Department Leadership

Julissa Fernández is the interim tax collector for all municipalities in Mecklenburg County as well as the interim department director for the Office of the Tax Collector. She is responsible for fulfilling all requirements of NC General Statute 105-350 and managing a department comprised of two divisions and five business units that administers and collects ad valorem (property) and gross receipts (business) taxes. 

She has been a leader in higher education and local government since 1997. Julissa started her career at Stony Brook University in Long Island New York, in human resources and payroll. After 11 successful years, she and her family moved to North Carolina. 

In 2009, Julissa joined the Mecklenburg County Human Resources Department and served in various roles such as the HR strategic business partner to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. 

In 2016, Julissa transitioned to the Office of the Tax Collector as deputy Tax director. She helped shape collections policy, strategies, programs, and procedures ensuring strong collection percentages. Julissa was promoted to tax operations director in 2018, where she led the operations division, responsible for the department’s strategic business plan, annual budget, quality control, technical systems support, and payment processing. During her eight years in the department, she has advanced employee culture, equity and inclusion, talent acquisition and retention, and a great team of professionals in their service to our community.

Julissa earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and her master’s degree in business administration from Wingate University. In addition, she earned an Executive Education Program Certificate from UC Berkeley for completion of Accelerating Change Readiness and Agility. 

Professional Memberships:

• International Association of Assessing Officers 
   
• North Carolina Tax Collectors’ Association (certified deputy tax collector)  
   
• National Association of County Collectors, Treasurers, and Finance Officers