Tax Examiner 1 (OCFO - Treasury Division)

Full Job Description

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The Office of the Chief Financial Officer - Treasury division is accepting applications for a Tax Examiner I position.

Position Summary

Tax and Revenue Examiner I is an entry-level paraprofessional within the City of Detroit Office of the Chief Financial Officer - Office of Treasury Property Tax Division that requires significant direction and supervision. The Tax and Revenue Examiner plans and completes tax investigations and analyses. Key services include but are not limited to: determining tax liability; examining tax returns; assessing assets; reviewing payroll and records of vendors, contractors and other parties that do business with the City of Detroit; interviewing financial stakeholders; discussing issues, tax laws, and regulations with taxpayers; assisting with payment arrangements and tax collection; submitting findings for supervisory review; and performing related research and investigative duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Maintain data information driven by the Office of Assessor regarding property parcels, owners of record and land and improvement values as it relates to critical updates, adjustments and corrections to Tax.net and DPP.net
• Import and Exports property tax payment information to and from various into database accurate payment posting
• Manage Cherwell Service Management Tasks assigned to Property Tax Division regarding taxpayer inquiries
• Maintain weekly and monthly reporting for accuracy and briefing to management of Cherwell tasks
• Notifies taxpayers of any overpayment or underpayment, and either issue a refund or request further payment
• Process property tax refunds are initiated when adjustments are made by the Office of Assessor, due to Board of Review, hardship claims, Michigan Tax Tribunal, and other court order adjustments
• Identifies irregularities or discrepancies in record keeping, controls, or operations of a specific area
• Contact taxpayers by mail, telephone, or on-site to address discrepancies and to request supporting documentation
• Acts as liaison between Tax Office and outside delinquent Tax Office at Wayne County pertaining to status of payment posting
• Examines accounting systems and records to determine whether accounting methods used were appropriate and in compliance with statutory provisions
• Performs special projects and other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education

• High School graduation or General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
• An associate's degree from an accredited college or university is preferred but not required.

Experience
In addition to the minimum education requirements, the following experience requirements also apply:

• For entry into the Tax and Revenue Examiner position, no work experience is required; however, the minimum education requirements must be met.
• One year of experience involving the examination and evaluation of the accounting, financial, operational, or control records of public agencies, private organizations, or individuals is preferred but not required.
• The Tax and Revenue Examiner must demonstrate proficiency with integrated word processing and spreadsheet functions.

Equivalency

• Equivalent combinations of education and experience that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Additional Information

Evaluation Plan

• Interview: 70%
• Evaluation of Training, Experience & Personal Qualifications: 30%
• Total of Interview and Evaluation T.E.P: 100%

Additional points may be awarded for:

• Veteran Points: 0 – 15 points
• Detroit Residency Credit: 15 points

LRD: 03/23/2026

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Broad knowledge regulations, practices, procedures, and policies related to specific financial management functions to do entry-level work:

• City of Detroit Charter, and State Tax Commission for Property Tax, uniform rules, regulations, guidelines, and policies related to the area of work
• Conducting investigative interviewing, writing reports, and making public contacts
• Procedures used in collecting delinquent accounts
• Federal and state laws, rules, guidelines, policies, and precedents related to the area of work
• Techniques commonly used in locating errors in accounting records
• Office practices and procedures and routine office supplies and equipment
• Basic and commonly used accounting, budget, or other financial management procedures, methods, and techniques associated with clerical types of duties to perform routine and repetitive tasks while learning how to perform the full range of such tasks found in the work area
• Basic information that must be present in documents terminology, forms, or reports that are part of the transaction
• Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar
• Principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology
• Basic arithmetic and algebra and their applications
• Personal computer capabilities and the application of computer systems to issues of format and content in City and departmental financial management
• Tax processing software such as City Tax, Chase Edge, and BS&N Tax.net

Skills in:

• Use of personal computers
• Use of Microsoft Office (e.g. Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) and other office or financial suite software packages
• Use of Excel (e.g. Formulas, Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, other functions, charts, tables) and other financial management software packages functionality
• Use of large complex, multi-departmental financial systems, and demonstrate the knowledge required to interpret resulting financial and accounting reports, summaries and budgets
• Interpersonal skills to interact effectively with personal contacts in a business-like, customer service-oriented manner, and maintain favorable public relations
• Understanding written sentences and paragraphs related to work
• Talking to others to convey information effectively
• Verbal and written communications, specifically relating to technical tax information
• Interviewing techniques to conduct informational interviews of taxpayers and professionals
• Recognizing problems and initiating corrective action using logical decision-making techniques
• Presenting concise information to a variety of audiences

Ability to:

• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, and administrative policy
• Collect, interpret, and analyze information from a variety of sources; apply criteria and draw conclusions
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Handle stressful situations relating to investigation, collection, and default situations
• Obtain and utilize sensitive information discreetly and objectively
• Learn and use contemporary financial management software and other related software for program and financial management systems
• Interact effectively with senior leadership, subordinates, department personnel, and others with tact and diplomacy
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences
• Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand
• Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense
• Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events)
• Arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations)
• Use Tax processing software such as City Tax, Chase Edge, and BS&N Tax.net
• Work as part of a team

Physical Demands

• The work is characterized as sedentary.
• Typically, Tax and Revenue Examiners sit comfortably to do their work, interspersed by brief periods of walking, standing, bending, carrying of papers and books, and extended periods requiring the use of computer terminals to accomplish work objectives.
• Some work may require walking and standing in conjunction with travel to and attendance at meetings and conferences away from the work site.

Candidates considered for placement in this classification may be subject to a Criminal Background Investigation based on the requirements of the position.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to the class.

Incumbents may be required to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification. Specific job duties may vary from position to position.

The City of Detroit is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

No applicant for employment shall be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or other criteria prohibited by City, State, or Federal law.