Business License Official - FACS - Business License

Mt Thompson South Carolina•Mount Pleasant, SC

4d•Onsite

About The Position

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 role oversees revenue collection and compliance activities, supervises Business License staff, interprets and applies ordinances and regulations, handles complex licensing, enforcement, and appeal matters, and serves as a primary resource to Town departments, businesses, governmental agencies, and the public on business licensing and hospitality tax requirements. The position directs revenue collection, develops revenue estimates, monitors collections against budgeted revenues, reconciles collections, and maintains procedures and policies related to licensing and compliance. It leads the Business License Division’s daily operations, supervises and develops employees, monitors workload, and prepares and reviews operational and financial reports. The role investigates compliance matters, determines appropriate collection or enforcement action, issues assessments and citations, and represents the Town in appeals and Municipal Court proceedings. The Business License Official supports the systems used to administer licensing, hospitality taxes, and related revenue programs; troubleshoots issues; leads system testing; and identifies process improvements. The role communicates and interprets requirements to a range of stakeholders, coordinates with other Town departments and external agencies, and attends meetings concerning collections and fiscal impacts. 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 employees, business owners, governmental representatives, and the public, and may require attendance at meetings or proceedings outside normal business hours.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Five years of progressively responsible relevant experience in business licensing, taxation, revenue collection, finance, regulatory compliance, municipal government, or a closely related area.
At least three years of supervisory experience, unless qualifying through an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Valid South Carolina driver’s license.
Knowledge of 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.
Ability to interpret, apply, and explain ordinances, statutes, regulations, policies, and procedures accurately and consistently.
Ability to exercise sound judgment on complex licensing, compliance, enforcement, and revenue matters.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with business owners, Town employees, officials, governmental agencies, professional organizations, and the public.
Effective professional oral and written communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information to people with varying backgrounds and technical knowledge.
Ability to handle difficult or sensitive customer service, compliance, and enforcement matters professionally; maintain confidential information.
Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple assignments, deadlines, and competing priorities accurately and with 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 using computers, business licensing and financial systems, Microsoft Office applications including Excel, and other relevant software.
Ability to learn and navigate multiple software platforms and lead staff through system changes and process improvements.
Ability to supervise, develop, evaluate, and direct assigned employees; work independently and collaboratively and exercise appropriate judgment within established authority.
Ability to read, comprehend, interpret, and apply detailed technical and regulatory materials; analyze complex information and perform accurate mathematical and financial calculations.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Administer and oversee the Town’s business license and hospitality tax programs in accordance with Town ordinances and applicable state law.
Direct collection of business license taxes, hospitality taxes, building permit fees, franchise fees, and other assigned Town revenues.
Develop revenue estimates and monitor collections against budgeted revenues; calculate taxes and ensure accurate daily and monthly reconciliations.
Develop, recommend, implement, and maintain procedures and policies related to revenue collection, licensing, and compliance.
Review ordinances and administrative practices, conduct operational research and analysis, and recommend updates in response to relevant developments.
Direct, schedule, coordinate, and monitor Business License Division activities, including customer service, field inspections, audits, fiscal reporting, correspondence, revenue processing, enforcement, and complex licensing matters.
Supervise, train, direct, and evaluate assigned employees; establish priorities and monitor workload for accurate and timely completion of work.
Prepare and review reports on collections, new businesses, outstanding fees, enforcement, and other division responsibilities.
Investigate newly established businesses and potential licensing matters to determine compliance with Town requirements.
Review delinquent accounts and determine appropriate collection or enforcement actions; issue assessments, citations, and notices for noncompliance.
Review and interpret documentation for enforcement and court proceedings; represent the Town in business license appeals and Municipal Court proceedings involving license violations.
Coordinate with Planning, Police, and other Town departments on compliance with Town codes and regulations.
Support licensing, hospitality tax, and revenue systems; troubleshoot issues, coordinate solutions, and lead staff testing of changes, upgrades, and new functionality.
Maintain departmental reports and develop ad hoc reports and analyses; identify opportunities to improve processes, customer service, efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
Advise businesses, Town staff, governmental agencies, and the public on business license and hospitality tax requirements and interpret applicable ordinances, state law, policies, and procedures.
Consult with businesses and other stakeholders to resolve complex licensing and ordinance interpretation issues.
Serve as liaison with Charleston County, the Municipal Association of South Carolina, and other agencies and organizations on hospitality, insurance, telecommunications, and other applicable tax or licensing matters.
Attend meetings regarding business license and hospitality tax collections and fiscal impacts, present information as requested, and respond to stakeholder information requests.
Perform other related duties as assigned.