Job Summary
This is tax collection work for the County Treasurer’s Office. The employees within this classification are responsible for tracking and collecting overdue, delinquent, or potentially delinquent, property taxes which are due to the County. Work includes compiling legal action to distrain the property, or initiate foreclosure. Employees apply knowledge of statutes regarding property taxes, foreclosure, bankruptcy, seizures, and collections to developing strategies to collect due taxes. Effective performance of collection responsibilities will result in the county receiving past taxes due. The impact of errors potentially may result in incurring liabilities through improper protection of property when distrained, in legal action reversing distrainment or collection functions, or in termination of foreclosure proceedings. Personal contact is typically high in this classification. Daily contacts are made with property owners, office staff, court employees, and other agencies. Purpose of the contacts is to obtain facts, convey information directly related to the work being performed, and to persuade and encourage owners to pay delinquent taxes. Collection attempts may include phone calls and site visits to delinquent taxpayers.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
Two years of credit investigation or collection experience;
-OR-
Two years of bookkeeping, record keeping, or tax preparation experience;
-AND-
Possession of or ability to obtain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license.
Knowledge of...statutes pertaining to real and personal property taxes, tax seizures and sales, including Lien of Taxes, Certificates of Delinquency; techniques of credit investigation and collection; necessary procedures of distraints, from postings to public sale of property; fundamentals of office practices and collections bookkeeping; federal bankruptcy statutes, specifically 7, 11, and 13; some geographic or cartographic knowledge of Clark County.
Ability to...assess people and situations accurately, and to establish tactful, persuasive and sympathetic relationships with tax-delinquent property owners while following through with required legal proceedings; understand, analyze, interpret and apply related laws, codes, regulations and concepts to the work assignment; communicate clearly, orally and in writing, related laws, codes, regulations and concepts to interested parties in a tactful and courteous manner; establish and maintain effective and positive work relationships with co-workers, supervisors, other County departments and public and private agencies; perform basic bookkeeping, record keeping and research functions; work rapidly and accurately with numbers; operate standard office equipment, such as copiers, typewriters, computer terminals and adding machines.
With its great natural beauty, Clark County, Washington, always has attracted people and businesses. We welcome those who visit and settle here, providing fresh perspectives, growing diversity and vibrant energy.
Our forward-looking community is framed by the scenic Cascade Range to the east and the majestic Columbia River to the south and west. The area is a picturesque place to work, play, and live.
Named for Captain William Clark of Lewis and Clark Expedition fame, our county is one of the fastest growing regions in Washington state and the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. Today, more than 467,000 people call Clark County home.
Clark County government works to enhance the quality of life for all of our diverse community by providing services with integrity, openness and accountability. We are one of the county's largest employers, providing a wide range of rewarding careers for about 1,570 people.