DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY

Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS)
Quality Assurance and Integrity Administration (QAIA)
1789 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

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.

Salary: $22.2090/ hourly ($46,194.72 annually) 

Grade: 19

Closing Date: Open until sufficient resumes are received.

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES), we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals that are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES, please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES’ video. Come join the DES Team!

The Department of Economic Security, Division of Employment and Rehabilitation Services (DERS) strengthens Arizona communities by bridging and minimizing gaps to employment and independence.

DES is seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as an Auditor 2 with the Quality Assurance and Integrity Administration (QAIA). The Auditor 2 conducts comprehensive independent evaluations and quality control audits of the State’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax operations. Utilizing the federally mandated TPS framework, the Auditor samples, analyzes, and reviews core operational streams, including Status Determinations, Cashiering, Report Delinquency, Collections, and Account Maintenance to ensure data integrity, operational efficiency, and strict compliance with state and federal regulations.

Travel will be required for State business. If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver's license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver's license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on State business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on State business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code [A.A.C.] R2-10-207.11).

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, 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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Coordinate and execute annual Tax Performance System (TPS) audits.
• Conduct interviews with management and frontline staff to map and document workflows and verify internal controls through on-site observations and process testing, exercising independent judgment to select methodologies that align with the federal TPS Handbook.
• Compile, analyze, and author the comprehensive TPS Annual Report for formal submission to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), and directly transmit final validated audit results, data streams, and state performance metrics to the DOL utilizing the federal UIRS platform.
• Compile detailed documentation of review findings, audit trails, and verification sources, and formulate data-driven process improvements to enhance agency performance against TPS timeliness, accuracy, and completeness benchmarks.
• Facilitate meetings and deliver presentations to UI Administration leadership to communicate TPS review results, address inquiries, and explain procedural impacts. Design and deliver targeted training to UI Tax personnel regarding updated regulatory requirements and modified work processes resulting from audit outcomes.
• Analyze federal Regional Office evaluation reports to ensure compliance and consistency with Arizona UI law, rules, and operating policies. Author official agency responses to federal oversight and draft strategic Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) to mitigate risks in underperforming tax functions.

Knowledge in:
• Federal and State Unemployment Insurance (UI) Tax laws, rules, operating policies, and procedures (specifically, Arizona UI statutes).
• Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) quality control standards, specifically the Tax Performance System (TPS) framework and evaluation manuals.
• Auditing standards, internal control validation, and risk assessment methodologies.
• Statistical analysis, data validation, and random/acceptance sampling techniques used in quality assurance.

Skill in:
• Performing highly detailed operational workflow analyses and evaluating complex internal control frameworks.
• Interpreting, analyzing, and applying complex state and federal UI tax regulations to daily operational streams.
• Oral and written communication to present technical audit findings, deliver training, and articulate program improvement recommendations clearly to executive leadership and staff.
• Planning, organizing, and managing audit milestones, including delegating technical tracking tasks to agency personnel during audit execution.

Ability to:
• Conduct independent, objective, and timely reviews of core UI tax functions in strict compliance with the federal TPS Handbook.
• Synthesize complex audit findings into formal, high-level annual reports and technical documentation for internal leadership and federal oversight agencies.
• Serve as a collaborative and professional liaison between state UI Administration and federal USDOL Regional/National oversight staff.
• Maintain the highest degree of accuracy, attention to detail, and systemic integrity across all evaluated program metrics.

The ideal candidate for this position will have:

• Minimum of 3-5 years of extensive professional experience within an Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, with a dedicated emphasis on UI Tax operations.
• Minimum of 2–3 years of professional experience conducting financial, operational, compliance, or performance audits, or other internal quality-control reviews, preferably within a government agency or regulated environment.

• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child.
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities

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

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact Liz Alarcon at (480) 521-0391 or email LizbethAlarcon@azdes.gov. 

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting (480) 521-0391 or emailing LizbethAlarcon@azdes.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.