About the Job

I noticed that I haven't mentioned my new job. I guess I should do that. I signed a pretty comprehensive non-compete and non-disclosure contract, and I don't really understand how enforceable or legal or relevant it is so I may have to be fairly vague at points and hold back on some of the more interesting details.

I'm working for a company called Omni Financial. The company specializes in helping (generally small) businesses (and sometimes individuals) deal with tax liabilities. We negotiate with federal and state taxing authorities to try and find a resolution to tax problems. The company specializes in 940 unemployment taxes and 941 withholding taxes but also deals with the (sometimes) associated 1040 and 1120 and 6672 taxes. Essentially, we find clients with large liabilities and try to work with the IRS and/or the relevant state to find a way to satisfy the liability in such a way that is beneficial to both the taxpayer and the government.

It is striking to me how many companies out there owe large sums of money to the IRS. Most of the files that I have worked on so far have had six-digit debts. For every penny these people don't pay, honest, hard-working schmucks like you and me have to make up the difference. Still, if some 70 year-old dentist owes the IRS $300,000, we are all better off if he can pay $60,000 than nothing at all.

And that's pretty much what I'm learning to do. We start by assessing the situation and getting a complete picture of the full extent of the liability. Then we examine the taxpayer's ability to pay by going through their financial information and history. Finally, we try to come up with a solution that is in the best interest of all involved parties. We essentially preform an audit on our clients so that the IRS doesn't have to. Note, we don't work with clients who are being audited; we work with clients who are in the collection division of the IRS.

There are some things that I don't like about the company, but my main complaint is the money. For the frontline workers just starting out - like myself - they barely pay a living wage. But there are lots of good things too. For example, beginning today, I can wear shorts and tevas for the rest of the summer. I get an hour lunch every day which I am actually encouraged to take. (A big perk after working at Merrill Lynch where managers were made to feel like real slackers if they took any breaks at all during their 10+ hour days.) Overtime is generally discouraged. I have a simply amazing view of the flat irons and the front range from our headquarters in Interlocken. I work with some pretty bright folks and with some pretty folks.

I think my longer term goals for my career involve more people and process management than I will have an opportunity for here, but for now, it's a job. I am learning a lot about how the IRS works and, more importantly, about how to run your own business. There's a lot of opportunity to make big money just a little way down the road. And, who knows, maybe at some point I'll get a chance to try to implement some of the many ideas that I already have about how to improve work flow processes and how to increase employee job satisfaction and retention rates (which, quite frankly, are atrocious). For now, I'm out of the unemployment line even if I am terribly worried that I'll never get ahead financially.

Jonathan 6/18/2003 08:51:00 PM