Treasurer/Tax Collector
Treasury Department

Posted February 25, 2021

Employment Type Full-time, Exempt

Compensation $125,000 - $135,000

Company Treasury Department

Location 1000 Commonwealth Ave, Room 113, Newton, MA 02459
Newton, MA 02459
US


DESCRIPTORS

WELCOME

The City of Newton, Massachusetts is currently seeking qualified and interested candidates to join our team of dedicated public servants!

Dear future team member,

I am very pleased that you have decided to visit the City of Newton Recruitment Page provided to us through our Applicant Tracking System and partners at Hyrell. Provided below are details about the City of Newton, both as a community and as an employer, as well as details relating to the position which you have shown an interest in.

I recognize and respect the amount of time you are about to invest by applying for an open position with the City of Newton. If you complete this job application, you will be kept informed via email (and text messages, if you opt in) throughout the evaluation process. By continuing with this job application, you will be asked to answer job-specific questions. Upon receipt of your responses, we will evaluate your submission. If you are selected for a personal interview, you will receive an email or text with scheduling instructions.

The City of Newton places a high value on diversity, equity and inclusion, and on ensuring that our employees are representative of the multi-cultural community we serve.  Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from all walks of life, and education and experience levels, to considering applying with us.

We hope that you will find our online job application and process applicant friendly and we look forward to considering your candidacy for one of the great roles we have available with the City of Newton.

Sincerely,

Michelle Pizzi O’Brien, M.P.A.
Director of Human Resources

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

THE CITY:

The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus.  The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.

OUR GOVERNMENT:


Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller was sworn in on January 1, 2018 after serving on the City Council. She ran on a platform of providing Newton’s children with a top-notch education in an inclusive environment where empty nesters, seniors, young families, and people of diverse incomes can live together in vibrant villages and neighborhoods. Mayor Fuller is committed to keeping Newton safe, improving the city’s infrastructure, addressing climate change, providing excellent and responsive city services, and fostering art, culture and community life. The first female Mayor of Newton, she is a tireless advocate for all the city’s residents and is committed to making sure the city is welcoming, inclusive and diverse. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.

City of Newton Organizational Chart             


AS AN EMPLOYER:


The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset.  To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits.  We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities.  We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings.  We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees.  And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing [email protected].

Human Resources Diversity Statement


We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:

  - Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
  - Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
  - Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
  - Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
  - Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
  - Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.

JOB DESCRIPTION

In accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 41, this position is responsible for the planning, directing, managing and overseeing the city’s treasury and collection responsibilities, specifically to bill, collect and invest all monies due to the City; provide timely disbursement of all payrolls and associated federal and state reporting requirements; disburse all payables, warrants for payment to vendors; reconcile checks and bank accounts, and issue all authorized debt. 

Supervision Scope: Performs a variety of duties of an administrative nature requiring the exercise of judgment to interpret guidelines and carry out assignments independently.

 

Supervision Received: Works under the administrative direction of the Chief Financial Officer and in accordance with applicable Massachusetts General Laws, City policies, City bylaws, and relevant state, federal, and local regulations and standards.

Establishes own work plan and completes work in accordance with established departmental policies and standards.

 

Supervision Given: The Treasurer/Collector will be responsible for the overall management of the Treasury Department.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Manages the timely receivable process between the Comptroller’s Office and the Treasury Department.
  • Manages, oversees, and monitors balances on all cash investments of the City with the objective of maximizing the City’s return while minimizing its risk. Manages cash flow and performs cash projects.
  • Assures compliance with Massachusetts General Laws and General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
  • Works with the City’s financial advisor and bond counsel to issue debt and make all payments in a timely fashion on existing debt.
  • Maintains bank accounts and issues payroll checks to operating departments.
  • Manages all payroll withholdings including state and federal taxes, health and life insurance and deferred compensation.
  • Submits quarterly 941 taxable wage reporting to federal and state agencies.
  • Bills and collects all committed taxes and utility charges.
  • Balances and bills commitments according to M.G.L. and mails within state mandated timelines.
  • Pursues delinquent accounts and institutes collection proceedings against any past due accounts by the revocation of licenses and permits, water/sewer and tax liens and by making licenses and registrations for non-renewal at the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
  • Files petitions to foreclose when a property in Tax Title remains delinquent, eventually selling the property at auction if the tax remains unpaid.
  • Works with taxpayers to resolve problems related to taxes and utility bills.
  • Serves as a technical advisor to the Mayor, City Council and Committees and other city agencies or officials on treasury and collection issues. Provides information to the Mayor and City Council as needed.
  • Performs varied and responsible duties ranging in nature from routine to complex, requiring strict adherence to state and federal laws, exercise independent judgement.
  • Prepares and administers the department budget and maintains accurate records of expenses and accounts balances.
  • Performs other duties as required and directed.
QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelors degree in accounting, business administration, or related field with ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including treasury and/or collection management; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience to perform the essential functions of the job.
  • Special Requirements: ability to be bonded
BENEFITS

  • City Retirement (Mandatory)
  • 457 Deferred Compensation plans
  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Health insurance
  • Metro Credit Union
  • Tuition Reimbursement