Company Overview
The HdL Companies help cities, counties and special districts maximize revenues through research and discovery efforts, financial and economic analysis, and provision of software that supports local government operations in a variety of important ways. We are regarded as a leader, occupying a specific niche in the financial services sector, and serving over 600 local governments nationwide. Leveraging our talented team of professionals, along with leading edge software and database systems, HdL discovery efforts have recovered over $3 billion for our local government partners.
Core Values
HdL team members individually and collectively aspire to the following core values:
Deliver Excellence In Everything – We anticipate needs and believe that delivering extraordinary service, inside and outside our organization, is key to our success. We passionately pursue excellence in everything we do.
Do The Right Thing – We always act in the best interests of our company and our clients. We are respectful, have high integrity, and are accountable for our actions.
Foster Relationships – We build lasting relationships based on trust with our teams and our clients. We value collaboration toward our common goals and inspire each other to improve and progress.
Give Generously – We give generously of our time and resources with our teammates, clients, and communities. We impart information for best practices, encourage professional development, and support charitable community organizations.
Enjoy The Journey – We enjoy our journey and enthusiastically celebrate our successes. We have fun and find fulfillment working with our colleagues and clients.
Be Authentic, Grateful, and Humble – We are thankful for the success we have achieved individually and as a company and never take it for granted.
Position Overview
The Business Outreach Specialist I is an entry-level role responsible for assisting in outreach efforts to California businesses. The primary focus is to work with the private sector business community to solicit and confirm basic business information in support of audit case resolution and client revenue enhancement. This role will also assist in reviewing sales tax data to identify simple reporting issues or registration errors. The position involves working closely with team members and is designed to build foundation knowledge in California sales tax reporting regulations. This is a direct revenue generating position reporting to the Associate Director of Tax Recovery Services.
Job Responsibilities
- Learn and apply tools and techniques to identify sales tax recovery opportunities.
- Develop outreach strategies to gather non-sensitive business information.
- Initiate basic telephone & email outreach, primarily focused on small California businesses, to obtain and verify information about operations. No sales or telemarketing, information is used to verify local sales tax allocation amongst various California jurisdictions.
- Ensure the timely and thorough resolution of sales tax audit leads with a primary focus on registration errors and simple sales tax reporting issues.
- Build relationships with small business owners and tax preparers.
- Develop a strong working knowledge of California sales tax reporting regulations and guidelines.
- Develop a strong understanding of the team’s standard operating procedures.
- Acquire and assemble location and operations data on California businesses from a wide variety of sources (California Department of Tax and Fees Administration (CDTFA) sales, use, and transactions tax records, city/county business license data, internet, business journals, etc.).
- Document research and findings within the company’s propriety software application. Prepare written inquiries/petitions (along with supporting documentation) for submittal to the appropriate State agencies.
- Meet productivity and accuracy goals while being guided by senior team members.
Skills and Qualifications
- Communication skills: Able to communicate clearly and professionally, both verbally and in writing, with small business owners and personnel.
- Research & analytical skills: Capable of conducting basic research to identify inconsistencies between small datasets.
- Computer skills: Comfortable using standard office software, including Microsoft Office; capable of learning a variety of software programs including HdL sales and property tax applications.
- Receptiveness to feedback: Open to constructive feedback and demonstrates a willingness to learn and grow.
- Teamwork: Works well within a team, taking direction from senior team members and contributing positively to the overall team dynamic.
Education and Experience
- High school diploma or equivalent is required.
- An associate degree or coursework in business administration, accounting, finance, public administration, or a related field is preferred.
- Minimum of 1 year of experience in customer service, data collection, research, or related outreach roles is preferred.
- Experience working with small businesses or in a role involving public communication is beneficial.
- Familiarity with sales and use tax concepts or experience within a government agency or tax consulting environment is advantageous but not required.
Compensation
The starting base salary for this Brea, CAposition is expected to be between $23.00 to $26.45 hour. Actual salary will be determined based on skills, experience (to the extent relevant) and other job-related factors, consistent with applicable law.
Benefits
- Competitive Base Pay
- Opportunity to participate in 401k
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life/AD&D, LTD and Employee Assistance Program
- Paid time off for Vacation, Sick and Holidays
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (learn more about the HdL ESOP at: https://www.hdlcompanies.com/about/careers)
