Auditor III

This position works within the Personal Property & Business License Division.

Responsibilities

• Performs complex audits and administrative tax appeals of Business, Professional and Occupational License tax (BPOL) and Business Personal Property tax (BPP) returns.
• Designs and implements team audits, provides technical guidance to other staff regarding the research of taxpayer records and state/county laws, regulations, and case histories.
• Conducts sensitive interviews/field investigations to gather pertinent information and records/documentation.
• Assists in establishing criteria for the selection of returns or businesses for audit and in the development of division-wide audit practices and procedures.
• Conducts in-depth and detailed research projects to determine the impact of pending state and federal legislation in the area of specialty.
• Researches and interprets drafts technical bulletins, internal memorandums, and state rulings.
• May appear in court as an expert witness.
• Contacts businesses and their representatives to advise them of and to schedule audits, obtain accounting records and other financial information, and to discuss audit findings, which may include additional taxes, penalties, and interest.
• Assists the discovery and compliance staff in the resolution of complex tax matters related to compliance with the tax laws.
• Performs other research and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

• Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field, with major coursework in accounting, auditing, or finance.
• Three years of professional experience in auditing or accounting.
• Valid driver’s license.

The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a driving record check, and a credit check to the satisfaction of the employer.

Preferred Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles, methods, and practices combined with thorough knowledge of management principles, methods, and practices.
• Two or more years of experience working for a local or federal government in tax, auditing, accounting, or finance.
• Three or more years of experience in conducting audits of both large and small businesses.
• Three or more years of experience in auditing financial statements used in the preparation of business income tax returns.
• Three or more years of experience preparing and/or interpreting business income tax returns.
• Two or more years of experience in interpreting state and county codes to determine proper tax implications.
• Two or more years of experience interpreting and using state and local tax laws, regulations, and departmental policies and procedures, including business personal property tax laws and Business Professional & Occupational License codes, exemptions, and similar regulations.
• Two or more years of experience in conducting peer reviews and actively participating in working group sessions.
• Two or more years of experience in handling various time-sensitive audit projects and completing them in a timely manner.
• Strong research, writing, and presentation skills.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and evaluate accounting data and complex tax issues in order to make findings and/or recommendations, then communicating them clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Outlook) and ability to work effectively with minimum supervision.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) preferred.

Schedule

This position requires a flexible schedule, including the ability to work overtime during peak seasons or as business needs demand.

Physical Requirements

• Position is basically sedentary; requires some walking, standing, and carrying of items up to 40 lbs in weight.
• Ability to drive a motor vehicle.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

Selection Procedure

Panel interview and may include an exercise.

Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, and we encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.