Within the Employment Security Department, serves as a designated lead worker for at least three subordinate Tax Specialists of which one must be at the Tax Specialist 3 - ES level and performs senior-level professional unemployment insurance (UI) tax duties in the central office tax unit; OR, serves as the principal assistant to the administrator of a district tax office where there is not an assigned assistant administrator; OR, serves as the designated audit program specialist responsible for coordinating the audit program for a district tax office.

Assigns, reviews and monitors work of professional staff;

Monitors and evaluates unit operations and aids in the formulation of tax procedures and processes to ensure compliance and attainment of federal DLA's and agency standards;

Assists in developing training plans and trains tax staff in laws, rules, policies and procedures;

Investigates and reviews waiver requests and approves or denies in accordance with RCW's and WAC's;

In complex cases, acts as inter-agency liaison, coordinates appeals with the Office of Administrative Hearings and acts as the department expert witness;

Conducts testing of the annual tax rate run process and audits the quarterly benefit charges for system integrity and accuracy;

Provides expert technical assistance and training to District Tax Offices, JSC's, employers and employer representatives;

Assists in drafting UI Circulars, Tax Branch Circulars, and Tax Branch Memorandum;

Performs other duties as required.

Knowledge of: theory and practice of accounting and auditing; departmental laws and rules relating to Unemployment Compensation; office policies and procedures.

Ability to: provide technical assistance to employers in establishing appropriate account reporting requirements; analyze employer accounts and financial statements and make proper determinations; establish and maintain effective working relationships; write clear and concise correspondence and reports.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

One year as a Tax Specialist 3 - ES or two years as a Tax Specialist 2 - ES.


A Bachelor's degree which includes a minimum of 12 semester or 18 quarter hours of college-level accounting and three years of professional accounting or auditing experience.

Additional professional-level accounting or auditing experience will substitute, year for year, for education except for the 12 semester or 18 quarter hours of college-level accounting.

NOTE: Only accounting courses transferable to a Washington State degree granting institution will be acceptable as equivalent college-level accounting.

New class: 10-15-93.
New class code: (formerly 16145) effective July 1, 2007.
Abolished job class adopted June 22, 2023, effective July 1, 2023. See ES Benefits Specialist series.