Tax Auditor

Position Description

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 financial control functions, enterprise reporting responsibilities, and supports the Mayor and City Council by providing financial information and expertise. OCF 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), 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 LTA. The tax audit unit performs audits, investigations, refund reviews, publishes tax rules, answers ruling requests, provides tax training for taxpayers and city personnel, and assists customer service with taxpayer questions.

LTA is dedicated to administering the city’s taxes efficiently, ensuring all taxpayers engaging in business in the city are registered and pay the correct amount of tax owed.

• Performs complex tax compliance audits of accounting records and financial reports for corporations, individuals, partnerships, nonprofits, and other organizations subject to the city’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.
• Researches and determines applicable statutory and case law, code provisions, and tax rules relevant to taxpayers’ business activities and tax issues, including interpreting the 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.

Minimum qualifications:

• Two years’ experience in auditing and a bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field, including at least 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of accounting coursework.

You will be successful if you have the following experience, skills, and abilities:

• Reviewing accounting records and audit evidence to identify reporting issues, calculate liabilities, verify compliance, and support audit adjustments or assessments.
• Preparing clear and accurate written documentation, including audit narratives, worksheets, schedules, and supporting work papers.
• Working directly with taxpayers and stakeholders by conducting interviews, requesting records, providing audit updates, and resolving audit questions.
• Performing work in the field and working independently.
• 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.

• Microsoft Outlook, Office 365 (including Excel) and SharePoint.
• Commitment to providing quality customer service to colleagues and clients.

• Apply general accounting principles and auditing practices to review financial records, analyze data using computer applications, and document work papers and audit reports.
• Communicate professionally and clearly—both verbally and in writing—with taxpayers,…