administration

• Store, cull, and dispose of division records according to the department’s record retention schedule.
• Draft correspondence for review by the Tax Billing and Collection Manager or Tax Collection and Enforcement Coordinator.
• Service the general office fax machine and copier and assist department personnel in the use of the machines. Monitor and report monthly general office photocopier charges by account code, and prepare monthly vendor bill payment vouchers.
• Monitor the department’s office supply room inventory to ensure that needed items are readily available, and request that required items be ordered.
• Compile and maintains Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for current job duties.
• Prepare tax collection and enforcement activity reports for departmental management as directed.

 We welcome qualified individuals with disabilities who are interested in employment and will make reasonable accommodations during the hiring process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

• Tax Enforcement Specialist must be able to stand, walk, stoop, push, and pull, as well as move and lift objects weighing up to 10 lbs. regularly.

1. Bilingual in Spanish and English, including the ability to provide both translation and interpretation.
2. Associate degree in business administration, finance, legal studies, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
3. Three years of progressively responsible clerical and administrative support experience.

 Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. 

NOTICE: Please do not attach your academic transcripts to your employment application. The hiring department will verify candidates’ education as part of the background screening process prior to extending any job offer.

TECHNICAL

• Knowledge of City accounting procedures and the ability to utilize information system applications.
• Ability to learn and knowledge of State Statutes and City Ordinances applicable to tax enforcement.
• Ability to learn and knowledge of Federal Statutes applicable to bankruptcy administration.
• Ability to learn and knowledge of best practices for providing administrative support.
• Ability to read and interpret job-related documents.
• Ability to effectively use standard computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to learn and effectively utilize Munis Tax System, City Clerk-License Division database information, and employee data systems such as FMIS and Workday to produce reports and to retrieve data.

COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL

• Ability to maintain good public relations with department staff, taxpayers, various government agencies, other City departments, and outside contractors.
• Ability to cope with department staff and taxpayers under adverse conditions.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Ability to write reports and other documents that are thorough, clear, well-crafted and error-free.
• Verbal communication skills to work with customers, co-workers and vendors effectively.
• Ability to demonstrate concern for meeting or exceeding the needs of both external and internal customers.
• Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy and remain calm under pressure.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with people of all levels and with those whose backgrounds may differ from one’s own.
• Ability to gain others’ support for ideas, proposals, projects and solutions.

BILINGUAL COMMUNICATION

• Verbal communication skills to effectively respond to questions and concerns received from the public, in Spanish and in English.
• Written communication skills in both English and Spanish, including the ability to accurately record information and prepare correspondence.
• Ability to translate and interpret both Spanish and English accurately and efficiently.
• Ability to interview witnesses in Spanish and in English and accurately and concisely document interviews.
• Ability to read, understand, and process work-related documents, such as correspondence, forms, and reports, in both English and Spanish.

ORGANIZATION, JUDGMENT AND PROFESSIONALISM

• Ability to think critically and analytically.  
• Ability to perform work accurately under pressure, meet deadlines, and carry out work assignments with minimal supervision.
• Ability to exercise judgment, discretion, and tact in handling departmental matters.
• Honesty, integrity, professionalism, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to serve as an effective custodian of City resources.

EEO 501

The City of Milwaukee values and encourages diversity and is an equal opportunity employer.