Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS)
Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax Unit
1789 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Salary: $22.2116/ hourly ($46,200.12 annually) 

Grade: 19

Closing Date: Open until sufficient resumes are received

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES, please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS) strengthens Arizona communities by bridging and minimizing gaps to employment and independence.

DES is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Auditor 2 with the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax Unit. This position is responsible for working directly with employers or their authorized representatives, independently performing professional and comprehensive audits and other investigations to ensure compliance with the Arizona Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax Law. This position applies professional auditing standards, methods, and procedures to review employer accounting systems and financial records for businesses of varying sizes and entity types. This position routinely determines employer liability and makes employment status determinations (employee vs. independent contractor). This position analyzes, interprets, and applies state statutes, rules, and precedent decisions of the Unemployment Tax Section or other state and federal agencies to a completed set of facts to ensure accuracy, integrity and conformance to laws and regulations.

Travel will be required for State business. If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver's license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on State business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on State business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code [A.A.C.] R2-10-207.11).

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, 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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Independently determines compliance with UI tax law and regulations by examination of employer’s accounting and financial records, such as time-cards, payroll registers, journals, paychecks, and reconciling to state and federal employment tax reports.
• Ensure proper reporting of wages & payments of employment taxes by verifying accuracy of records, including disbursement journals, general ledger, canceled checks, financial statements, IRS 1099 forms, contracts, invoices, & income tax returns to identify & determine correct worker classification and unreported wages.
• Analyze, interpret, and apply state statutes, rules, and precedent decisions of the Unemployment Tax Section or other state & federal agencies to ensure accuracy, integrity & conformance to laws & regulations.
• Perform Benefits Investigations of employer records to ensure proper payments by timely resolution of issues relating to disputed wage amounts or employer liability. Determine correct worker classification under applicable law through independent investigations & personal interviews of business owners or officers and workers.
• Communicate with employers any audit findings and answer employer questions. Prepare detailed and accurate statements of the audit process, records examined, account adjustments, and conclusions as a formal, complete field audit packet.
• Locate delinquent employers when failed responses to audit requests. When needed to complete any audit, Auditor determines appropriate enforcement action, prepare documentation for management approval to initiate the process for assessment of estimates, or if a court order subpoena is needed.
• Confers with business owners or their legal representatives to gain concurrence with the results of the audit or investigation. Assist Tax Section management, the Appeals Unit, or personnel from the Attorney General's office with contested cases arising from field audit actions.
• Participates in classroom and/or web-based training and on-the-job training as directed. Attend meetings, Huddles, and monthly/weekly 1:1's.

Knowledge in:
• Business entities, including corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and sole-proprietorships. Public assistance eligibility determination processes and Family Assistance Administration case read process.
• Agency computer systems - both central processing data bases as well as audit applications, including Word and Excel.
• State law, rules, and corresponding provisions of federal statutes and precedent rulings.

Skill in:
• Interpersonal communication as applied in interviews of employers, their representatives, claimants or workers.
• Managing responsibilities for multiple assignments that are dependent on factors outside of your control by prioritizing your time to ensure work progresses.
• verbal and written format for developing conclusions from data and facts obtained to support independent findings that will vary from assignment to assignment.

Ability to:
• Understand, explain, and apply laws and regulations in employment situations.
• Plan, analyze, coordinate activities, and establish priorities in order to maintain an appropriate inventory of audit assignments and complete work timely.
• Successfully explain and inform audit findings and determinations in an adversarial environment to relevant parties.

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Professional tax auditing, accounting, or closely related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting or a related field with 12 semesters of Accounting.

• Experience in auditing work, principles, standards, and techniques.
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities

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.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact Lizbeth Alarcon at (480) 521-0391 or email LizbethAlarcon@azdes.gov. 

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting (480) 521-0391 or emailing LizbethAlarcon@azdes.gov.  Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.