Business Compliance Auditor - Youngstown

JOB OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a critical thinker who takes initiative in 

their work and is an excellent communicator to join our growing team!

Resumes will be accepted through January 30th (5 PM)

JOB TITLE:  BUSINESS COMPLIANCE AUDITOR 

CLASSIFICATION:  NON-EXEMPT

GRADE:  3 (starting pay $25.39)

DEPARTMENT:  TAXATION

REPORTS TO:  BUSINESS COMPLIANCE MANAGER          

LOCATION:   YOUNGSTOWN (HYBRID)             

About RITA: Our Mission at RITA is to provide Ohio cities and villages with a high quality, cost effective municipal tax collection service.  We currently serve over 400 cities and villages across the State of Ohio, collecting and distributing more than $2B of municipal income tax revenue annually, at an average cost in 2024 of just over one cent of every dollar collected. These income tax dollars are crucial to the provision of the public safety, infrastructure and recreational services that make these cities and villages great places to live, work and do business. At RITA, we work hard to fulfill our Mission to the Ohio cities and villages we serve and strive to be the best and top choice for municipal tax collection in Ohio.

RITA Benefits: RITA is an OPERS employer that offers low monthly premiums for health benefits for employees, spouses and dependents with no monthly cost for dental and vision coverage. The Agency makes bi-annual contributions to employees’ Health Savings Accounts. Additional benefits include paid vacation and sick leave, including for mental health and for time to volunteer, along with 3 personal days provided on the anniversary of the employee’s hire date. The initial 3 personal days are provided upon successful completion of the 180-day Introductory Period and then again at the second anniversary and each anniversary thereafter. Employees also have access to an employee assistance program, which offers many services including digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (DCBT), benefits and claims advocacy services, and assistance with other matters, such as childcare, mental health and legal assistance.

Work Environment: You will be assigned to work mainly out of RITA’s Youngstown office, with the opportunity to work a hybrid schedule, meaning some days in the office, some days working from home. Our dress when in the office is professionally casual – jeans are welcome. Where possible, we seek to work with our employees to meet their needs while still providing excellent service and fulfilling our Mission. We thrive on collaborative work, and we are best as a team with each person doing their part. There are plenty of opportunities for job growth within the Agency; Career growth and development is encouraged and supported. 

About the Role: Under general supervision, the purpose of the position is to perform the work associated with business accounts in the Business Compliance Division of the Taxation Department. Specifically, Compliance Auditors assist accounts looking to come into compliance as well as address non-compliant taxpayer accounts through examination, correction and/or preparation of related income tax returns. Extensive contact with taxpayers, contractors, and accountants, explaining and clarifying municipal tax structure and municipal tax ordinances.  Employees in this classification ensure filings and payments are posted accurately so that: 1) dollars received are distributed to the Agency’s member municipalities in a timely fashion; 2) taxpayers receive customer service in regards to their filing requirements and tax obligations; and 3) compliance related to those matters is enforced. 

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Business accounts have two separate and distinct types of taxes that interrelate with each other:  withholding taxes and net profit taxes.  Employees in this position must understand the different filing requirements, tax system account types and related components and transactions, and distinct editing functions between withholding taxes and net profit taxes in order to properly adjust account liabilities as required and provide quality customer service.  Employees in this position must keep abreast of both withholding and net profit municipal income tax laws, rules and regulations, and department processes related to each.

1. Corrects and edits employer municipal income tax withholding statements and/or net profit tax returns. Reviews supporting documentation for accuracy, completeness and compliance with applicable municipal income tax ordinances and Agency policies; determines if penalty and interest charges are valid.
2. Maintains a designated JEDD utilizing specialized tax system component (TSPAM); answers questions regarding companies located in the JEDD area, and maintain a spreadsheet for compliance and delinquency work performed.  Interacts with municipal officials or JEDD board members.  Assists other employees with JEDD reporting and review requirements as needed.
3. Transfers unconfirmed / unverifiable cash postings as necessary relative to semi-monthly closes; corrects account filings when required. 
4. Reviews construction contract information from municipalities or Member Services and creates projects in specialized RITAX component.  Contacts contractors and sub-contractors to facilitate compliance and receipt of tax dollars due. Pursues delinquencies and reconciles shortfalls and missing amounts as anticipated per contract amount
5. Reviews monthly filing frequency notification maintenance and the results of the withholding missing distribution, and net profit delinquency jobs in order to notify tax payers of a change in their filing frequency and/or delinquencies in time for automated jobs to produce correspondence. 
6. Reviews failed electronically-filed W2 files and corresponds with taxpayers or software developers regarding issues in order to resolve.
7. Works all Business Department functions, including applicable municipal income tax laws, specific municipal ordinance information (including rules & regulations), RITA website applications, and form preparation for both Net Profit and Withholding account types. 
8. Provides customer service to taxpayers, tax professionals, and business representatives via; initiating verbal & written correspondence, answering incoming phone calls, responding to web emails, faxes, and letters in order to answer questions and resolve issues including but not limited to tax return preparation, billing notice discrepancies, specific account information, and general tax information for both withholding and net profit accounts.
9. Performs research using various source materials and correspondence to locate and contact businesses to verify registration and filing compliance per municipal law or obtain information to determine proper tax liability by municipal jurisdiction
10. Provides in person taxpayer assistance. Reviews information that has been provided by taxpayers for given tax years. Prepares income tax return(s) once sufficient information is provided by taxpayers or their representatives.
11. Logs defects and assists with troubleshooting, testing and implementation of solutions.
12. Maintains reference documents, department policies, standard operating procedures. 
13. Attends training programs, workshops, off site meetings/appointments and seminars as needed.
14. Performs other related work as assigned.

This is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of job-related responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, the Agency reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The individual assigned to this position must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job, with or without a reasonable accommodation, which include, but are not limited to the following:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position a majority of the time.
• Occasionally moves inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer. 
• Frequently communicates with tax payers, tax preparers, members, etc. who have inquiries about their accounts.  Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations
• Ability to transport required work equipment from home to work as needed.
• Must have adequate transportation available to travel by car throughout the state of Ohio approximately 10% of the time and to occasionally stay overnight.

About You: High school diploma or GED; supplemented by college level course or vocational training in business administration, and by at least three (3) years previous experience and/or training involving data processing or tax related customer service; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Other Required Skills:

• Has thorough knowledge of impacts to the tax system when duplicate forms and/or duplicate form corrections are processed. 
• Understands requirements needed to accept an amended return, and independently processes refunds. 
• Understands how to verify taxpayer payments and credits in the tax system. 
• Has working knowledge of Agency accounting periods and the impact of returns and payments posting in differing accounting periods. This includes the impact of accounting periods as it relates to closes; Advance Close vs. Reconciliation Close; understands how cash transfers and/or refunds can impact accounting periods.

How to Apply: Please submit your resume to RITAJobs@ritaohio.com no later than 5 PM on

January 30th. Only qualified individuals being considered will be contacted for an interview.

The Regional Income Tax Agency (Agency) is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a work environment that supports, inspires, and respects all individuals and in which personnel decisions are merit-based and applied without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, national or ethnic origin, military service status, citizenship, or other protected characteristic. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Agency will seek to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the Agency.