TAX SEASON JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Ariva is hiring several Quality Review Specialists, Tax Preparers, Intake Specialists and an Asset Specialist for our 2013 tax season. Ariva helps low-wealth New Yorkers get every dollar in tax refunds and tax credits they are due while saving our clients money on high-cost commercial tax prep fees. We also connect clients with SaveUSA match savings accounts, financial education coaching and public benefits. Apply to join a team that has served more than 36,000 clients since 2004 and returned more than $56 million in total refunds to financially struggling communities. Ariva is looking for detail-oriented go-getters who desire a rewarding professional experience. Scroll down for the four job descriptions.
To Apply: Interested candidates should email a résumé and cover letter to Luis Breton at lbreton@ariva.org. Please include the name of the job for which you are applying in the subject line.
Quality Review Specialist
The Quality Review staff is responsible for reviewing prepared tax returns for low-income families and individuals in a fast-paced environment. S/he will review clients’ returns for quality and accuracy as well as compliance with IRS filing guidelines in Ariva’s busy South Bronx site. Quality Review staff must establish the greatest degree of public trust, providing free high-quality service and upholding the highest of ethical standards. This is a great opportunity for candidates who already have some tax preparation experience and enjoy making a positive impact on others.
Responsibilities:
• Review all tax returns for accuracy (based on information provided by client).
• Answer any tax-related questions clients or volunteers may have.
• Provide high-quality assistance to all clients.
• Ensure only those tax returns are prepared for which appropriate training and certification were provided.
• Ensure no compensation of any kind is accepted for the volunteer services provided.
• Maintain confidentiality of customer information.
• Ensure a copy of the return is provided to the taxpayer.
Skills:
• Must have tax preparation experience.
• Must pass IRS certification exam at the Intermediate level. (Training provided.)
• Good computer skills for inputting tax return information
• Pride in performing tasks completely and accurately
• Must be comfortable in a fast-paced environment
• Must be able to work with public in a helpful, supportive and patient manner
• Friendly, dependable and flexible
Schedule: This part-time, seasonal position requires availability for some training in early January. Regular work hours will begin in mid-January and end in late April. Candidates must be available to work 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Monday and Thursday), 1:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Wednesday) and 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Fridays and Sundays are off.
Tax Preparer
By delivering free tax preparation to community college students and their parents, Ariva hopes to help them access tax credits and refunds which can be used towards tuition, thereby increasing their chances of staying in school. The Tax Preparer will provide basic tax return preparation for eligible clients at Ariva’s tax sites at Bronx Community College and Hostos Community College. S/he will establish the greatest degree of public trust, providing free high-quality service and upholding the highest of ethical standards.
Responsibilities:
• Serve all clients visiting the site with a pleasant and helpful demeanor.
• Provide high quality assistance to all clients. Directly prepare tax returns based on information provided by clients.
• Interview customer to determine if all income, deduction and allowable credits are claimed.
• Prepare only those tax returns for which training and certification were provided.
• Prepare tax returns using electronic filing software (whenever possible).
• Maintain confidentiality of customer information.
• Review all tax returns for accuracy before returns are provided to the taxpayer and/or are electronically filed.
• Ensure that quality review is performed on completed returns prior to being returned to customer.
Skills:
• Must pass IRS certification exam at the Intermediate level. (Training provided.)
• Good computer skills for inputting tax return information.
• Pride in performing tasks completely and accurately.
• Must be comfortable in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be able to work with public in a helpful, supportive and patient manner.
• Friendly, dependable and flexible.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Detail oriented.
Schedule: This part-time, seasonal position requires availability for some training in January. Regular work hours will begin in late January and end in late April. Schedules vary based on site placement.
Asset Specialist
Ariva is one of only two organizations citywide to offer SaveUSA, a savings account program that offers the opportunity for a 50 percent match (up to $500) for every dollar the clients saves. The Asset Specialist will assist eligible lower-income tax filers in designating a portion of their tax refunds for savings in an effort to help clients build assets and economic stability. The Asset Specialist will engage clients at Ariva’s busy South Bronx site to explain the benefits of participating in SaveUSA and answer clients’ questions, encourage eligible clients to open accounts and assist clients in the enrollment process. Her/his work will ultimately contribute to exciting research findings, exploring the affects of matched savings on the financial behaviors of low-income taxpayers. S/he will work with the support of Ariva tax preparation staff and volunteers.
Responsibilities:
• Serve all taxpayers visiting Ariva’s 167th Street site with a pleasant and helpful demeanor.
• Actively engage each Ariva tax-filing client.
• Open SaveUSA accounts for clients and manage the enrollment process.
• Assist with paperwork and check clients’ documents in accordance with program and banking regulations and research guidelines.
• Keep accurate, organized records of accounts and submit in a timely manner.
• Provide clients interested in benefits with the appropriate referral to partners.
Skills:
• Enthusiastic, outgoing and personable
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with aptitude for working with lower-income people of diverse backgrounds
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a MUST
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Detail oriented
• Passion for helping lower-income families become economically stable
• Sales and/or banking experience a plus
• Good computer skills
• Friendly, dependable and flexible.
Schedule: This part-time, seasonal position requires availability for some training in early January. Regular work hours will begin in mid-January and end in late April. Candidates must be available to work 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Monday and Thursday), 1:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Tuesday and Wednesday) and 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Fridays and Sundays are off.
Intake Specialist
The Intake staff will provide support for tax preparers and greet our lower-income clients by screening all taxpayers that request assistance at our Bronx-based sites. S/he must ensure that the taxpayers have the necessary information required to complete their returns, screen them for program eligibility, and enter client data in an online database. The Intake staff may also help with local outreach on a limited basis (asking local businesses and organizations to distribute our marketing materials). Additionally, s/he must be able to provide crowd control during peak times.
Responsibilities:
• Greet all clients visiting the site to create a pleasant atmosphere.
• Screen clients to determine assistance needed and they have all necessary documents.
• Monitor site traffic to ensure that sufficient time is allowed for taxpayers being checked in at the site to receive assistance.
• Maintain confidentiality of taxpayer information.
• Enter client data in an online database.
• Promote Ariva programs, such as financial coaching and SaveUSA, to clients.
• Provide general assistance to taxpayers.
• Manage clients’ expectations.
• Provide crowd control with a gentle but firm manner.
• Exercise good judgment in referring issues to Site Manager.
Skills:
• Ability to work with the public in a helpful, supportive and patient manner
• Pride in performing tasks completely and accurately
• Able to handle large volume of client traffic
• Friendly, dependable and flexible
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a MUST
• Detail oriented
• Good computer skills (ability to enter data with adequate speed and excellent accuracy)
Schedule: This part-time, seasonal position requires availability for some training in early January. Regular work hours will begin in late January and end in late April. Schedules vary depending on site placement.