Compliance Officer (May Pen Tax Office)

KEY OUTPUTS

• Revenues collected and accounted for; 
• Taxpayers’ accounts reconciled and monitored; 
• Documentary evidence prepared; 
• Delinquent returns and payment enforcement programmes implemented;
• Payment arrangements managed; 
• Taxpayers’ records maintained; 
• Reports prepared and submitted. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITY AREAS

Technical and Professional Duties: 

• Processes and monitors assigned taxpayers’ accounts for medium priority cases as well as all Property Tax and Local Government fees; 
• Issues reminders/Form 13 or makes phone calls to taxpayers who are non compliant; 
• Conducts field visits and monitors compliance listing; 
• Conducts interviews with taxpayers and/or representatives both inside and outside the office to collect taxes due, secure delinquent returns and initiates corrective actions; 
• Organizes and monitors payment arrangements to ensure that payments are received as scheduled; 
• Reconciles accounts based on payments made; 
• Reviews and evaluates information obtained from various sources (i.e. Tax Returns, asset searches, departmental records) to determine what actions are available for debt resolution;
• Secures and analyzes financial information from taxpayers and third parties such as statements received on bankruptcies and receiverships and compares with internal information; 
• Verifies assets, liabilities, sources of income and expenses reported; 
• Secures full payment, arranges for instalment agreements or reports accounts currently not collectable; 
• Recommends enforcement actions when taxpayers neglect or refuse to satisfy liabilities; 
• Persuades, influences and motivates taxpayers to resolve existing delinquencies and comply with filing and payment requirements; 
• Compiles asset information to assist in the collection of taxpayers’ indebtedness; 
• Negotiates contentious filing issues with taxpayer or registrant with a view to ensuring fairness in the application of the law; 
• Recommends changes to improve policy or programmes to obtain better compliance from non-filing/non-registrant taxpayer; 
• Interviews taxpayers to obtain and analyze information pertaining to the taxpayer’s financial condition and explains delinquent tax liabilities; 
• Provides business counsel to help the taxpayer choose a positive course of action to resolve current liabilities and prevent future delinquencies; 
• Determines collection ability of accounts through financial analysis and asset evaluation; 
• Produces the necessary documentary evidence for court cases and testifies as expert witness in criminal prosecutions to sustain the Government’s position; 
• Participates in periodic compliance surveys to identify unregistered taxpayers, unreported income and persuades unregistered taxpayers to become compliant; 
• Investigates applications for relief, exemption and waivers of Property Tax and makes recommendations; 
• Prepares warrant of distress for the court’s signature if taxpayer defaults on judgement order; 
• Identifies those accounts which require specialized knowledge and makes referrals for resolution
• Accounts for the funds collected and ensures that there is no loss to the Government of Jamaica; 
• Supports the identification and management of risks within the organization and by extension the respective area of work; 
• Performs other related duties assigned by the Manager Compliance. 

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

This job is satisfactorily performed when: 

• Revenues collected are lodged on a timely basis and accounted for in accordance with the Financial Administration and Audit Act (FAA); 
• Taxpayers’ accounts are constantly monitored and accurately reconciled after each transaction with the account; 
• Relevant and accurate documentary evidence is prepared for court cases within the stipulated time; 
• Delinquent Returns and payment enforcement programmes are implemented in accordance with the guidelines; 
• Manageable payment arrangements are made and constantly monitored; 
• Taxpayers’ records/files are updated with the relevant payments, filing, enforcement information and appropriate notes; 
• Reports prepared and submitted in keeping with established standard and agreed timelines. 

AUTHORITY TO:

• Collect taxes, duties and levies; 
• Recommend enforcement actions on taxpayers who fail or refuse to comply with requirements of Tax Laws and Regulations; 
• Enforce compliance through legal administrative actions; 
• Contact taxpayers on delinquent accounts; 
• Recommend amendments to procedures.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Specific Knowledge 

• Excellent knowledge of all the relevant tax laws, regulations and guidelines;
• Excellent knowledge of Tax Administration Jamaica’s operations and functions; 
• Good knowledge of the Financial Administration and Audit (FAA) Act and other financial regulations and guidelines; 
• Working knowledge of standard business operations and commercial practices;
• Working knowledge of computer systems and relevant applications; 

Required Skills and Specialised Techniques 

• Excellent judgement, and analytical skills; 
• Excellent communication and team building skills; 
• Excellent negotiating and persuasive skills; 
• Excellent interpersonal skill;
• Very good time management skill; 
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel. 

Qualification and Experience 

• B.Sc. Degree in Business Administration or Accounting or the equivalent qualifications; 
• Two (2) years work related experience. 

WORKING CONDITIONS

• High level of risk in dealing with hostile taxpayers; 
• Irregular working hours at times; 
• Numerous critical deadlines; 
• Exposure to dust, dirt and inclement weather conditions; 
• Travel (50% - 60%).

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.