Tax season greeter/Volunteer coordinator

Mission Economic Development Agency.•San Francisco, CA

27d•$25

About The Position

Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) is a community-based, local economic development organization that, for over 40 years, has engaged individuals and small businesses in community-building strategies that together lead to appropriate and equitable economic development in the Mission District. MEDA primarily serves low-income clients, focusing on the Latino and/or Spanish-speaking community. In accomplishing its mission, MEDA is involved in small business assistance, financial capability, tax preparation, public benefits, homeownership services, and workforce development. Since 2010, MEDA has coordinated the tax program for the Human Services Agency, managing 4 sites in the City of San Francisco, providing free tax preparation services to low-income families and individuals. This effort has brought more than $30 million to the community by preparing more than 24,000 tax returns and engaging low-income folks in a long-term path toward financial capability. The VITA site offers free tax assistance to low-income families and connects them to other asset development services such as public benefits, affordable financial products, and management of personal finances, among others. The VITA Greeter plays a vital role in welcoming clients to our tax assistance site and ensuring they have everything needed for a successful tax preparation experience. As the first point of contact, you will help clients feel comfortable, assist them in completing initial paperwork, and verify that they have the required documents. Your role is essential in creating a positive experience and facilitating a smooth tax preparation process. The volunteer coordinator plays a vital role in welcoming the volunteers who help us support our taxpayer community members to file their taxes accurately and timely.

Requirements

Friendly, welcoming demeanor with strong interpersonal skills.
Ability to communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
Good organizational skills and attention to detail to verify documents and complete intake accurately.
Basic understanding of VITA program procedures and confidentiality requirements (training provided).
IRS Certification Tests: All VITA volunteers must pass IRS certification tests. Your role as a Greeter/Intake Specialist requires passing the following:
Volunteer Standard of Conduct
Intake Interview/Quality Review
Bilingual Spanish-English fluency is required; must be able to speak and write fluently in Spanish.

Nice To Haves

Experience with customer service or client intake is a plus.

Responsibilities

Greet Clients: Provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere as clients arrive. Offer assistance, answer general questions, and guide them through the initial steps of the process.
Document Verification: Review clients’ documents to ensure they meet VITA program eligibility requirements and have all necessary forms for tax preparation.
Client Intake: Conduct brief intake interviews to gather essential information and assist clients with completing intake forms accurately.
Site Flow Management: Help manage the flow of clients through the tax preparation process by directing them to the appropriate waiting areas and coordinating with tax preparers to minimize wait times.
Confidentiality and Security: Uphold IRS standards for confidentiality and information security, ensuring clients’ personal information is handled securely and respectfully.
Appointments: Help clients make appointments through the OnceHub platform provided by United Way Bay Area. Also, ensure that the clients who are coming in have an appointment scheduled.
Provide the options (QR code, MEDA website, or direct link) for clients to make their own appointment.
Volunteer Communication: Have consistent communication with the volunteers, respond to their emails, make a schedule for them, and provide guidance on how to complete the tests on their own time.
Point of Contact: Be the initial point of contact for any volunteer during tax season.
Phone Calls: Providing over-the-phone and in-person support. Answer phone calls and review voicemails on the DialPad platform using a script to help clients make tax appointments and verify that their tax returns are in scope for the VITA Tax Program.
Other duties as assigned