NO APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE REQUIRED

Appointees who work in the five boroughs of New York City or in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, or Westchester Counties will receive an additional $3,026 annual downstate adjustment. Appointees who work in Dutchess, Orange, or Putnam Counties will receive an additional $1,513 annual mid-Hudson adjustment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: On or before the date of filing your application, you must have a bachelor's degree including or supplemented by 24 semester credit hours in accounting and/or auditing (See Notes #4 and #5) AND:

Either A: possession of a currently valid Certified Public Accountant license and registration issued by New York State;

Or B: two years of paid, full-time professional accounting and/or auditing experience as described below;

Or C: a master's degree in accounting AND one year full-time professional accounting and/or auditing experience as described below.

To be acceptable, experience for the "B" and "C" requirements must have been gained in any one or combination of the following:

1. As an accountant/auditor with responsibility for the full range of professional activities involved in the review, analysis, and management of accounting systems, resulting in the rendering of opinions or recommendations on financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Activities restricted to bookkeeping or preparing tax returns are not considered qualifying.
2. As an internal accountant/auditor with responsibility for conducting a full range of financial accounting/auditing activities for an entity. Activities limited to such duties as maintaining and/or auditing payroll records, accounts receivable or accounts payable are not considered qualifying.
3. As an accountant with ongoing responsibility for the design, implementation, and review of accounting systems.
4. As a professional staff member of a private accounting practice with broad experience in maintaining accounting books and records, completing financial statements, and preparing business and personal tax returns.
5. As a field auditor with a federal, state, or municipal agency, with the responsibility for performing comprehensive field audits to determine the compliance of individuals or businesses with the taxing jurisdictions laws, rules, and regulations.
6. As an accountant/auditor principally engaged in the analysis and/or interpretation of tax law.

NOTES:

1. Appropriate part-time and volunteer experience, which can be verified, will be accepted on a prorated basis.
2. New York State residence is not required.
3. Your degree and/or college credit must have been awarded by a regionally accredited college or university or one recognized by the NYS Education Department as following acceptable educational practices. You MUST ATTACH a photocopy of your college transcript(s) to the application included with this examination announcement. Attach separate undergraduate and graduate transcripts for each college attended. Transcript(s) must show your name; your student identification number; the name of the issuing school; the type of degree received, if any; the date your degree, if any, was conferred; full course names; grades earned for each course; and a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA). If your degree and/or college credit was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency and course-by-course evaluation. You can write to the Examination Information Desk of the Department of Civil Service for a list of acceptable companies who provide this service. You must pay the required evaluation fee.
4. The scope of this coursework must be accounting and/or auditing. Certain courses such as Business Law, although taken as part of accounting curriculum, are not counted towards the 24 credit hours.
5. Substitution: You must have a minimum of 18 credit hours in core accounting and/or auditing. Up to six semester credit hours of core coursework in a related field (taxation, finance, money and banking, economics, or business) may be substituted for accounting/auditing credits on a credit-for-credit basis to reach the 24 required credit hours. If you meet the minimum qualifications under "B" or "C" above, there is no substitution for the required experience.
6. If you have not done so already, you are strongly encouraged to apply for Examination Number 20-538 Tax Auditor Trainee 1. Applying for this examination may increase the chances that you are considered for appointment. If you possess a New York State Certified Public Accountant license or qualifying education and professional experience as described above in this examination announcement, applying for the Trainee-level examination will not affect your salary if you are appointed.

THE POSITIONS: Tax Auditor 1 positions exist at various locations in the New York State and Chicago, Illinois offices of the Department of Taxation and Finance. If you are interested in applying for a Tax Auditor 1 position in the Chicago, Illinois Office, please apply separately for exam #20-807.

DUTIES: Tax Auditors are assigned to the Department's Audit Division and perform field audits of the financial records of taxpayers to verify that businesses and individuals are in compliance with the tax laws, regulations, and rules of the State of New York. They are required to travel extensively in the performance of their duties, including overnight travel both within and outside of New York State. Such factors as tax specialty assignment (e.g., sales tax, personal income tax, corporation franchise tax, etc.) and office location will determine the extent of the overnight travel. Appointees must have a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State or otherwise demonstrate their ability to perform the required field audits, if public transportation is not available.

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: There will be no written test. If you meet the Minimum Qualifications, your education and experience will be evaluated against the general background/critical activities of the position. Complete all sections of the application and supplement. This questionnaire will be the only basis for rating your education and experience. Your score will be based on the following: overall grade point average; graduate level coursework or advanced degree; successful performance on NYS CPA qualifying examination; full-time, paid experience performing federal, state or municipal tax field audits as an employee of the taxing jurisdiction; and other full-time, paid accounting/auditing experience. It is essential that you describe your education and experience as completely as possible. Ambiguity, vagueness, or omissions will not be decided in the candidate's favor. If you need more space, attach additional 8 1/2 x 11" sheets, following the same format used on the application form. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application. All statements concerning education and experience are subject to verification. If references fail to respond or give contradictory information, you may be required to furnish written verification of the education and experience claimed. False statements or lack of verification may result in termination of employment.

Your final score must be 70 or higher in order to pass. Rank on the eligible list will be determined after adding any wartime veterans’ and Civil Service Law Section 85-a credits to your final passing score. We will update the eligible list and notify successful candidates of their final scores and eligibility dates on a periodic basis throughout the year. The names of successful candidates will remain on the eligible list for one year from the date eligibility begins.

CONDITIONS APPLYING TO THIS CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT EXAMINATION: This examination is being conducted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the New York State Department of Civil Service. Applications are accepted at any time. Qualified applicants may re-apply as frequently as every twelve months, but a new application AND all supplemental information and documentation will be required. Neither the Department of Taxation and Finance nor the Department of Civil Service is able to retain prior applications for future documentation purposes. Appeal of ratings will not be allowed as the opportunity for retest exists. The Department of Civil Service reserves the right to terminate this special recruitment program.

HOW TO APPLY: Use FORM OC-APP-3 #20541/20807/20542 and Supplement.

These forms contain updated information for individuals who may be entitled to extra credits based on wartime military service. Forms are also available (by mail or in person) from NYS Department of Civil Service, Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, Albany, NY 12239 or the Department of Taxation and Finance at the address below. State employees may obtain forms from their agency/facility personnel offices.

WHERE TO APPLY: Mail your completed application and supplement to: New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, Personnel Bureau, Room 256, Building 9, State Office Campus, Albany, NY 12227. DO NOT USE INTER-AGENCY MAIL. All statements you make on your application are subject to investigation.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

NEW YORK STATE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: It is the policy of the State of New York to provide for and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

Appointment to many positions in State government require candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This may include a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check, a Child Abuse Registry clearance, or other similar procedures. Candidates may be fingerprinted and may be required to pay any necessary fees for that procedure. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.

ELIGIBILITY FOR EMPLOYMENT: You must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS IN TESTING: In addition, it is the policy of the Department of Civil Service, in accordance with the New York State Human Rights Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, to provide qualified persons with disabilities equal employment opportunity and equal opportunity to participate in and receive the benefits, services, programs, and activities of the Department. It is the policy of the Department to provide such persons reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications as are necessary to enjoy equal opportunity. Persons with disabilities who require an accommodation to participate in an examination must note this on their applications. Further information is available from the Special Arrangements Unit of the Department of Civil Service at (518) 457-2487 [press 2, then press 2] in the Albany area, toll free at 1-877-697-5627 [press 2, then press 2], or via TDD (telecommunications device for the deaf) at (518) 457-8480.

NEW YORK STATE RESIDENCE IS NOT REQUIRED FOR MOST POSITIONS: However, you must be eligible for employment in the United States.

CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT/ELIGIBLE LISTS: Candidates who meet the qualifications and pass this examination will have their names placed on the eligible list in the order of final scores, regardless of the date on which they filed or took the test. Generally, the names of qualified candidates will remain on the eligible list for one year. Appeal of ratings will not be allowed as the opportunity for retest exists. The Department of Civil Service reserves the right to terminate this special recruitment program.

S4/SER-tlm
Reissued: 11/08

BE SURE TO USE THE SPECIAL APPLICATION FORM
WHEN APPLYING FOR THESE EXAMINATIONS