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Excise Tax Examiner (ETE3)

State of Washington

Thurston County – Olympia, WA · HybridFull-time$4,980–6,542/moPosted 1w agoStill listed 6 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$4,980–6,542/mo
Location
Thurston County – Olympia, WAHybrid
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

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Job overview

The Washington State Department of Licensing is recruiting an Excise Tax Examiner to provide technical leadership in fuel tax reporting and refund work. The role guides staff through complex accounts and decisions, supports training for staff and customers, resolves unusual tax issues, and contributes to system and process improvements. It also reviews refunds and penalty or interest waiver requests. The position requires in-office work in Olympia every Wednesday and Thursday, with possible additional days.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Financial Analysis, requiredAccounting, requiredAuditing, requiredCompliance, requiredTax Administration, requiredMicrosoft Office, requiredMicrosoft Word, requiredMicrosoft Excel, requiredMicrosoft Outlook, requiredMicrosoft PowerPoint, requiredSharePoint, requiredInterpreting Regulations, requiredImpact Assessment, requiredRespectful Communication, requiredInclusive Service Delivery, requiredLearning Agility, requiredCustomer Service, nice to haveFuel Tax, nice to haveTax Research, nice to haveVendor Systems, nice to haveTraining Facilitation, nice to havePresentation Skills, nice to haveTeam Leadership, nice to have

Qualifications

Four Years Financial or Tax Experience, required12 Semester Accounting Hours, required18 Quarter Accounting Hours, requiredTwo Years Excise Tax Examiner 2, requiredOne Year Examiner 2 and Accounting or Auditing, requiredOne Year Microsoft Office Experience, requiredOne Year Regulatory Interpretation Experience, requiredBusiness or Related Education Substitute, requiredOne Year Fuel or Tax Program Experience, nice to haveOne Year Vendor Systems Experience, nice to haveOne Year Training Experience, nice to haveOne Year Lead Experience, nice to have

Full job description

We are dedicated to growing a culture of belonging through our values: Respect | Trust | Diversity | Inclusion | Equity

At the Department of Licensing (DOL), we recognize the importance of work life harmony and strive to create a culture where employees feel valued and respected. Our employees are trusted and encouraged to be a part of process improvements that impact their work, create value for our customers and help build trust in our government.

Our Prorate and Fuel Tax (PRFT) Services within our Business & Professions Division (BPD) is currently recruiting for an Excise Tax Examiner with expertise and interest in tax review, customer service and education.

Washington’s infrastructure requires considerable investment to ensure residents and visitors have safety, comfort, and simplicity as they move around the state. PRFT administers the state’s fuel tax collection programs, as well as the International Registration Plan (IRP) and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), collecting almost $2 billion in annual revenue for the state’s transportation programs to ensure investment continues in state roadways.Do you enjoy being a go-to resource, sharing your expertise, and helping a team navigate complex challenges? We encourage you to read on! As an Excise Tax Examiner, you will provide technical leadership and help staff build the knowledge and skills needed to resolve complex fuel tax reporting and refund issues. Working under general direction, you will serve as a key resource for the team, guide consistent decision-making, and support accurate and timely work. You will help strengthen daily operations and safeguard transportation revenue by sharing expertise, improving processes, and supporting staff through changes in laws, industry standards, and systems. Success in this position requires sound judgment, strong analytical skills, and the ability to explain technical information clearly in a collaborative, team-oriented environment. Some of what you will do:

  • Serve as the team’s technical lead, guiding staff through complex taxpayer accounts, returns, registrations, and financial transactions.

  • Help develop and deliver staff training on taxation, industry standards, processes, and systems, and provide individualized or group training for customers.

  • Research and resolve unusual tax issues, reconcile complex accounts, and help staff analyze customer information and apply laws, rules, and policies.

  • Serve as a system specialist, troubleshoot issues, enter and test system requests, and help customers and developers resolve electronic and XML filing problems.

  • Participate in system and process redesign, lead or support special projects, and prepare reports on workloads, benchmarking, and system information.

  • Review and approve refunds and make decisions on penalty and interest waiver requests within delegated authority.

What you will bring to the role:• Four (4) years of experience with financial, accounting, audit, compliance, or tax administration. This experience still requires you to have at least 12 semester or 18 quarter hours of accounting education.

Up to four (4) years of relevant education in business administration, public administration, law, public health, health administration, or a related field may substitute year for year for experience, but must include the accounting education listed above.

OR• Two (2) years of experience as an Excise Tax Examiner 2.

OR• One (1) year of experience as an Excise Tax Examiner 2 and one (1) year of accounting or auditing experience.

Experience Must Include:• One (1) year of intermediate to advanced experience using Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

  • One (1) year of experience interpreting laws, rules, regulations, policies, and assessing impacts.
  • The ability to:• Understand and follow agency values of respect, trust, diversity, equity and inclusion through behaviors and decisions.
  • Promote and support a respectful, equitable, and inclusive workplace for all employees.
  • Promote and support respectful, equitable, and inclusive delivery of services to customers.
  • Take action to learn and grow.
  • Take action to meet the needs of others.

What may help set you apart:• One (1) year of experience in Prorate and Fuel Tax Services or other fuel or tax related program.

  • One (1) year of experience navigating vendor systems to perform research inquiry, registration, and processing duties.
  • One (1) year of experience facilitating a group or developing and presenting training.
  • One (1) year of experience acting in a lead capacity in a work environment.

Additional conditions of employment:• This position requires a minimum in-office presence every Wednesday and Thursday at our Olympia, WA office, with the possibility of additional in-office days to meet training requirements.

  • Prior to a new hire, a pre-employment screening, including criminal record history, will be conducted. Information from the pre-employment check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

DOL is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. In keeping with our commitment, we will take the steps to assure that people with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. For information about available accommodations, the interview process, or the position contact Kyle Odell. Come join us in changing the way government delivers services and help build a legacy of commitment to and excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion!

How to Apply:• Select the apply button at the top of this job announcement.• Please Attach:

  • A Current Resume
  • A Cover Letter
  • Include a transcript if you are using your accounting credits to meet our required qualifications.

Incomplete applications may disqualify you from eligibility for the position. You must ensure all application areas, including supplemental questions, are completed in full.

Candidates who are offered a job with DOL must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

We value diverse perspectives and life experiences. We employ and serve people of all backgrounds including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and veterans. We value the unique traits and attributes that each employee brings to the job. Through the diverse perspectives of an inclusive workforce, we will create a more respectful, productive, and unified team to better serve the public of Washington.

Veteran/Military Spouse Preference Notice To take advantage of your veteran / military spouse preference please attach documentation of eligibility to your application.

The Washington State Department of Licensing is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

Persons requiring accommodation in the application process, during the recruitment process, or who need this job announcement in an alternative format, may contact the Human Resources Office at 360-902-4000 or may email [email protected]. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our ASL interpreter via Video Phone at 360.339.7344.

The candidate pool certified from this recruitment may be used to fill future similar vacancies for up to sixty days.

We do not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

How this job compares

Set against the 5,141 open Accounting jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 11, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$4,980–6,542/mo
  • Washington median$95–163K/yr67 salary ranges
  • US median$25–30/hr437 hourly ranges
Openings
Olive Jobs lists 90 open Accounting jobs in Washington and 5,141 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Washington
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Accounting postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 3,828 postings).
Education
2,537 of the 5,141 open Accounting jobs (49%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 11, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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