Tax Specialist 3 (Strategic Response Unit)



Tax Specialist 3 (Strategic Response Unit)

Salary

$45,504.00 - $59,688.00 Annually

Location

Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

Job Type

Full Time - Non-Permanent

Job Number

2021-03505

Department

Employment Security Department

Division

Unemployment Insurance

Opening Date

05/13/2020

Closing Date

11/30/2021 12:00 AM Pacific

Description


NOTE: In response to COVID-19, this position will primarily work remotely unless otherwise directed by the hiring manager. If selected, you will be given instructions on where to pick up your equipment.

About Employment Security Department
Here at the Employment Security Department (ESD), 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, bridge gaps in employment, and provide paid family medical leave. We invest in our people; promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; practice integrity; exhibit service with kindness; seek collaboration, and pursue innovation.
 
About the Division
The Unemployment Insurance Tax & Wage division ensures Employment Security can pay timely benefits to unemployed workers by collecting taxes owed by Washington employers and by striving to make sure wage-history information is available for anyone who files an unemployment claim. The branch also helps employers establish accounts, processes quarterly taxes and wage records, audits and adjusts accounts, tracks employer unemployment-experience information, sets appropriate tax rates, manages outstanding accounts, maintains employer benefit-payment records, and collects benefit overpayments.

About the Position
Our Unemployment Insurance Division is looking to hire multiple Tax Specialist 3 to be a part of its Strategic Response Unit. This is a full-time, non-permanent position that is anticipated to last up to one year. If selected, you will be on telework status until further notice.

To be successful, we need individuals with strong customer service skills as you will be utilized across all Tax and Wage units, assigned wherever the workload requires (as needed) to support Tax and Wage efforts in order to provide timely service to customers. This position will provide senior-level 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, the Tax and Audit Regions, Account Management Center, and Claim Centers. As our TS3, you will perform administration and/or provide direct services for a variety of UI Tax programs within the various units. You will contribute to and support the agency mission by ensuring every Washington employer pays their fair share of UI tax and UI benefit claims are paid timely and correctly. 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!

Duties

Core Daily Responsibilities:

  • Review financial documents that have been received from either the employers or the claimant.
  • Work with other units and employers as required to determine correct and proper reporting of tax and wage information.
  • Verify earnings of blocked UI benefit claims.  Determine the validity of "Affidavit of Earning" statements and recommend approval or denial of the request.
  • Verify employers' tax and wage reports to ensure accuracy in reporting and correct processing by NGTS.
  • Research and validate waiver requests. Process request based on appropriate actions necessary to comply with agency policies and statue.
  • Collect reports from employers.
  • Determine appropriate collection actions to obtain delinquent tax reports on accounts.
  • Analyze and independently determine employer liability under Title 50.
  • Approve or deny benefit charge relief requests.
  • Generate correspondence to employers explaining the results of their requests.
Click here to request the full job description and duties.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Option 1: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, which includes a minimum of 12-semester or 18-quarter hours of college-level accounting and two years of professional accounting or auditing experience; or,
 
Option 2: One year of experience as an ESD Tax Specialist 2; or,
 
*Option 3: A combination of education and/or relevant experience no less than 6 years; such as,

  • HS diploma/GED with 6 years of experience
  • AA degree with 4 years of experience
  • Bachelor’s degree with 2 years of experience
  • Master’s degree (or higher) with 1 year of experience
*NOTE: Candidates who fall under Option 3 will still need to meet the 12-semester or 18-quarter credits of college-level accounting. Applicants must be willing to work within the state of Washington.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Per Governor Inslee's Proclamation 21-14, state employees must be fully vaccinated no later than October 18, 2021. Please note that any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing verification of your vaccine status, having an approved medical accommodation, or having an approved religious accommodation. No start date will be approved until you have either verified your vaccine status or have an approved accommodation.

Supplemental Information

Supporting Documents

  • Resume and Cover Letter - please ensure both required documents are attached to your online application or your application may be considered incomplete.
  • Supplemental Questionnaire section - ensure your responses in this section coincide with the information on your online resume/application (and vice versa).
  • "See attachments" - applications with blank fields or responses such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.
  • 3 professional references - Please include 3 references. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, you may include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates. Do not use personal references, such as family members, spouses, friends, etc. as a reference.
Conditions of Employment
  • This position is eligible to telework from any place in Washington State as long as you are a Washington State resident, or willing to relocate. You must already have an Internet connection ready as this is not part of the telework kit.
  • Final external candidates must be able to pass the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Fraud Check.
  • Must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than October 18, 2021, per Gov. Inslee's Proclamation 21-14.
Opportunity for All
ESD 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 pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process. 

Point of Contact: George DeGuzman or Talent Acquisition Team
Please contact me if you have a disability and would like to request accommodation in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have any questions about this position. You may also contact Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1. Finally, if you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact Careers Help or call (360) 664-1960 or toll-free (877) 664-1960.

Other Information
  • Final external candidate(s) must be able to pass the 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.

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, letter of interest and your college transcripts 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
  • None of these apply to me.
04
Do you have at least one (1) year of experience as a Tax Specialist 2 within the Employment Security Department?
  • Yes
  • No
05
How many months of experience of professional accounting or auditing experience do you have?
  • 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
06
Please describe your experience involving professional accounting or auditing. If you do not have this experience, type N/A.
07
Do you have at least 12 semester or 18 quarter hours of college-level accounting?
  • Yes
  • No
08
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
09
If you selected "Other", please tell us how you learned about this job opportunity. If this does not apply to you, type N/A.
10
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