Intermediate Accountant (Part Time)

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Taxation Program (50%) 

• Evaluate, interpret, and ensure compliance and regulatory oversight by staying updated on local, provincial, and federal laws governing property taxation and assessment practices, adhering to statutory deadlines, reporting obligations, and audit procedures, collaborating with auditors and regulatory agencies to facilitate compliance reviews, resolve audit findings.
• Provide guidance and support for property owners, taxpayers, elected officials, stakeholders and community members regarding assessment and property tax inquiries and concerns.
• Conduct comprehensive reviews for property assessments against property taxes using analytical tools and methodologies to ensure compliance and accuracy.
• Assists with the end-to-end billing process for annual and supplementary property taxes, encompassing calculation, generation, and distribution of tax and assessment notices, while monitoring and reporting on tax collections, delinquencies, and payment plans to address outstanding balances.
• Perform financial accounting, reconciliations, journals, and reporting duties pertaining to municipal property tax.
• Interpret, understand, and complete property tax collection processes tailored to various assessment classes, aligning with the Municipal Government Act and other regulatory guidelines; for complex property tax files in arrears, collaborate with legal counsel to support recommendations for consideration by elected officials.
• Forge connections with municipal counterparts and conduct intermunicipal research to analyze property tax trends, market conditions, tax rates, penalty rates, and methodologies utilized, thereby enhancing decision-making processes.
• Coordinates and administers tax agreements, tax installment payment plans, and the penalty forgiveness payment plan in compliance with County bylaws and external legislation, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and municipal policies.
• Facilitates tax relief requests aligned with Council policies by conducting research, calculations, and collaborating with cross-functional teams within the County; prepares correspondence and assists in developing presentation materials for Council as needed.
• Demonstrate a proactive approach by introducing innovative and creative strategies to enhance property tax collection, while presenting ideas and recommendations aimed at improving existing processes and methodologies.

Municipal and Utility Service Receivables (30%) 

• Administer the municipal and utility billing process, including meter reading imports, reconciliations, bill generation, and distribution, to ensure accurate and timely billing for municipal utility services provided by the municipality, while implementing best practices and procedures to optimize billing efficiency and accuracy.
• Process payments and administer accounts receivable by receiving and handling payments for municipal and utility invoices, including cash, checks, credit card payments, and electronic transfers, maintaining precise records of payments received, reconciling accounts receivable balances, and issuing billing statements, past due notices, and collection letters as required.
• Monitor delinquent accounts, implement collection procedures in line with municipal policies and regulations, coordinate with collection agencies, legal counsel, and stakeholders to pursue outstanding balances, and recommend strategies to reduce delinquency rates and enhance collection efficiency.
• Conduct regular reconciliations of municipal and utility billing records, payments received, and accounts receivable balances, aging of receivables, and collection performance.
• Stay abreast of regulatory requirements and industry standards related to municipal and utility billing, collections, and customer service, ensuring compliance with local, provincial, and federal regulations.
• Actively participate in financial statement audits requiring accounting, reconciliations, journal entries, and working paper reviews  to ensure compliance with  internal controls, accounting standards, and other governing bodies as required. requirements and internal controls.

Other Related Duties (20%) 

• Provides periodic coverage for the Accounting Assistant (AP) positions within the County.
• Provides periodic front desk and switchboard coverage.
• Peer reviewer for the Taxation and Accounts Receivable Supervisor and Accounts Payable Supervisor as required.
• Financial accounting tasks, journal entries, reconciliations, and reporting activities as assigned.
• Adheres to applicable responsibilities and accountabilities as outlined in the Sturgeon County Health and Safety Management System return.
• Performs the duties of an Information Management Contact for the department.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.