Tax Administrator

JOB TITLE: Tax Administrator

DEPARTMENT: Accounting

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of the Tax Authority serves as head of the Tribe’s hub for issues relating to the Tribal taxes. Working under the direction of the Tribe’s Chief Financial Officer, the Tax Administrator is responsible for coordinating taxing activities under existing Tribal Ordinances. The incumbent will be responsible for timely issuance of communications, tax assessments, and collections to taxpayers. This will require coordination with other members of the Accounting Department and the Office of the Tribal Attorney (OTA) as well as interaction with other Tribal Departments and outside entities. The Tax Administrator will also be responsible for receiving and distributing tribal tax revenue from various Swinomish Tribal entities, collecting utility taxes, managing TERO billing and fee collection, and managing additional taxes as they are enacted by the Swinomish Senate.

As the Director of the Tax Authority, the Tax Administrator will also be responsible for office management and the supervision and direction of Tax Authority staff, to include budget preparation and management, task assignment and overview, enforcement of deadlines, oversight of leave and timesheet approval.

Job Duties

Issuing valuation notices

Assessing Use & Occupancy Tax

Drafting tax rulings, tax procedure rulings

Reviewing Use and Occupancy exemption applications

Managing protests/refund requests/valuation appeals; coordinating with Assessor, CFO, and OTA

re: same

Coordinating with title companies, mortgage companies and escrow intermediaries

Coordinating with County on shared tax issues

Tracking tax-related issues and litigation in Indian country

Collaborating with Land Management/Realty/GIS re: maps, account numbers, leases at P&BD,

addressing, etc.

Collaborating with Communications for updates to Tax page on Tribal website

Collaborating with IT for data dumps, continued development of the Tribe’s proprietary tax

software and database, software processes. independent tax website items/issues, and

importation/addition of Assessor data to database

Working with support staff re: refunds, return checks for NSF or incorrect amount/improperly

completed; reviewing the accuracy of check requests; assisting AR staff at deadlines as needed

Drafting code for proposed new taxes and revising existing code

Working with OTA re: Interlocal Agreements (ILAs)

Modifying/distributing ILAs as appropriate

Tracking payment deadlines for contributions due under ILAs, processing letters re: the same

Processing shared tax payments to County for properties on both fee & trust land

Processing Assessor payments

Reviewing and responding to incoming correspondence from taxpayers

Collaborating with TERO office and permitting as necessary, meeting with permit applicants as

needed

Obtaining and transmitting plans for permitted projects affecting taxable properties

Collaborating with other departments/Assessor on irregular property issues

Coordinating with Shelter Bay Tax Forum and West Shore Committee re: Tribal/Taxpayer

Consultation Council

Acting as point of contact with taxpayers in person or by phone, email, and through tribal website

Tracking tax revenue receipts and expenditures

Administering and enforcing tax lien foreclosures

Collecting REETAs from County weekly to track/bill new owners

Obtaining updated owner information from Shelter Bay Community

Supervising staff, to include leave requests, timesheets, work load, work product

Backing up support staff on preparing and distributing tax bills, maintaining email/phone

information for taxpayers, and addresses of taxpayers

Presenting to Senate.

Possess and demonstrate a meaningful commitment to Native communities, social justice and the

elimination of disparities between Native and non-Native communities

Enjoy and excel at working in a cross-cultural work environment

Understand, appreciate and support cultural practices of the Tribal

Enjoy and effectively communicate with individual Tribal members

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree required. Preference will be given to Finance, Accounting, Business or

Paralegal degrees.

• Continuing education regarding Tribal tax issues is available through Washington State Bar

Association, Falmouth Institute and National Intertribal Tax Alliance

• Familiarity with the Trust Improvement Use and Occupancy Tax Code, other Tribal, Washington State or County tax laws or procedures

5-10 years

• Practical experience in performing essential duties
• Experience in managing support staff, including oversight of tasks, deadlines, timesheets,

and leave requests

• Experience in working with tribal taxing and/or with tribal codes
• Experience in detailed and meticulous data entry, maintenance and verification
• Experience in office management
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office products, Adobe Professional, and the

ability to learn new programs

• Experience maintaining excellent professional relationship with Skagit County, taxing

districts, other tribal departments, taxpayer groups, and contract Assessor

• Experience in problem-solving, analytical thinking

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office products, Adobe Professional, and the ability to

learn new programs

Clear understanding of Tribal Code

Problem-solving, analytical thinking

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with the Senate, Tax Committee

members, other tribal departments, taxpayers, and contractors

Ability to multi-task and deal with frequent interruptions and a set of procedures that is still

changing

Ability to complete projects within specified timeframes

Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information

Ability to preparing and manage a budget

Ability to maintain excellent professional relationship with Skagit County, taxing districts, other

tribal departments, taxpayer groups, and contract Assessor

BENEFITS

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Flexible spending account

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Vision insurance

POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS

The Tribe complies with the Tribal Preference policy outlined in the Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance (TERO), STC Title 14, Chapter 1, Subsection 14.01.120(A)(2) of the Swinomish Tribal Code.

The Tribe strives for a drug-free workplace environment. Drug and alcohol screening at time of hire is mandatory in sensitive and hazardous positions and where required by the job announcement/description or positions working with Tribal youth.

Read the job announcement and position description carefully.

Complete all requested information on the application. Do not write "see resume."

Read the information in the signature area carefully, then sign and date the application.