Tax Auditor I

The City of Oakland is an equal-opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.     

Why join the City of Oakland Finance Department?
This is the best time to join our team! The Revenue Audit Unit within the Finance Department is currently recruiting to fill two (2) vacancies to support our growing need for services. The Revenue Management Bureau collects and audits all taxes, fees, and revenue sources within the City.  The City of Oakland is a learning organization, committed to developing talent and assisting in the personal and professional growth of our team members. Your unique experiences will be an important contribution to our success and a positive impact on the Oakland community.


We are looking for someone who is:

• Detail Orientated: You will be expected to accurately perform detailed work in a time-efficient manner.
• A strong critical thinker: You will need to review and analyze financial records and use good judgment to draw sound conclusions in different situations.
• An Excellent Communicator: You will need to provide clear, concise, and tactful communication, both verbally and in writing, to taxpayers and members of the public.
• Self-motivated: You will be expected to take initiative and use your resources to solve problems.
• Professional: You will be expected to adhere to high standards of behavior in the course of your work by demonstrating integrity and objectiveness.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Conducting office and field audits of taxpayers to determine the correct amount of tax in accordance with the Oakland Municipal Code and Federal and California Tax Laws.
• Reviewing financial records and determining business tax.
• Preparing detailed audit reports for business tax, real property transfer tax, vacant property tax, and business tax refunds.
• Working directly with taxpayers or their representatives to obtain and analyze relevant facts and make appropriate determinations that are fair and impartial.
• Answering general questions and inquiries from the public about the Oakland Municipal Code and the City’s tax schedules.

Read the complete job description for Tax Auditor I by clicking here.
Click here to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!  

A few reasons you might love this job:

• Your work will directly impact the City’s ability to provide important services to a community with a rich and dynamic history.
• You will be working in Downtown Oakland, a lively urban neighborhood, with easy access to BART and other transportation hubs.
• You will have excellent opportunities for growth and development with a clear pathway for advancement.
• You will join a strong team and a positive working environment with team members who are helpful, understanding, and willing to share their knowledge and expertise.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will need to multi-task in a high-volume environment and stay organized to complete multiple assignments simultaneously.
• You will assist taxpayers, accountants, attorneys, and bookkeepers and inform them about City of Oakland Municipal Ordinances, policies and procedures, and applicable California laws.
• You will need to analyze different kinds of business tax records and financial statements, which may vary between businesses, to determine the revenue subject to license taxation.
• You will need to present your audit findings at the Board of Review or Appeals Hearing, in a more formal setting, as needed.

Competencies Required:

• Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data 
• Fact Finding: Obtaining facts and data pertaining to an issue or question
• Mathematical Facility: Performing computations and solving mathematical problems
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding and using written information
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Learning Agility: Seeking learning opportunities and applying the lessons to one’s work
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
• Customer Focus: Attending to the needs and expectations of customers
• Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals 

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

This is a public contact position. The City highly encourages all bilingual candidates to apply!  Some positions may require bilingual skills in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin. Under the authority of Civil Service Rules Section 5.03, if a position requires bilingual language skills, only those candidates who have indicated they are bilingual in the required language(s) will be referred. Bilingual candidates will be required to successfully pass a language proficiency test if selected for hire. 


Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may acceptable:

Experience:
None required.

Education:
A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, business administration, economics, or a related field;

OR

An Associate's degree with core course completion in one of the above fields and two years of experience in license field inspection may be substituted.


Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience in tax preparation, accounting, or auditing
• Experience with Federal or State auditing
• Experience working in the public sector or a government setting
• Experience working with the public
• Possession of a valid California Driver's License 

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position. 

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.  

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications. 

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.

For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to take an online multiple-choice test. You will have 7 days to complete the test once the link is sent to your email. This is tentatively planned to launch during the week of May 1, 2025.

For some recruitments, more than one type of assessment may be used. Depending on the number of candidates who pass the first assessment (multiple-choice test, structured interview, writing exercise, performance exam) you may be asked to complete a secondary assessment before the recruitment is finalized. If a secondary assessment is scheduled, you will be notified by email with specific details. If a secondary assessment is not scheduled, department hiring interviews will occur during this time frame. 

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.  

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

 Disaster Service Workers:
All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Salary : $74,449 - $91,447