BUSINESS LICENSE INSPECTOR

Job Title

This position enforces the City's business license ordinance and to collect and account for related fees and fines; inspects new and existing businesses to ensure they are operating with the up-to-date City business license; performs related technical and clerical work as assigned.

The incumbent works according to set procedures under close supervision. The work is considered sedentary and involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a recurring basis or routine keyboard operations. The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential job functions: balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, fingering, grasping, handling, hearing, mental acuity, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, stooping, talking, visual acuity, and walking. Work environment involves exposure to no known environmental hazards; and is dynamic that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities and needs.

Essential Job Functions

• Enforces the business license ordinance for the City of Columbia;
• Inspects new and existing businesses to ensure they are operating with up-to-date City business licenses; provides information and assistance to businesses as required to facilitate compliance with the City's business license ordinance;
• Collects new and renewing business license fees in the field and in the office; provides receipts and posts payments to appropriate accounts;
• Contacts persons / businesses with delinquent accounts to discuss payment options; assesses and applies penalties for non-payment;
• Processes lock box payments;
• Assists in greeting and assisting customers, providing professional, courteous customer service at all times;
• Interprets and explains the ordinances to business owners as it pertains to their business;
• Maintains accurate and complete records;
• Performs general clerical work as required, including but not limited to preparing reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, copying and filing documents, sending and receiving faxes, answering the telephone, etc.;
• Receives and responds to inquiries, concerns, complaints and requests for assistance regarding areas of responsibility;
• Attends court proceedings and testifies in court to represent the City to prosecute cases for various court summons;
• Patrols the city and conducts field inspections to identify business licensing code violators;
• Investigates public complaints regarding alleged violations;
• Attends meetings, workshops, conferences, etc., as appropriate to enhance job knowledge and skills; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• High school diploma or GED;
• Two (2) years of relevant prior experience;
• Valid South Carolina Class "D" Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, and/or calculating ratios, rates and percentages;
• Ability to provide information, guidance or assistance to people to directly facilitate task accomplishment; may give directions or assignments to helpers or assistants;
• Ability to handle or use machines, tools or equipment requiring brief instruction or experience, such as computers for data entry, fax machines, copiers, telephones or similar equipment; may service office machines, including adding paper and changing toner;
• Ability to perform semi-skilled work involving set procedures and rules but with frequent problems;
• Ability to read technical instructions, procedures, manuals and charts to solve practical problems; composing routine reports and specialized reports, forms and business letters with proper format; speaking compound sentences using normal grammar and word form;
• Ability to perform clerical, manual or technical tasks requiring a wide range of procedures and requiring intensive understanding of a restricted field or complete familiarity with the functions of a unit or small division of an operating agency; requires normal attention with short periods of concentration for accurate results or occasional exposure to unusual pressure; and
• Ability to guide others, requiring frequent decisions affecting co-workers and others who depend on the service or product; works in a somewhat fluid environment with rules and procedures but with many variations from the routine.

The City of Columbia is proud to offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees. This package includes health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave. Part-time or temporary employees, including interns, are not eligible for City benefits.