COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER 1, TAX COLLECTION
DEFINITION
Under the direction of a Supervising Community Service Officer, Tax Collection, Department of Community Affairs, in larger municipalities provides the more complex technical assistance and consultative services to municipal tax collectors, tax searchers, treasurers, and utility collectors; may act as a lead worker; may act as a Certified Tax Collector on an interim basis in a municipality; does related work as required.
NOTE:  The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only.  A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification.  Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Acts as liaison between New Jersey's municipal tax collectors and the state.
Prepares proctors, and scores the examinations for certification of tax collectors.
Conducts studies of the operations and procedures used by the municipal tax collectors with a low collection rate and designs new and/or revises existing procedures to improve the rate of collection.
Acts as the certified tax collector in municipalities in the event of a vacancy until a certified tax collector is appointed.
Provides consultative assistance to municipal tax collectors and their staff in all phases of the tax collection process  including billing, receipt of payments, detailed accounting procedures,  enforcement of payments, preparation of tax sales, redemption of lien  calculations, and preparation of foreclosure list.
Provides advice and assistance to municipal tax search officers in the area of certifying tax liabilities.
Provides advice and assistance to municipal utility collectors in the areas of billing, receipt of payments, detailed accounting procedures, and enforcement of payments.
Provides advice and assistance to municipal  treasurers in the areas of maintaining books of entries for receiving, holding, investing, and disbursing public funds.
Coordinates with tax collectors, assessors,  clerks, finance officers, and other local officials, as well as governmental commissions, boards, and agencies regarding the  development of procedures and proposed legislation.
Prepares and supervises clear, sound, technically accurate and informative statistical and other reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
May take the lead over work operations and/or functional programs.
Prepares and/or supervises extensive correspondence in the performance of official duties.
Supervises the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files.
May be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE:Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.  
Seven (7) years of professional experience as a Certified Tax Collector.
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience.
OR
Possession of a master's degree from an accredited college or university in Political Science, Government, Public Administration, or a related field; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience.
NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a Tax Collector Certificate valid in the State of New Jersey.
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES:
Knowledge of the typical functions and responsibilities of a municipal tax collector, tax searcher, utility collector, and treasurer.
Knowledge of municipal budget practices and procedures.
Knowledge of the provisions of the Local Fiscal Affairs Law (40A:5 et seq.), Local Budget Law (40A:2 et seq.), Tax Sale Law (54:5-1  to 54:5-129 et seq.), and Assessment and Collection of Taxes (54:4-1 to 54:4-133 et seq.).
Knowledge of testing procedures and standards utilized in the preparation of tax collector certification examinations after a period of training.
Knowledge of electronic data processing with particular application for processing of tax rolls and tax billing.
Ability to conduct studies of tax collection procedures and operations of local government.
Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret basic laws, standards, and policies and apply them to specific situations.
Ability to provide technical advice and assistance to tax collectors, tax searchers, utility collectors, and treasurers; ability  to make necessary field visitations.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in the course of assigned duties.
Ability to prepare and/or supervise the preparation of extensive correspondence in the course of official duties.
Ability to prepare clear, sound, and technically accurate statistical and narrative reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Ability to supervise the maintenance of essential records and files.
Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or  manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or  related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in  English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position.  American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as  long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after  reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations.  If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
CODES:  26/R26 - 64175I                       MCK                      2/17/07