Director of Revenue Accounting and Special Projects

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The mission of the Department of Revenue is to collect tax and non-tax revenue due to the City and tax revenue due to the School District of Philadelphia while providing service to customers that is fair and efficient and ensuring that the City provides services that the residents can see, touch, and feel.
The Department’s collections enable the Administration to invest in the Mayor’s strategic priorities, including housing, education, and making Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in the nation with economic opportunity for everyone.

Job Description

The Department of Revenue is seeking a Director of Revenue Accounting and Special Projects to direct a $5.7  Billion-dollar revenue accounting operation that includes payment processing and accounting functions. This position will also lead business process reengineering, the prioritization of system change requests, while supporting the implementation of Revenue’s Integrated Tax System project - PRISM.  Leading efforts to adjust and recover from the pandemic including but not limited to directing and implementing changes in tax policies and procedures as they relate to tax refunds is also an essential function of this position.

The Director of Revenue Accounting and Special Projects is responsible for providing leadership to approximately 135 employees through a group of senior managers in the following functional areas:  

• Billing and Accounting Operations – Approximately 45 employees support the billing and accounting operations function. There are seven components to this function:
• Tax Refunds - Process approximately 40,000 tax and non-tax refunds for all City agencies in accordance with tax policy and the Department’s Service Level Agreement.
• Electronic Services – To ensure timely and efficient collections, responsibility includes the management of modernized efile/eGov/Credit Card, ACH Credit/Debit, eCheck services. Lead daily electronic reconciliation and deposit of payments. This Director of Revenue Accounting and Special Projects coordinates with vendor support and software companies to update and communicate tax filing business rule changes and schema testing and coordinates business process changes required to align with  legislative changes.
• Settlement Audit- Perform settlement audits to identify and correct reconciliation discrepancies in a timely manner to ensure there are no delays in the city’s posting of payments and daily financial interface
• Financial Reporting-Prepare daily, monthly, quarterly and annual financial collection reports. Responsible for annual Accounts Write Off Panel, end of fiscal reconciliation with the Controller’s Office, and coordinate annual agency reporting. The Director of Revenue Accounting and Special Projects ensures appropriate adjustments are made to the city’s financial system throughout the year.
• Bank Return Items (BRI’s)- This unit ensures that the reversal entries are processed timely on the tax and agency accounts for payments that are returned for insufficient funds.  Communicate BRI to customers and City agencies. 
• Agency Receivables- Provide agency receivable payoff services to support title companies and customers who need accurate and timely payoff totals for the purpose of real estate property sales, and mortgage/Sheriff Sales.
• Forms Processing (Paper)-Participate in annual form design and perform annual testing (internal and external) of payment coupons and tax returns.  The Director of Revenue Accounting and Special Projects approves and communicates all business rules and process updates to the National Association of Computerized Tax Processors and the Federation of Tax Administrators.
• Payment Processing – Approximately 90 employees provide payment processing support through point of sale and incoming mail transactions:
• Cashiering Operations – There are three cashiering locations to make cash and credit card payments for tax, water/sewer and other fees and fines for the City of Philadelphia. These locations include a main location and two satellite offices. The Director of Revenue Accounting and Special Projects reviews and adjusts internal control processes to secure revenue and ensure timely deposit.
• Incoming Mail Payments- This unit manages all tax and non-tax payments that come in the mail. Check payments are processed within five business days which ensures payments are posted to customer accounts timely. Over 1.5M payments are processed each year.
• Remittance Processing - Reconcile all electronic payment files and paper checks processed daily. Ensure daily settlement of epay, credit cards, echeck and ACH debit/credit transactions. This position ensures that daily bank deposits and consolidated reporting are completed timely and accurately.
• Exception Processing Unit – Ensure payments that are missing vouchers are researched as required so payments can be processed and posted accurately and efficiently.  

Essential Functions

Day to Day Operations

• Directs a team of senior managers in the execution of tax and non-tax billing and collections.
• Manage daily accounting activities for tax billing and accounting to ensure compliance with GAAP, tax regulations and internal controls
• Sets strategic operational goals that align with the Department’s mission of maximizing revenue collections while focusing on increasing efficiencies and improving customer service
• Oversees the annual Real Estate billing project, semi-annual Refuse billing project, along with delinquent cycle billing throughout the year.
• Develops and implements tax billing policies and strategic plans
• Ensures financial reports to central financial agencies, including Finance and the City’s Controller’s Office are accurate and submitted timely
• Adjust processes and security controls as needed to maintain the integrity of refund processing. Review and approve all refunds over 25K.
• Coordinate workflow changes with other City agencies such as: License & Inspections, Finance, the Controller’s Office and Treasurer’s Office.
• Collaborates and provides subject matter expertise and direction on the redesign of business processes as they relate to a new tax system structure during each phase of rollout
• Leads staff in design, testing, training and new business process development for the new tax system
• Directs ongoing work process assessments and identifies and implements improvements to policies procedures, internal controls, and tools that realize greater operating efficiencies and enhanced customer service support for the tax system
• Ensures tax system interface and workflows aligns with external agencies’ billing, collection and reporting structures
• Prepares and presents performance reports for executive management
• Represents the Department of Revenue at tax seminars and other public forums, presenting on the City’s tax structure, refund and accounting practices.
• Drives operational efficiencies by ensuring electronic services meet customer needs and internal processing requirements
• Collaborates with internal and external stakeholders on tax billing and accounting functions and prioritize business strategies
• Serves on special committees and panels to advance tax billing accounting initiatives
• Build and maintain partnerships with unions.

Department-wide Tax Applications & Business Support Design Direction  

• Ensures the system defects and requested solutions are communicated clearly and in detail to prevent delays
• Communicates with business owners (all department and external stakeholders) to assess impact and urgency of request
• Ensures developers understand business requirements and change requests
• Prioritizes system change requests when appropriate
• Summarizes/communicates system change request status for internal/external stakeholders
• Escalates system change request prioritization to executive staff when required through formal decision requests, which includes summary of issue/enhancement, short-term work arounds, alternative options, recommendations, and operational impact
• Gathers system change request resource requirements to support prioritization analysis and process. Develops and maintains a decision matrix to be used as a standard prioritization tool and supporting documentation
• Builds standard and sustainable change requests processes for subordinate staff
• Assesses resources needed and develops subordinate staff to maintain future processes.

Process/Business Reengineering

• Mitigates and manages system and business process defects
• Understand current business requirements and evaluates/develops new system business processes to create the most efficient workflows and service to customers
• Analyzes Key Performance Indicators for each workflow to assess the need for business process changes, reorganization, and resource requirements
• Analyzes workflows to differentiate between temporary go-live work item volumes and consistent future work volumes after stabilized.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of federal tax laws and regulations relating to taxation
• Knowledge and application of local tax and revenue ordinances, laws and regulations
• Knowledge of standard business accounting systems and general accounting practices
• Knowledge of tax billing policies, regulations and legislation
• Knowledge of standard business accounting systems and general accounting practices
• Knowledge and application of revenue collection, best practices, principles and regulations
• Knowledge of internal controls, internal and external reporting and audit processes
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong leadership and negotiation skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to analyze accounting and financial records and reports
• Ability to interpret utility regulations, code, legislation and legal documents as they related to billing and revenue collections
• Ability to work as a team leader and team member
• Ability to problem solve creatively with stakeholders and staff
• Ability to make decisions quickly and accurately
• Ability to manage and coordinate diverse groups toward a common goal 
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships and develop partnerships 
• Ability to perform efficiently under pressure
• Ability to independently handle multiple tasks and/or projects simultaneously.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree with major course work in accounting, finance, law, taxation or related field
• One to three years of experience directing a revenue collections, accounting and/or large budget program 
• Experience applying laws, regulations and policies relating to taxation 

Additional Information

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

Salary Range: $120,000 - $130,000

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