Tax Auditor

City of Seattle•Seattle, WA

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of City Finance (OCF) is responsible for the financial operations of the City of Seattle. While working closely with the City's Budget Office, OCF oversees the City's financial control functions and enterprise reporting responsibilities and supports the goals set by the Mayor and the City Council by providing financial information and expertise. The Office of City Finance champions race and social justice and works progressively to realize the City's vision of racial equity by participating in the Race and Social Justice Initiative - RSJI, which requires fostering a relational culture and an openness to learn and apply new ideas and skills through an equity lens. License and Tax Administration (LTA) is a key division of the OCF. This unit administers and collects various tax types, including Business & Occupation, Payroll Expense, Sweetened Beverage, Utility, Gambling Tax, Commercial Parking, Admissions, Firearm/Ammunition, Transportation Network, and Social Housing. All new taxes proposed and passed by the City are developed and implemented through this division. The tax audit unit performs tax audits and investigations, refund reviews, develops and publishes tax rules, answers ruling requests, performs tax training for taxpayers and city personnel, and assists customer service with taxpayer questions. The unit is dedicated to administering the city’s taxes efficiently in support of the city’s services and programs while acting with integrity and fairness in its efforts to ensure all taxpayers engaging in business in the city are registered and pay the correct amount of tax owed. LTA is seeking to hire two Tax Auditors. The primary responsibility of a Tax Auditor is to conduct tax audits and investigations that are essential to ensuring the City of Seattle's overall tax compliance and revenue generation. The tax audit team carries out tax audits and investigations of businesses and other organizations to verify their compliance with the City of Seattle's Business Tax Laws, as outlined in the Seattle Municipal Code and the Seattle Business Tax Rules.

Requirements

Two years' experience in auditing
A bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field, including at least 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of course work in accounting.
Experience in reviewing accounting records and audit evidence to identify reporting issues, calculate liabilities, verify compliance, and support audit adjustments or assessments.
Experience preparing clear and accurate written documentation, including audit narratives, worksheets, schedules, and supporting workpapers.
Experience working directly with taxpayers and stakeholders by conducting interviews, requesting records, providing audit updates, and resolving audit questions.
Experience performing work in the field and working independently.
Experience applying tax laws and rules to a variety of business activities and tax issues, using tax research tools and legal references to support findings and conclusions.
Skilled in Microsoft Outlook, Office 365 included Microsoft Excel, and SharePoint.
Commitment to providing quality customer service to colleagues and clients.
Ability to apply general accounting principles and auditing practices to review financial records, analyze data using computer applications, and document workpapers and audit reports.
Ability to communicate professionally and clearly—both verbally and in writing—with taxpayers, stakeholders, and internal staff throughout the audit process.
Ability to interpret state and local taxation concepts, including Seattle tax laws and regulations, and conducts tax research using statutory, code, and regulatory guidance to support audit issues and findings.

Responsibilities

Performs complex tax compliance audits of accounting records and financial reports for corporations, individuals, partnerships, nonprofits, and other organizations subject to the City of Seattle's revenue and tax ordinances.
Conducts opening interviews to understand the organization's business activities, accounting systems, reports, documents, and tax reporting procedures.
Determines the scope of audit fieldwork, examination procedures, and professional investigative/auditing techniques needed to verify and interpret source documents.
Evaluates accounting and reporting practices and records, performs calculations, and determines whether correct tax and license fees have been paid.
Research and determine applicable statutory and case law, code provisions, and tax rules relevant to taxpayers' business activities and tax issues, including interpreting the Seattle Municipal Code.
Examines pertinent financial records to collect, manage, prioritize, and compile information needed to determine total gross and taxable income, including identifying unreported income; tests samples and collects audit evidence.
Communicates and corresponds with taxpayers throughout the audit process; prepares written audit reports that document scope, findings, adjustments, legal authority, and reporting instructions; prepares for and appears at appeal hearings.