Tax & License Field Auditor

Tax & License Field Auditor

Salary

$82,888.00 - $100,734.40 Annually

Location

Tacoma, WA

Job Type

Classified

Job Number

0530-26

Department

Finance

Opening Date

08/27/2026

Closing Date

9/17/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Position Description

The City of Tacoma is seeking a dynamic and motivated individual for the position of Tax and License Field Auditor. As a Tax and License Field Auditor, you will play a crucial role in ensuring business compliance with city tax and license ordinances while carrying out essential accounting duties.

Responsibilities:

• Perform audits and investigations of business entities to assure taxpayer compliance with City Tax & License codes

• Review and analyze financial records, reports and documents of taxpayers; verify gross income; determine correct amount of business and occupational taxes due to the City

• Conduct audits in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards, the City Code, applicable State and federal laws and prevailing court decisions

• Prepare clear and comprehensive audit reports; present audit scope and reasoning used in reaching decisions; prepare working papers and other supporting documentation

• Utilize a variety of specialized auditing techniques to evaluate accounting systems and internal controls, to determine gross income and to verify and interpret source documents

• Conduct audit entrance conferences with taxpayers to discuss the scope and depth of the audit; maintain communication with taxpayers to fully develop pertinent facts and information; conduct exit conferences to report findings and discuss issues and adjustments

• Maintain current knowledge of court cases and new statutes related to tax regulations

• Providing input to the City Attorney when preparing legal briefs and/or court arguments when a tax matter is appealed; attend court hearings and provide direct testimony as needed

• Examine and review a variety of tax returns for technical accuracy and proper classification and reporting; contact taxpayer for additional information as needed

• Determine audit issues, scope, depth and appropriate examination procedures

• Occasionally provide outreach and education related to tax and license codes to businesses and business organizations throughout the City

This position primarily involves office-based work with occasional site visits to businesses. During fieldwork you will drive to various locations to view and tour business operations and/or meet with taxpayers. Flexible working hours may be needed at times requiring work during evenings or weekends.

If you have a passion for accounting, an eye for detail, and a desire to contribute to the City's financial integrity, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity!

Qualifications

An equivalent combination to: graduation from an accredited college or university with a four-year degree in finance, business administration or related field AND two years’ experience in professional ledger review and auditing work including experience in revenue auditing.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Valid Washington State driver's license with maintenance thereafter.

Knowledge & Skills

• Generally Accepted Auditing Standards

• Accounting principles, techniques and procedures

• Municipal, State and federal tax regulations

• Record-keeping techniques

• Prepare clear and comprehensive audit reports

• Conduct conferences with taxpayers to explain procedures and audit findings

• Analyze and interpret a variety of financial records, reports and documents

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing

• Read, interpret, apply and explain codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures

• Work confidentially

• Maintain records and prepare report

• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others

• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action

• Plan and organize work

• Operation of a computer terminal and various software applications

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

City of Tacoma’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation. If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

Apply

Interested City of Tacoma current employees should apply online and attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to the supplemental questions evaluated by a panel of subject matter experts. These questions will be scored on the basis of the information provided; therefore, it is the responsibility of the applicant to carefully list all pertinent experience and training. The evaluation committee will not have access to the candidate's application. Providing false information will result in disqualification. Candidates must pass this evaluation in order to be placed on the eligible list for interview and hiring consideration.

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the Neogov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:

Hourly Rate: $39.85- $48.43

Annual Salary: $82,888.00 - $100,734.40

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma (https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/human-resources/employee-benefits/)

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age 26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

01

Responses to supplemental questions must be original content created by the applicant using their own words. The use of online tools or resources to create responses, such as Artificial Intelligence (ChatGPT, etc.), Google, Bing, etc., or plagiarism in any form, is considered cheating and falsification of the application. I understand that any form of cheating or falsification will disqualify my application for further consideration.

• Yes

• No

02

Do you have an equivalent combination to graduation from an accredited college or university with a four-year degree in finance, business administration or related field AND two years' experience in professional ledger review and auditing work including experience in revenue auditing? (Please note education and experience can be substituted on a year for year basis)

• Yes

• No

03

Do you have public sector experience?

• Yes

• No

04

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING TEST:

Questions #5-7 are the experience and training test that will be used to establish the eligibility list. These questions will be scored by subject matter experts who will not have access to any of your application materials, and will provide scores based solely upon your answers to the questions. Your answers must stand on their own merit. DO NOT RESPOND WITH "SEE RESUME" in lieu of answering this question, as raters will not have access to your resume or application and this will result in a score of 0 points and you will fail the test. Your score on the experience and training test will ONLY reflect your response to the questions asked.

Please indicate "Yes" that you have read and understand the instructions for questions #5-7.

• Yes

• No

05

In 250 words or less, describe your audit, research, data analysis, and investigation skills and techniques.

06

In 250 words or less describe why you believe auditing is a necessary component in the Finance arena.

07

Compose a response to Auto Repair Taxpayer using only the information provided in the link below: Click Here (https://cms.cityoftacoma.org/HR/Recruitment/FieldAuditor.pdf)

Greetings Tax & License: I own a business and need help understanding how to complete my tax return. My business just started and does auto repair services at a small shop in south Tacoma. I specialize in foreign cars but will fix just about anything with a motor if the price is right. I am proud to say I did $288,000 in retailing auto repairs last year. It has always been my goal to own a successful business in Tacoma! I am not an accountant however and need some assistance. How do I calculate my taxes owed? Will you please let me know how much I owe in City taxes for last year? Thank you, Auto Repair Taxpayer

Please note: Do not use your real name in your response. You may use the name "Auditor" for your salutation.

08

Please tell us how you learned about this job opening.

• Job Interest Card notification

• Internet search

• Professional organization

• Military organization

• Union job posting

• City of Tacoma employee

• Online job board posting

• Word of mouth

• LinkedIn

• SEED

• TTEP (Tacoma Training and Education Program)

• Indeed

• Facebook

• Instagram

• Careers in Government

• Government Jobs

• NWPPA

• Outreach Event

09

Please provide specific information regarding how you learned about this job opening. Thank you, your feedback will be used to evaluate our success reaching the public and refine our methods for future job postings.

Required Question

Employer

City of Tacoma

Address

Human Resources Department 747 Market Street Tacoma, Washington, 98402-3764

Phone

253-591-5400

Website

http://www.tacoma.gov

Apply

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