ES Benefit Specialist 3: Tax and Wage-Rates Unit/Lead-Internal Only

This position is mainly virtual but may be required to come into the office for occasional trainings and meetings as requested.

This position is only open to internal Employment Security Department Employees only.

The ideal candidate for the ES Benefit Specialist 3 – Lead role in our Rates section is a seasoned unemployment insurance professional who brings deep expertise in tax rates, benefit charging, and the application of complex RCWs and WACs.

They demonstrate strong analytical ability, advanced problem-solving skills, and a commitment to protecting the integrity of the UI trust fund. A healthy UI trust fund is an integral part of paying unemployment benefit to claimants. Their foundation in accounting principles, regulatory interpretation, and employer account management enables them to navigate intricate tax issues with accuracy and confidence.

This candidate excels as a trainer, mentor, and technical resource. They are skilled at developing and delivering training on tax systems, benefit charges, separation reasons, and annual tax rate assignments. The incumbent will develop and provide technical training in tax rates and benefit charges, interpreting laws & regulations, and customer service. They will coach and mentor Tax Specialists of varying abilities regarding law/policy and procedures. The ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative environment, supporting team members, reviewing work for accuracy, identifying training gaps, and ensuring consistent application of policy and procedure across the Rates Unit.

Finally, the ideal candidate is a steady, reliable leader who contributes to unit performance, workflow management, and quality assurance. They are comfortable acting as a lead worker—assigning tasks, checking work, planning workloads—and stepping in for the supervisor when needed. They communicate effectively with employers, internal partners, and external stakeholders, even in challenging situations. They communicate with internal and external customers including uncooperative customers in stressful situations and provide clear guidance on regulatory requirements and appeal rights. Their adaptability, equity-focused mindset, and commitment to accuracy make them an essential contributor to the Rates Unit’s mission of ensuring employers receive correct tax rates and equitable benefit charge decisions.

Develop and provide technical training in tax rates and benefit charges, interpreting laws & regulations, and customer service. This includes:

• Work closely with Rates supervisor to assist with training, orienting, directing, and coordinating the work of Tax Specialists

• Perform user acceptance testing for Rates program changes to ensure the correct actions are taken without unintended consequences

• Review work of Tax Specialists for accuracy and completeness. Monitor and correct the work of team members to ensure compliance with established departmental policies and procedures

Process Tax Rate review requests and relief of benefit charges. This includes:

• Assist Tax Specialists in investigating and resolving complex relief of benefit charging issues

• Identify training gaps and training needs

• Review team member recommendation of tax rate recalculations. Identify training gaps and training needs

Assist supervisor in monitoring quality, performance, and productivity of Tax Specialists. This includes:

• Assign and monitor work of team members to ensure agency and unit goals and standards are met

• Assist supervisor in the formulation of tax procedures, processes, and updates

• Assist supervisor to ensure performance goals are met and unit tasks are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Assist supervisor in identifying unit backlogs and prioritization of resources to reduce those backlogs

To request a detailed position description, click here.

• 6 years of equivalent education/experience of the required experience below

• OR 1 year as an ES Benefits Specialist 2

• OR 1 year of experience equivalent to the ES Benefits Specialist 2 with another state that administers tax programs

• OR An associate’s degree in a health, social science, public administration, business administration, accounting, law, or a related field AND 4 years of the required experience below

• OR Bachelor’s Degree in a health, social science, public administration, business administration, accounting, law, or a related field AND 2 years of the required experience below

• OR A master’s degree in a health, social science, public administration, business administration, accounting, law, or a related field AND 1 year of the required experience below

AND

• A minimum of 12 semesters or 18 quarter hours of college-level accounting

Required equity competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow

• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others

The required experience includes:

• Adaptability & Multitasking Skills: Flexibility to manage varied responsibilities

• Advanced Problem-Solving & Advising: Skill in addressing complex issues and providing guidance

• Data Analysis: to verify calculations, attention to detail to ensure accuracy, regulatory knowledge to comply with laws, problem-solving to resolve discrepancies, and communication skills to report findings

• Regulatory Knowledge & Communication Skills: Proficiency in explaining complex regulations clearly

• Subject Matter Expertise: Proficiency in navigating intricate employer account matters

• Working Knowledge of financial and accounting principles and practices; the analysis and reporting of financial data including GAAP and GAAS (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards)

• Workload & Quality Monitoring: Ability using available data to monitor workload and ensure quality outcomes

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check

Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy. Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.

Please submit your Cover Letter and Resume, and Transcripts with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Caleb Baldwin or at 253-306-2999 or the Talent Acquisition Team, prior to the position closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact [email protected] or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.

This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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