Lead Tobacco Tax Auditor

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE Funding Arizona’s future through excellence in innovation, exceptional customer service and public servant-led continuous improvement. All Arizona State employees operate within the Arizona Management System (AMS), an intentional, results-driven approach for doing the work of state government. Our goal is for every ADOR team member to reflect on individual and team performance, reduce waste, and commit to continuous improvement with sustainable progress. Through AMS, every ADOR team member seeks to understand customer needs, identify problems, improve processes, and measure results. TOBACCO TAX COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST 3 Job Location: Address:  (Recruiter to key in)  Division/Unit Name Address, City, ST ZIP Posting Details: Salary: 62,400  Grade: 23 Closing Date: 4/7/2026 Job Summary: The Lead Tobacco Tax Specialist serves as the team lead, subject matter expert, and an escalation point-of-contact for the Tobacco Tax Compliance Auditors and Field Auditors, who is responsible for performing complex audit and customer service work for the Tobacco Tax Team by providing educational outreach to applicable taxpayers to ensure compliance with Arizona’s tobacco tax laws, statutes, rules, and regulations. This role is responsible for the review of tobacco tax returns and the processing of refunds and rebates, working with taxpayers to address payment issues, and providing timely notifications to taxpayers regarding noncompliance, penalties, and license enforcement actions. This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures. The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and 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. Job Duties: Lead - Serves as a team lead for Tobacco Tax Compliance Auditors within the unit to include: - Subject-matter expert within the their respective unit - First point of escalation for junior team members - Workflow coordination of junior team members - Peer mentor to junior team members - Provides "backup" monitoring for supervisor, as needed - Contributes toward positive team culture - Develops procedures and training materials to assist with team training - Tax Administration, Research, and Analysis - Performs the STEP returns role in processing rebate and refund cases, creating the requisite knowledgebase to achieve the ability to assist taxpayers with return/rebate filing questions required of the licensees - Serves as a point of contact for determining the eligibility of license applications for consideration and obtains a detailed understanding of the conditions of licensure - In collaboration with the Attorney 4, Bingo, Liquor, and Tobacco Tax coordinates statute enforcement efforts and processes taxpayer protests of appealable departmental actions - Timely review of tobacco tax returns to ensuring accuracy and compliance with Arizona tobacco tax laws, statutes, rules, and regulations - Process tax refunds and rebates and address payment issues while applying statutory requirements and Department of Revenue policies and standards - Prepare reports, correspondence, memoranda, and miscellaneous technical materials - Propose system functionality updates to management - Aid in the development and enforcement of tax compliance procedures and policies - Assist in the production of relevant documents to the Attorney General’s Office for use in enforcing Arizona tobacco laws and obligations under the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement - Research, analyze, and apply applicable tax law appropriately to all cases, audits, and tax returns, as assigned - Collect and analyze data to detect discrepancies in return filings that may be non-compliant with tobacco tax laws, rules, regulations, and/or policies - Consult with appropriate legal counsel, as needed Service Delivery - Proactively makes outreach efforts via phone, email, etc. to educate taxpayers on tobacco tax law compliance - Provide timely and clear notification to taxpayers regarding noncompliance, penalties, and license enforcement actions - Assists taxpayers with the utilization of the Arizona Luxury Tax Online electronic filing system - Communicate with taxpayers, attorneys, auditors, and management regarding compliance and application of applicable statutes, rules, and regulations Agency Representation - Participate in formal and informal conferences and appeal hearings before the Office of Administrative Hearings - Agency Compliance & Continuous Improvement - Remains current on applicable laws, regulations, policies, and best practices related to building access through regular engagement in activities such as: self-directed research, conferring with other practitioners and technical experts; subscriptions to regulatory/legal/industry newsletters and briefs; membership industry associations and attendance at meetings/events; and or participation in training and others continuing education opportunities. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs): Knowledge/Understanding Knowledge of Arizona Tobacco tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations, and department policies Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) Understanding of taxpayer monthly filing requirements Understanding of AZ tribal tobacco tax processes, including stamp color sales requirements, taxpayer reporting requirements and registered tribal retailer information requirements Understanding of the STEP clerk’s role in processing license applications, determining the eligibility of applications for consideration and obtaining a detailed understanding of the conditions of licensure Skills Strong verbal, written, and listening communication skills Effective organization and time management skills with the ability to make measurable progress on multiple priorities Strong interpersonal skills and demeanor Strong proficiency in researching, analyzing, and interpreting tax law and communicating it in layman's terms Proficient in the use of a PC/laptop in a Windows environment; in the use of the Internet; and in the use of Google Suite applications such as Gmail, Sheets, Docs, and Drive Proficient in the use of tax reporting systems Abilities Ability to clear a comprehensive background and clearance process that includes an Arizona tax compliance verification, and a criminal background check through the FBI via level one fingerprint clearance through the Arizona Department of Public Safety Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy and also participate collaboratively as part of a team Ability to work in a confidential manner, ensuring information is shared with internal and external individuals in an appropriate manner Ability to perform monthly compliance testing of taxpayer returns to determine any violations of requirements Ability to understand and solve problems by applying advanced analytical skills to include collecting all the relevant information and data needed to address the problem; organizing, classifying and synthesizing the data into fundamental issues; from the information, identifying the most probable causes of the problem; reducing the information down into manageable components; identifying the logical outcomes from the analyses of the data collected; and, identifying the options and solutions for addressing the problems analyzed. Ability to travel up to 5% of the time for court appearances/testimonies Willingness and ability to embody ADOR’s core values of Do the Right Thing, Commit to Excellence, and Care About One Another Additional Job Demands In the course of performing the essential duties one must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. May experience exposure to adverse environmental conditions during travel Selective Preference(s): Education & Experience Option A or B: Any combination that meets the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA); typical ways KSAs are obtained may include but are not limited to: a relevant degree from an accredited college or university such as Bachelor’s Degree (e.g., B.A.), training, coursework, and work experience relevant to the assignment AND minimum three (3) years’ related experience as an Auditor, or equivalent experience A Bachelor’s Degree in accounting or closely related field AND two (2) years’ experience as an Auditor or equivalent Minimum one year experience with the Department’s GenTax Tobacco Tax registration and reporting system. Licenses & Certifications Valid US State-Issued Driver’s License Bachelor’s degree in management, legal or accounting Previous experience with AZ tobacco tax statutes Pre-Employment Requirements: The final candidate will be required to abide by the the following pre-employment checks: Employment Verification and Reference Checks State and Federal Criminal Background Check, including fingerprinting Arizona Tax Filing Records Check If applicable, ASEDRA Authorized Driver Identification Check If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements. All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). Benefits: 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 Retirement:   Contact Us: If you have any questions, need assistance, or would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the ADOR Talent Team at [email protected] *The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.