06/22/2026
Sanders County is accepting applications for a Deputy Treasurer position in Thompson Falls!
Please contact Rich Wallace at [email protected] for an application. Starting rate is $24.00/hour with full benefits and longevity pay. The position is 40 hours per week.
Work Unit Overview: Full-time Position. All county departments must maintain an open, service-oriented environment, cooperate with other County departments and governmental entities, and keep accurate, timely records and information.
The Treasurer’s Department is responsible for the collection of real and personal property taxes in the County through an annual billing process. In addition, this department records miscellaneous revenues from county departments, school districts, and other special taxing districts of the County. The department also issues real property tax assignment certificates and tax deeds for those properties. It also collects motor vehicle fees, processes vehicle registrations/registration renewals, and issues vehicle license plates.
Job Summary: The Deputy Treasurer is responsible for providing services for taxes and fees to County residents in accordance with established procedures and applicable laws. Duties include a supporting role of the County Treasurer when they are not present, assisting the public, in person and over the phone, with property tax-related issues and questions, collecting property tax from County citizens, assisting in receipting taxes and monies into various county funds, and performing specialized accounting and payment processing of all tax payment types. It also collects motor vehicle fees and registrations and issues license plates to county residents. Completing monthly cash reconciliation for all incoming and outgoing county funds is a core responsibility shared between the Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer.
Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities): These duties are the essential functions and are not all-inclusive of all duties that the incumbent performs. The time required for any function will vary by employee and by time of year.
Deputy Treasurer:
• Process tax payments and accounts receivable to ensure accurate, complete, and efficient verification, posting, and recording of tax payments to the County according to established procedures and laws. Review, validate, create tax vouchers, and identify basic errors and discrepancies (e.g., unidentified payments, unspecified payment year/quarter, overpayments, missing information, etc.).
• Coordinate and assist with annual mailing of revenue and tax bills, including filing duplicate copies according to established procedures and tax laws. Collect taxes and handle daily deposits, file A101's daily, and process the balancing of the cash drawer(s) in the absence of the Sr. Treasurer Clerk.
• Record miscellaneous revenues from county departments, school districts, and other special taxing districts of the County according to established policies.
• Issue real property tax assignment certificates; manage tax assignments.
• Coordinate accounting and payment processes, including any wire payments, NSF and returned transactions, accounting system journal vouchers, and conduct research to unsuspend problem payments for all tax/account types.
• Resolve basic errors and discrepancies by verifying taxpayer information through review of other departments and agencies’ records, contacting taxpayers by phone or in writing, and/or requesting copies of checks from banks to identify proper posting.
• Assist with processing taxpayer account data to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and completeness. This may include establishing database files; receiving and verifying information, monitoring automated updates; generating reports; purging records as appropriate, and/or assisting with manual records management.
• Receipt all current and delinquent real property, personal property, centrally assessed, and mobile home tax payments.
• Run delinquent tax lists for the Tax Lien Assignment process and for Sheriff’s Sale on mobile homes and personal property; prepare and manage Tax lien assignments and redemptions; prepare Writ of Executions on delinquent mobile homes and personal property.
• Assist Treasurer with preparation and mailing of tax statements and reminder cards for all taxes.
• Research tax records; prepare journal vouchers for bill revisions in partnership with the MT Dept of Revenue and the County Clerk & Recorder’s office.
• Handle incoming and outgoing correspondence; clean up records and notes in the tax system
• Write and distribute licenses for County liquor licenses and firework permits.
• Build and maintain detailed Microsoft Excel spreadsheets with automated calculations and formulas.
• Extract report data from multiple databases and conduct deep data analysis, providing insight and supporting details for recommended actions based on the data analysis completed.
• Backup the Treasurer Counter during busy seasons, and provide coverage during staff absences.
o Assist customers with the motor vehicle title and registration process by assessing their needs and explaining applicable requirements ordained by laws and rules. Direct customers to fill out the necessary paperwork and check for completeness and accuracy.
o Investigate customer backgrounds by searching appropriate databases to ensure there are no circumstances prohibiting them from attaining a particular license or registration. Respond to customer complaints and explain statutes, policies, and procedures that apply to each situation.
o Verify accuracy and completeness of customer paperwork, such as title, supporting documents, loan contracts, and proof of insurance, and ensure all specific requirements are satisfied by reviewing paperwork. Identify missing information and documents, and explain any deficiencies to the customer.
o Identify problems in required documentation (e.g., signature not notarized, wrong odometer readings, etc.) based on application of established policies and contact the appropriate party to correct the problem, return paperwork, or refer complex problems to a more knowledgeable staff member (e.g., out-of-state titles, etc.).
o Assign plate numbers and registration information for tax-exempt vehicles (such as county, churches, and city), handle customer form 2290-Federal Highway Use tax, complete paperwork for the Military, handicapped, ham radio, fire-fighter professional exempt plates, and non-profit organizational plates, and process incoming mail daily. Enter all registration and title information into the computer, ensuring that entries are accurate and logged/filed according to established procedures.
o Process completed applications and issue motor vehicle titles and licenses at the service counter according to department policies and applicable laws. This includes calculating and collecting appropriate fees, verifying the collected amount with the receipt amount, and reconciling the cash drawer.
o Communicate with the public, dealerships, finance companies, and banks regarding title application procedures, license plate renewals, and other motor vehicle issues. This includes writing and sending correspondence to customers explaining fees, the reasons for rejecting documentation, and policies and procedures.
o Maintain records for inventory of license plates, verification stickers, forms used, and any related office filing/inventory procedures.
o Provide guidance to treasurer clerks by demonstrating and providing assistance with licensing and registration processes, answering questions, and resolving routine problems.
o Greet customers in a friendly manner in person and on the telephone. Deals with sensitive information and adheres to standards of strict confidentiality. Maintains professionalism by exercising tact, diplomacy, and courtesy at all times.
Non-Essential Functions:
• Establish and maintain a variety of files, assist the Treasurer’s Office by performing clerical and administrative functions in support of administering County policies and procedures, and perform other tasks associated with various functions of the Office.
• Perform other duties as assigned, including but not limited to managing special projects, attending meetings and conferences, providing backup for other staff, participating in training, etc.
Physical Demands and Working Conditions: The demands and conditions described here are representative of those the employee must meet to perform the essential functions of the job.
• The employee is constantly required to use their hands to handle or feel objects and to use the keyboard.
• Frequently required to sit, talk, write, listen, and read.
• The employee may infrequently be required to stand, walk, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and reach with hands and arms.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
• The employee is infrequently required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The noise level of the office is usually moderate.
• May involve occasional travel by auto to attend meetings with community partners.
Supervision Exercised: List jobs reporting to the subject position and level of supervisory authority.
The primary function of this job is not supervisory; however, the incumbent may be asked to temporarily exercise supervision over treasurer clerks, support staff, contract employees, etc.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
The job requires knowledge of accounting and bookkeeping procedures; automated data processing systems; pertinent property tax codes and regulations; principles and practices of customer service; how fees are calculated, the application of fees, definition of fees, taxable value, and how to explain this to customers with differing knowledge bases; additional documentation that may be required such as insurance requirements and handicap authorizations; applicable taxes, percentages due, when they are due, and exceptions; reference materials; collection laws and procedures for delinquent real property, personal property, centrally assessed, and mobile home taxes; and applicable reference books.
The job requires knowledge of state and county motor vehicle licensing and registration laws; principles and practices of customer service; how fees are calculated, the application of fees, definition of fees, taxable value, weight, and how to explain this to customers with differing knowledge bases; additional documentation that may be required such as insurance requirements and handicap authorizations etc; applicable taxes, percentages due, when they are due and exceptions; and familiarity with reference materials such as Polk and Peck Books, Blue Books, Registration, and Title Manuals; calculate and collect taxes and fees due; problem solve with customers.
The job requires skill in the use of various databases, software and computer systems, accounting and bookkeeping procedures, and customer service; records maintenance, handling non-public confidential information appropriately; working independently to achieve department goals and explaining complicated tax information to customers with differing knowledge bases. Accurately run a 10 key calculator and balance documents.
The job requires the ability to communicate effectively in all modes, both verbally and in writing; securely handle and deliver taxpayer information and payment documents to appropriate staff; identify and correct data errors; operate specialized data processing systems; accurately process cash receipting transactions; calculate and collect taxes and fees due; use tax reference materials; and problem-solve with customers.
Education and Experience:
The job requires education and experience equivalent to a high school diploma or GED and five (5) years of experience in cashiering, general office work, and customer service. Equivalencies include post-secondary coursework and two (2) years of experience in data entry, property tax department, and computer operations, or related work.
Health and Safety Responsibility:
The safety and health responsibilities described herein are representative of those an employee will be responsible/accountable for while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Carry out work in a manner so as not to create a health and safety hazard to yourself or others; suggest ways to eliminate hazards.
• Assist in the reduction and control of accidents and illness-producing conditions in the work area by routinely conducting a visual inspection of the work area to identify unsafe work conditions and report time immediately to the department supervisor.
• Advise co-workers when he/ she is participating in an unsafe work practice. Report any unsafe work practices to the supervisor immediately.
• Report any incidents, near misses, injuries, or illnesses to the immediate supervisor.
• Develop a personal concern for health and safety -- for yourself and others. Read, understand, and comply with workplace health and safety policy, safe work practices, and procedures.
• Co-operate with health and safety committee members and representatives.
• Should an injury occur during the workday, report to supervisor and complete a written Report of First Injury by the end of the work shift on the day the injury occurs. Failure to complete and submit the Report of First Injury that occurs during a work shift may result in progressive disciplinary action.
