Tax Specialist (TS2 2020-04286) Virtual WA State Residents Only



Tax Specialist (TS2 2020-04286) Virtual WA State Residents Only

Salary

$41,352.00 - $54,108.00 Annually

Location

Thurston County – Olympia, WA

Job Type

Full Time - Non-Permanent

Job Number

2020-04286

Department

Employment Security Department

Division

Unemployment Insurance

Opening Date

05/13/2020

Closing Date

9/30/2020 12:00 AM Pacific

Description

Here's your opportunity to be a key part of how we live our vision and BUILD the nation's best and most future ready workforce – starting right here at ESD!
 
Power to Help:  Here at Employment Security, we believe in the Power to Help when people need it most. We provide economic security to the people of Washington every day and in every corner of the state. We help people find jobs, provide our communities with inclusive workforce solutions that promote economic resilience and prosperity, and we are now providing paid family and medical leave!
 
Why it's a great department/business unit: Our Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax & Wage Unit ensures we can sustain a healthy UI trust fund which is an integral part of paying unemployment benefit to claimants. By providing this type of support, you will ensure the accuracy, efficiency, fairness and accessibility of Unemployment Insurance Benefits and UI taxes for our customers.

As you know, due to the temporary closure of some businesses here in Washington state we are addressing the need for additional staffing within our Unemployment Insurance Tax Units. 

Great non-permanent Opportunities to work remotely while providing essential services to the state of Washington.
We are seeking to hire a non-permanent, Virtual - Tax Specialist 2 position that is anticipated to last up to one year. We need individuals with strong customer service skills as you will be working within the Rates Unit to ensure that employers receive the correct tax rate. Using your knowledge of the Employment Security Act, regulations accounting/auditing practices and legal procedures relating to granting or denying relief of benefit charges. This Unit grants or denies relief of benefit charges to employers, prepares and verifies billings for Interstate and Combined Wage Claims filed in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. You will be providing professional unemployment insurance (UI) tax services to the Washington State business community, reporting agents, legal representatives, out-of-state businesses, other state and federal agencies; and to the Tax Audit Regions, Account Management Center and Claim Centers. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we invite you to apply and join our team in making a difference to the citizens of our state!

NOTE: The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision and close this recruitment at any time beyond the required seven (7) days. We encourage you to apply early.

We encourage you to learn more about our Unemployment Insurance division.

Duties

Some of what you'll be doing:

  • Investigate, review, audit, and validate information derived from various sources for impacts to the benefit charging program.
  • After investigation and analysis, approve or deny requests to grant relief from benefit charges.
  • Perform in-depth research and compile data to provide a clear, concise response to employers' or their representatives' inquiries and protests.
  • Generate correspondence to employers explaining the results of their requests.
  • Communicate with internal and external customers such as ESD and other governmental/non-governmental entities, claimants, employers and employer representatives.
  • Explain, interpret and apply complex RCWs and WACs.

For a full description of duties - please click here to request from recruiter: PDF Request.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

OR A combination of education and/or relevant experience.

OR Two (2) years of experience involving general tax administration or providing staff support in liability determination.

Preferred Qualifications:
A minimum of 12 semester or 18 quarter hours of college-level accounting and one year of professional accounting or auditing experience.

Supplemental Information

IMPORTANT APPLICANT INFORMATION:
You must attach a resume, letter of interest and a copy of your college transcripts to your on-line application (through the Add Attachment(s) field).

  • A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa.
  • Applications with blank fields, or comments such as "see attachments" in the supplemental question responses, may be considered incomplete.

Other Information
  • Final external candidates must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) Fraud check.
  • This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
  • If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960.

Modern Workplace
ESD's employee engagement continued to trend upward in 2019 as we developed programs to improve the employee experience. We are diligent and remain focused on creating a modern workplace designed to meet the needs of a changing workforce. We have wellness programs, telework policies and flexible schedules. We're working to update our facilities all over the state to enhance both the client and employee experience. 
 
Opportunity for All
The Washington Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Please include your name and preferred pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process.

More than Just a Paycheck
Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. Beyond the traditional benefits such as insurance, retirement, and related benefits, we offer Flex Spending Accounts, Dependent Care Assistance, Deferred Compensation and so much more. We take work life balance seriously and many of our offices offer flexible work hours with a wider variety of shift and schedule option to assist in this.

For specific questions about this position, contact Jeanette Nelson at jcnelson@esd.wa.gov. You can also email us at HRRecruiting@esd.wa.gov, or contact Washington Relay Service 711 if you are a person with a disability needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or with general questions about this opportunity

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note:  If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the
Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.


Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).  This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.


As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165. 

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, are entitled to three (3) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 12-31-2022

01
In order to be considered for this position, you must include a resume and letter of interest with this applicant packet. Please click below to indicate you have attached the required documentation.
  • Yes
  • No
02
Are you a current or former Washington state employee?
  • Yes
  • No
03
Which of the following best describes your highest level of education?
  • High School Diploma or GED Equivalent
  • Associate's degree
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree
  • I do not have a degree
04
How many months of experience involving general tax administration or providing staff support in liability determination?
  • I do not have this type of experience.
  • I have less than 12 months of this type of experience.
  • I have 12 - 23 months of this type of experience.
  • I have 24 - 35 months of this type of experience.
  • I have 36 - 47 months of this type of experience.
  • I have 48 - 59 months of this type of experience.
  • I have 60 - 71 months of this type of experience.
  • I have 72 - 83 months of this type of experience.
  • I have 84 or more months of this type of experience
05
Please describe your experience as noted in the previous question. If you do not have this experience, type N/A.
06
Do you have at least 12 semester or 18 quarter hours of college-level accounting?
  • Yes
  • No
07
ESD How did you hear about this job opportunity?
  • WWW.Careers.Wa.Gov
  • WorkSource Center or Website (WorkSourceWA.com)
  • Washington State Employee Referral
  • ESD Employee Referral
  • Employment Security Department's job web page: WWW.Esd.Wa.Gov
  • Monster
  • College/university career fair or website
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • VERG
  • Craigslist
  • CareerBuilder
  • Other
08
If you selected "Other", please tell us how you learned about this job opportunity. If this does not apply to you, type N/A.
09
Do you currently reside in the State of Washington or are you willing and able to move as required for this position.
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

Agency
State of Washington
Address
View Job Posting for Agency Information

View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504
Phone
View Posting for Agency Contact