VITA Assistant

Description

At Interfaith, we empower individuals and families in need by providing essential resources and services with compassion and integrity. Together, we foster a community of hope, accountability, and dignity.

Founded in 1979 in direct response to rising rates of hunger and homelessness in North San Diego County, Interfaith Community Services works to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness by Helping People Help Themselves. Interfaith is the most comprehensive nonprofit social services agency in North County, providing both immediate safety net services and long-term, life-changing programs designed to meet the holistic needs of people in crisis.

Together, in partnership with 250+ diverse faith communities, more than 650 recurrent volunteers, and a growing staff of over 200, Interfaith provides a safe haven and pathway towards self-sufficiency for more than 17,000 community members annually.

If you're passionate about making a difference and thrive in a service-driven environment, we invite you to be part of our mission!

In the VITA Assistant role, you’ll have oversight for their designated Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site(s); follow all operating procedures as laid out in the IRS publication 1084. Ensures all tax returns are completed and e-filed in a timely manner, and supports the overall mission of Interfaith Community Services (ICS).

• Local travel is required
• Oversees the daily operations of the site locations (Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad, and Poway) and will support at the Escondido office
• Reports back to the supervisor on VITA volunteer progress and performance
• Adheres to all Quality Site Requirements as shown in IRS publication 1084
• Ensures client files are secured, up-to-date, and complete
• Assigns a secondary VITA volunteer to quality review tax return; conducts a quality review after the secondary review
• Submits all tax returns to the IRS in a timely manner in accordance with IRS VITA standards
• Reviews, corrects and resends rejected tax files and pending tax files on a daily basis
• Ensures tax returns outside the scope of the VITA program are referred to a paid preparer
• Ensures all tax clients complete necessary documents and this information is entered into the designated database system
• Complete client exit interviews
• All other relevant duties as assigned by the supervisor

You're passionate about making a lasting impact, whether supporting individuals directly or enhancing our organizational effectiveness. To thrive in this role, you'll:

• High school diploma or equivalent, required
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Social Services, or related field, preferred
• 1+ years of VITA work experience, preferred
• Bilingual (Spanish/English), required
• Must hold a valid Advanced Tax Certification within 30 days of hire (per IRS Link and Learn and this training will be provided upon hire)

• Ability to establish and maintain professional boundaries with clients
• Knowledge of VITA program and familiarity with IRS tax laws and regulations
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple deadlines and working effectively under pressure, using independent judgment to produce quality work under time constraints
• Demonstrates experience working with a collaborative team
• Working Knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook)
• Ability to communicate effectively among a diverse workforce population and maintain sound working relations with all levels within the organization
• Work with the spirit of enthusiasm, teamwork, cooperation and a sense of urgency
• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality over all matters in the course of business operations, including client and employee information
• Ability to multitask in an efficient, thorough, and prioritized manner
• Ability to work quickly, accurately and independently
  • Ability to prioritize work and solve problems

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable…