Business License Official - FACS - Business License

JOB SUMMARY

The Business License Official administers and manages the Town’s business license and hospitality tax programs in accordance with Town ordinances and applicable state law. The position oversees revenue collection and compliance activities; supervises Business License staff; interprets and applies ordinances and regulations; manages complex licensing, enforcement, and appeal matters; and serves as a primary resource to Town departments, businesses, governmental agencies, and the public regarding business licensing and hospitality tax requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Program Administration and Revenue Collection

• Administers and overseas the Town’s business license and hospitality tax programs in accordance with Town ordinances and applicable state law.
• Directs the collection of business license taxes, hospitality taxes, building permit fees, franchise fees, and other assigned Town revenues.
• Develops revenue estimates and monitors collections in comparison with budgeted revenues.
• Calculates business license and hospitality taxes in accordance with Town ordinances and ensures collections are accurately reconciled on a daily and monthly basis.
• Develops, recommends, implements, and maintains administrative procedures and policies related to revenue collection, licensing, and compliance.
• Reviews applicable Town ordinances and administrative practices to ensure standards and procedures remain current and effective.
• Recommends ordinance and administrative procedure changes in response to legislative, regulatory, technological, operational, or legal developments.
• Plans and conducts research and analysis to evaluate operations and establish or modify standards, procedures, and practices.

Division Leadership and Operations

• Directs, schedules, coordinates, and monitors the daily activities of the Business License Division, including customer service, field inspections, audits, fiscal reporting, correspondence, revenue processing, enforcement activities, and complex licensing matters.
• Supervises, trains, directs, and evaluates assigned employees.
• Provides guidance to staff regarding ordinance interpretation, licensing requirements, operational procedures, and Business License system best practices.
• Establishes work priorities and monitors division workload to ensure accurate and timely completion of responsibilities.
• Prepares and reviews reports related to revenue collections, new businesses, outstanding fees, enforcement activities, and other division responsibilities.

Compliance and Enforcement

• Investigates newly established businesses and other potential licensing matters to determine compliance with Town requirements.
• Reviews and evaluates delinquent accounts and determines appropriate collection or enforcement action.
• Issues business license assessments, citations, and other notices to businesses that are not in compliance with applicable ordinances.
• Reviews and interprets documentation and other information necessary for enforcement and court proceedings.
• Represents the Town in the Business License appeal process.
• Represents the Town in Municipal Court proceedings involving business license violations.
• Coordinates with Planning, Police, and other Town departments to address compliance with applicable Town codes and regulations.

Systems, Reporting, and Process Improvement

• Overseas and supports the effective use of systems used to administer business licensing, hospitality taxes, and related revenue programs.
• Identifies and troubleshoots system issues and works with appropriate internal or external resources to develop solutions.
• Leads Business License staff in testing system changes, upgrades, and new functionality.
• Maintains departmental reports and develops hoc reports and analyses as needed.
• Identifies opportunities to improve processes, customer service, operational efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.

Communication and Intergovernmental Coordination

• Serves as a primary resource to business owners, Town staff, governmental agencies, and the public regarding business license and hospitality tax requirements.
• Interprets Town ordinances, state law, policies, and procedures and communicates requirements to individuals with varying levels of familiarity with business licensing matters.
• Consults with businesses, governmental agencies, professional organizations, and other stakeholders to resolve complex licensing and ordinance interpretation issues.
• Serves as a liaison with Charleston County, the Municipal Association of South Carolina, and other agencies and organizations regarding hospitality, insurance, telecommunications, and other applicable tax or licensing matters.
• Attends meetings concerning business license and hospitality tax collections and their fiscal impact and presents information as requested, including the Finance Committee.
• Responds to requests for information from business owners, Town officials, municipal officers, and other stakeholders.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible relevant experience in business licensing, taxation, revenue collection, finance, regulatory compliance, municipal government, or a closely related area, including at least three (3) years of supervisory experience; or
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Valid South Carolina driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master Business License Official (MBL) certification through the South Carolina Business Licensing Officials Association (BLOA).
• Experience administering municipal business license, hospitality tax, or similar governmental revenue programs.
• Experience interpreting and applying ordinances, statutes, regulations, and administrative requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of principles and practices associated with municipal business licensing, taxation, revenue collection, regulatory compliance, and financial administration.
• Knowledge of applicable Town ordinances and state laws governing business licenses, hospitality taxes, and related revenues.
• Knowledge of supervisory and leadership principles and practices.
• Ability to interpret, apply, and explain ordinances, statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures accurately and consistently.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment when evaluating complex licensing, compliance, enforcement, and revenue matters.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with business owners, Town employees, elected and appointed officials, governmental agencies, professional organizations, and the public.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally, both orally and in writing, with individuals of varying backgrounds and levels of technical knowledge.
• Ability to address difficult or sensitive customer service, compliance, and enforcement matters professionally and effectively.
• Ability to maintain confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple assignments, deadlines, and competing priorities with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to prepare, analyze, maintain, and interpret financial, operational, and compliance reports.
• Ability to identify operational or system problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement appropriate solutions.
• Skill in the use of computers, business licensing and financial systems, Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, and other software necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Ability to learn and effectively navigate multiple software platforms and lead staff through system changes and process improvements.
• Ability to supervise, develop, evaluate, and provide direction to assigned employees.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively and exercise appropriate judgment within established authority.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work is primarily performed in an office environment and requires the ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and electronically. The employee regularly uses computers and other standard office equipment and performs repetitive motions involving the wrists, hands, and fingers.

The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, reach, handle, grasp, and manipulate objects. The employee may occasionally stoop, crouch, push, pull, lift, or move objects weighing up to approximately ten (10) pounds.

Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to read printed and electronic information.

COGNITIVE REQUIREMENTS

The position requires the ability to:

• Read, comprehend, interpret, and apply detailed ordinances, statutes, regulations, policies, procedures, financial information, and other technical materials.
• Analyze complex information and exercise sound judgment in determining appropriate courses of action.
• Perform mathematical calculations and review financial and revenue information with a high degree of accuracy.
• Manage multiple priorities, interruptions, and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• Identify inconsistencies, compliance issues, trends, and potential problems and determine appropriate solutions.
• Communicate complex regulatory, financial, and procedural information clearly to employees, businesses, governmental officials, and members of the public.
• Make decisions involving compliance, enforcement, customer service, and operational matters within established authority.
• Maintain professionalism and sound judgment when handling difficult, sensitive, confidential, or potentially contentious matters.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is primarily performed in a professional office environment, with occasional work outside the office for inspections, meetings, court proceedings, or other business-related activities. The position involves frequent interaction with Town employees, business owners, governmental representatives, and members of the public.

The employee may encounter competing priorities, deadlines, interruptions, complex regulatory matters, and individuals who may be dissatisfied with licensing, tax, or enforcement requirements. Work may occasionally require attendance at meetings or proceedings outside normal business hours.