Lead Tobacco Tax Auditor

Arizona Department of Administration•Phoenix, AZ

2d•Remote

About The Position

The Lead Tobacco Tax Specialist serves as the team lead, subject matter expert, and an escalation point-of-contact for the Tobacco Tax Compliance Auditors and Field Auditors, who is responsible for performing complex audit and customer service work for the Tobacco Tax Team by providing educational outreach to applicable taxpayers to ensure compliance with Arizona’s tobacco tax laws, statutes, rules, and regulations. This role is responsible for the review of tobacco tax returns and the processing of refunds and rebates, working with taxpayers to address payment issues, and providing timely notifications to taxpayers regarding noncompliance, penalties, and license enforcement actions. This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures. The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Requirements

Knowledge of Arizona Tobacco tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations, and department policies
Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
Understanding of taxpayer monthly filing requirements
Understanding of AZ tribal tobacco tax processes, including stamp color sales requirements, taxpayer reporting requirements and registered tribal retailer information requirements
Understanding of the STEP clerk’s role in processing license applications, determining the eligibility of applications for consideration and obtaining a detailed understanding of the conditions of licensure
Strong verbal, written, and listening communication skills
Effective organization and time management skills with the ability to make measurable progress on multiple priorities
Strong interpersonal skills and demeanor
Strong proficiency in researching, analyzing, and interpreting tax law and communicating it in layman's terms
Proficient in the use of a PC/laptop in a Windows environment; in the use of the Internet; and in the use of Google Suite applications such as Gmail, Sheets, Docs, and Drive
Proficient in the use of tax reporting systems
Ability to clear a comprehensive background and clearance process that includes an Arizona tax compliance verification, and a criminal background check through the FBI via level one fingerprint clearance through the Arizona Department of Public Safety
Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and also participate collaboratively as part of a team
Ability to work in a confidential manner, ensuring information is shared with internal and external individuals in an appropriate manner
Ability to perform monthly compliance testing of taxpayer returns to determine any violations of requirements
Ability to understand and solve problems by applying advanced analytical skills to include collecting all the relevant information and data needed to address the problem; organizing, classifying and synthesizing the data into fundamental issues; from the information, identifying the most probable causes of the problem; reducing the information down into manageable components; identifying the logical outcomes from the analyses of the data collected; and, identifying the options and solutions for addressing the problems analyzed.
Ability to travel up to 5% of the time for court appearances/testimonies
Willingness and ability to embody ADOR’s core values of Do the Right Thing, Commit to Excellence, and Care About One Another
Valid US State-Issued Driver’s License

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in management, legal or accounting
Previous experience with AZ tobacco tax statutes
Minimum one year experience with the Department’s GenTax Tobacco Tax registration and reporting system.

Responsibilities

Serves as a team lead for Tobacco Tax Compliance Auditors within the unit
Subject-matter expert within the their respective unit
First point of escalation for junior team members
Workflow coordination of junior team members
Peer mentor to junior team members
Provides "backup" monitoring for supervisor, as needed
Contributes toward positive team culture
Develops procedures and training materials to assist with team training
Performs the STEP returns role in processing rebate and refund cases, creating the requisite knowledgebase to achieve the ability to assist taxpayers with return/rebate filing questions required of the licensees
Serves as a point of contact for determining the eligibility of license applications for consideration and obtains a detailed understanding of the conditions of licensure
In collaboration with the Attorney 4, Bingo, Liquor, and Tobacco Tax coordinates statute enforcement efforts and processes taxpayer protests of appealable departmental actions
Timely review of tobacco tax returns to ensuring accuracy and compliance with Arizona tobacco tax laws, statutes, rules, and regulations
Process tax refunds and rebates and address payment issues while applying statutory requirements and Department of Revenue policies and standards
Prepare reports, correspondence, memoranda, and miscellaneous technical materials
Propose system functionality updates to management
Aid in the development and enforcement of tax compliance procedures and policies
Assist in the production of relevant documents to the Attorney General’s Office for use in enforcing Arizona tobacco laws and obligations under the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement
Research, analyze, and apply applicable tax law appropriately to all cases, audits, and tax returns, as assigned
Collect and analyze data to detect discrepancies in return filings that may be non-compliant with tobacco tax laws, rules, regulations, and/or policies
Consult with appropriate legal counsel, as needed
Proactively makes outreach efforts via phone, email, etc. to educate taxpayers on tobacco tax law compliance
Provide timely and clear notification to taxpayers regarding noncompliance, penalties, and license enforcement actions
Assists taxpayers with the utilization of the Arizona Luxury Tax Online electronic filing system
Communicate with taxpayers, attorneys, auditors, and management regarding compliance and application of applicable statutes, rules, and regulations
Participate in formal and informal conferences and appeal hearings before the Office of Administrative Hearings
Remains current on applicable laws, regulations, policies, and best practices related to building access through regular engagement in activities such as: self-directed research, conferring with other practitioners and technical experts; subscriptions to regulatory/legal/industry newsletters and briefs; membership industry associations and attendance at meetings/events; and or participation in training and others continuing education opportunities.

Benefits

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.
State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
Top ranked Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) provides 100% employer matched contributions (enrollment eligibility will be effective after 27 weeks of State employment). ASRS provides a lifelong benefit based on years of service earned, or worked, and your ending salary.

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