Tax Assistant/Paralegal

Somerville is a city that upholds progressive principles for both employees and residents alike. If you are looking for a culture that embraces innovation, empowerment, and collaborative involvement, Somerville not only embraces these talents, but encourages them. Creative, hands on collaboration with passionate dedication are at the core of the City’s workplace culture.  Challenging and fast paced, Somerville also offers a generous benefits package that embodies a strong work life balance. Not only is it a “Model City”, as termed by The Boston Globe, but it is also a model employer.

Statement of Duties

The Tax Assistant/Paralegal is responsible for assisting property owners in the payment of delinquent real estate taxes, answering questions from the public regarding these requirements, conducting title searches, and filing tax liens. The employee is required to perform all similar or related duties.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Manage the tax deferral program including administration, education, outreach and promotion of program.
• Prepare quarterly 941 payroll reports and filings in relation to federal and state tax payments.
• Updates tax, property, and/or customer records through computer input and filing.
• Verifies legal descriptions and customer documents for legality and reviews all related documents with customer; processes all in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Researches and responds to customer requests for various information including present and delinquent taxes; issues tax liens and conducts title searches as required.
• Prepares daily, weekly, monthly, and other reports as required.
• Provides information by telephone and in person to taxpayers and other interested parties concerning the tax status of City property. Explains and clarifies the tax collection process to the public.
• Handle bankruptcy claims including review of claim, asset verification, municipal lien filing, prepare and file proof claims.
• Reviews tax records to ensure that all necessary tax information has been accurately documented; checks real estate documents for proper legal description.
• Certifies titles, which includes checking tax history and determining if legal description on deed is same as on computer and related paperwork.
• Assists customers by researching the tax status of property, providing the name on

the tax roll, taxes paid or due, and amount required for payoff; examines and

verifies property descriptions and previous assessed value, special assessments, fees and charges.

• Updates delinquent tax names and addresses and prepares changes

for delinquent notices.

• Meets with customers to create delinquent tax payment plans, drafts the plan agreements and oversees the proper execution of same by all required parties.
• Accompanies the supervisor to various courts (including, but not limited to: Land Court, Bankruptcy Court, District Court, Probate Court), registry of deeds, government document storage facilities, etc.
• Responsible for independent research at the Registry of Deeds for Title Examinations and Land Court matters.
• Updates and maintains Tax Title, court and payment plan data bases for future reference.
• Drafts, publishes and files court documents and Tax Title documents when requested to do so.
• Identify properties for DOR / DLS application process.
• Oversee interns where applicable.
• Identify and report single point of failure issue in relation to payroll.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications                                                                 

Education and Experience: High School diploma or equivalent and three or more years of related experience is required. Paralegal Certification required. College degree and/or law school; preferred.

Special Requirements:

Notary Public

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge:  General knowledge of the City’s local government policies and procedures, real estate processes, and knowledge of applicable Registry of Deeds processes and requirements.

Ability: Ability to meet and deal appropriately with delinquent tax customers; ability to handle problems effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to operate a computer; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to deal appropriately with City and Department employees.

Skill: Excellent organizational skills; excellent data processing skill in the use of personal computers and office software including word processing, data base and spreadsheet applications.

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements.  Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.  Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.

Physical and Mental Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Little or no physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, set up of events, office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.)

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes and routinely reviewing maps and blueprints with a need for color vision.

Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Send your resume and cover letter by Monday, July 24, 2017 to:

City Hall Personnel Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.