Job Description

Position Summary:

The Deputy Revenue Commissioner for Tax and Fees is responsible for leading a team of directors engaged in managing all aspects of tax compliance, tax billing, accounting, taxpayer services, and payment processing. The position serves as a strategic partner to legal services, finance and budget, policy and revenue collection stakeholders.

Essential Functions:

The Deputy Revenue Commissioner for Tax and Fees is responsible for leading a team of directors engaged in managing all aspects of tax compliance, tax billing, accounting, taxpayer services, and payment processing. The position serves as a strategic partner to legal services, finance and budget, policy and revenue collection stakeholders.

_ Responsibilities and Essential Functions:_

Provides leadership through divisional directors, to approximately 250 employees in the following functional areas:

Tax Compliance – This division stimulates and retains voluntary compliance by assessing unreported tax. The Division consists of 6 units: Tax Audit, Tax Discovery, Investigations, Tax Benefit Review, Return Mail, and Analysis. The Audit and Discovery Units identify and assess under-reported liabilities and unregistered business and individual tax accounts. The Investigations Unit conducts field inspections in support of tax compliance. The Tax Benefit Review Unit verifies eligibility for tax benefit programs and gathers information in support of Audits. The Analysis Unit provides reporting, analysis, and analytics solutions. The Return Mail Unit ensures account addresses are updated timely for effective collection. This division has a staff of 60+ employees.

Taxpayer Services – This division provides customer assistance to taxpayers in-person, electronically, and on the phone at three locations including two satellite offices. The division explains tax regulations and answers billing questions, handles new account registrations, arranges payment agreements, supports the inter-agency Sheriff Sale process, and makes billing adjustments. There are 100+ employees in this division.

Accounting – This division consists of Accounting, Payment and Refund Processing, and Financial Reporting functions. The division administers billing and collections for more than 20 types of taxes and fees. Billing initiatives include mailing 350,000 Real Estate Tax bills annually, 70,000 Commercial Trash bills bi-annually, and nightly delinquent billing. The division also manages all e-Billing and e-Payment functionality, processes business tax returns and prepares various financial reports of the City’s revenue collections and account receivable write-offs. Combined, this division has a staff of 95+.

The Deputy Revenue Commissioner for Taxes and Fees performs the following essential functions:

• Serve as a key member of the executive team.
• Sets strategic operational goals that align with the Department’s mission of maximizing revenue collections while focusing on increasing efficiencies and improving customer service.
• Develop revenue collections strategies.
• Develop tax policies with strategic partners including the Law Department.
• Collaborate with others on the impact of current and proposed tax legislation.
• Develop and advise on tax compliance strategies for the collection of taxes and fees. · Ensure collaboration of all compliance units to maximize the City’s Tax Enforcement Programs.
• Ensure that best practices and modernization tools used for revenue collections are implemented to make it easier for taxpayers to do business with the Department and improve overall customer service.
• Ensure the staff is adequately utilizing technical resources, such as, predictive analytics via a data warehouse and case management system and functionality available in the Philadelphia Tax Billing Center to optimize collections and compliance strategies.
• Ensure functionality and integrity of a computerized accounting system for the purpose of accurately recording tax transactions and billing
• Ensure financial reports are completed timely and accurately.
• Establish and manage the achievement of divisional performance metrics.
• Participate in the development of the annual program-based budget and ensure the team is meeting program goals.
• Ensure that sensitive taxpayer information, used to determine taxpayer liabilities, and associated work processes are protected and compliant with IRS publication 1075.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local tax laws and regulations.
• Knowledge and application of local tax and revenue ordinances, laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of standard business accounting systems and general accounting practices.
• Expertise in implementing modernized systems and best practices.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with staff, associate tax professionals, strategic partners, the public and their representatives.
• Ability to apply customer service skills to build and maintain positive relationships with customers.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Understands business implications of decisions.
• Champions change; communicates effectively by building commitment and overcoming resistance.
• Inspires and manages others to achieve and perform at a higher level.
• Demonstrates principled leadership and sound business ethics.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience managing a large organization or division involved in the collection of revenues.
• Experience meeting the expectations and requirements of customers and stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in taxation, finance, accounting, economics, law or related field is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior tax collections experience for a large municipality or state agency.
• Certification as a Certified Public Accountant is preferred, but not required.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and references.

Salary: $141,139

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation : City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

_ *The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire_

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx