Address: (Recruiter to key in) Division/Unit Name
Address City ST ZIP

Salary: 62400

Grade: 23

Closing Date: 4/7/2026

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 Arizonas 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 departments 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 States 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.

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 Generals 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/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 clerks 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 laymans 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 ADORs 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

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 Bachelors 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 Bachelors Degree in accounting or closely related field AND two (2) years experience as an Auditor or equivalent
Minimum one year experience with the Departments GenTax Tobacco Tax registration and reporting system.

Licenses & Certifications
Valid US State-Issued Drivers License

Bachelors degree in management legal or accounting
Previous experience with AZ tobacco tax statutes

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:Drivers License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

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 programhere. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona please visit our benefits page

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
Top ranked Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) provides 100% employer matched contributions (enrollment eligibility will be effective after 27 weeks of State employment). ASRS provides a lifelong benefit based on years of service earned or worked and your ending salary.

Learn more about ASRS at: Us:

If you have any questions need assistance or would like to request a reasonable accommodation please contact the ADOR Talent Team at

*The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.