Tax Examiner 3

State of Montana•Missoula, MT

About The Position

UI Contributions Field Representatives provide regulatory compliance reviews and education to Montana employers and serve as a liaison between employers, third-party administrators (accounting firms, payroll providers, etc.) and UI Contributions. If you have accounting, payroll, and/or financial auditing experience and you enjoy working in a regulatory environment while serving the citizens of Montana, this job could be for you.

Requirements

Interpret Rules and Statutes: Ability to apply theories, methods, laws and rules in complex situations including application of basic accounting and auditing principles and procedures, business law and payroll reporting. Knowledge of Unemployment Insurance tax law/rule specifically is preferred but not required.
Effectively Communicate and Build Relationships: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including active listening, to validate perspectives and foster collaboration. Strong interpersonal skills to bridge gaps between employers and the department and build positive relationships under potentially challenging circumstances.
Apply sound professional judgement: Ability to apply sound judgment in sometimes adverse situations and work analytically under stress while extracting information using various interviewing techniques.
Effectively organization and prioritize workload: Strong skill in working independently with the ability to be self-motivated and highly organized.
Successfully navigate complex software: Intermediate level experience with Microsoft Word and Excel is required. Experience with mainstream accounting software packages would be highly advantageous.
Five (5) years of demonstrated experience with advanced accounting and/or payroll reporting principles. Demonstrated experience can include but is not limited to accounting, payroll, and/or financial auditing work experience.
Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate and build relationships with a variety of audiences
Demonstrated ability to interpret state and federal law and rules
A degree in accounting or business or coursework that includes advanced level accounting may supplement relevant professional experience but is not a substitute for demonstrated skills and competencies in the areas noted above. Equivalent combinations of education and directly related experience will be considered.
Must have a valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of Unemployment Insurance tax law/rule specifically is preferred but not required.
Experience with mainstream accounting software packages would be highly advantageous.

Responsibilities

Conduct employer UI tax audits in accordance with the US Department of Labor's quality standards and effective audit measures.
Examine employer financial records, tax returns, and other legal documents to ensure employee wages are reported correctly to UI.
Research employment relationships to identify potentially misclassified wages
Prepare comprehensive audit reports and identify findings
Collect delinquent employer quarterly payroll reports and associated taxes
Act as a local liaison for UI Contributions, and other department services, by developing relationships and providing employer education opportunities on topics such as UI tax law and rules, reporting requirements, and electronic reporting tools.

Benefits

Work/life balance with hybrid schedules or partial telework may be available within the state of Montana.
38 paid days off a year including vacation, sick leave and holidays.
Military leave: You’ll get up to 15 days of military leave with full pay.
Longevity raises with continuous service, as well as any negotiated market increases and state statutory raises.
Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, flexible spending accounts, EAP
Free telehealth and access to free employee medical clinics through our medical plan
Choice between two retirement plans with an employer contribution between 8.73%25 - 9.07%25 of your annual salary. A third optional 457(b) deferred compensation plan is also available.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness
Career progression, training opportunities and room for professional growth.
State employee discounts at various businesses across the state.
This position may be eligible for a statutory $1.00 an hour base pay increase effective on July 1, 2026.
This position may be covered by a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA)