Business License Specialist

This position is responsible for the accurate processing of business licenses, hospitality and accommodations tax accounts and providing essential support to water and sewer services.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Processes all business license requests to include verifying compliance, determining classification, assessing fees, and monitoring renewals.
• Assists the public with questions, comments, complaints, and problems regarding all aspects of City services.
• Greets visitors and answers the telephone, provides accurate information to callers and/or forwards calls to appropriate finance personnel; takes messages as needed and/or directs calls and routes information to appropriate Department, as needed.
• Handles general public complaints or concerns and/or directs inquiries to appropriate finance department personnel.
• Process and collect revenues for business license taxes, hospitality and accommodations tax and water/sewer payments for both the City and the Berkeley County Water and Sanitation Authority.
• Enters data into computer system and sets up new accounts for customers.
• Creates and completes service orders to include connects, disconnects, leak checks, and other services.
• Receives, prepares, processes, and files various reports and records to include water bill payments, turn-off lists, service orders, and customer history reports.
• Report and process delinquent accounts as administered by the South Carolina Set-off Debt Program.
• Attends training, meetings, seminars and/or workshops to enhance job knowledge and skills.
• Compiles reports as needed.
• Serves as back up to co-workers.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Associates degree, preferred.
• Two years’ experience in the business licensing field, preferred.
• Two years’ experience in an office setting, to include contact with the public, utilizing computers, and handling cash, required.
• Any combination of education and experience totaling two years may be considered.
• Accreditation in business licensing through the Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC), preferred. Ability to obtain accreditation through MASC within three years of date of hire, required.
• Member of the South Carolina Business Licensing Officials Association, preferred.
• Valid South Carolina Driver’s License with a good driving record.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing excellent customer service, including accurate and thorough communication and the evaluation of customer satisfaction and opportunities to become a customer advocate.
• Knowledge of techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with vendors, contractors and City staff.
• Knowledge of water billing, business license, and permit procedures.
• Knowledge of NAICS codes and MASC model business license ordinance preferred.
• Knowledge of accounting and basic mathematic functions.
• Ability to operate general office equipment including scanner, printer, copier, telephone, and computer with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to foster and develop partnerships with community representatives, external agencies, stakeholders, and vendors.
• Ability to provide quality customer service, including handling difficult customers.
• Ability to effectively handle communications that involve a high degree of difficulty (i.e., contentious confidential sensitive or political) with very diverse, very important contacts both inside and outside of the organization.
• Ability to use discretion, persuasion, conciliation, dispute resolution, and mediation or negotiation skills when dealing with and/or facilitating complex and unusual situations.
• Ability to organize work and stay focused. Must be able to work with regular interruptions.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to multi-task.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work is typically performed indoors in an office environment, relatively free from unpleasant environment conditions or hazards.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Frequently requires fine dexterity, handling, vision, hearing and talking. Frequently requires standing, sitting, walking, and twisting. Occasionally requires walking, lifting, carrying, reaching, kneeling, pushing/pulling, bending, crouching, stooping, climbing, and balancing. Sedentary strength demands include exerting up to 10 pounds occasionally.

MENTAL DEMANDS

Frequently require performing multiple tasks simultaneously, working closely with others as part of a team, and tedious or exacting work. Occasionally requires time pressures, frequent change of tasks, and irregular schedule/overtime.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The City of Goose Creek is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Prospective and current employees should contact Human Resources to request ADA accommodation.

DISCLAIMER

The above information in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

The City reserves the right to revise this position description at any time.