What are the responsibilities and job description for the Tax Auditor/Senior Tax Auditor position at City of Mesa?
Description/Duties
The current recruitment will be used to fill one (1) vacancy at either the Tax Auditor or Senior Tax Auditor level.
First review of all applications will be on Monday, August 10, 2026.
Tax Auditor ($61,822.80 - $88,572.85 annually)
A Tax Auditor is the entrance level of the professional tax auditing class series and is primarily responsible for auditing Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT), also known as sales tax. The employee performs responsible, professional work in the auditing of financial records of businesses to calculate sales/TPT and Use Tax liability; determining compliance with established policies, procedures, codes, and ordinances (“laws”); and generating tax revenues for the City and other Arizona taxing jurisdictions. This class performs related duties as required.
The work assigned to the Tax Auditor class involves the acquisition and application of professional knowledge and judgment. This class is distinguished from the Senior Tax Auditor class in that the latter handles advanced level audits requiring well-developed professional knowledge of accounting theory, and investigative and reconstructive accounting skills that are utilized when records are incomplete, poorly kept, or extremely complex. This class is supervised by the Tax Audit Supervisor through work papers, reports, and conferences. Employees in this class may progress by noncompetitive promotion to a Senior Tax Auditor after successfully completing original City probation, being employed a minimum of one year as a City of Mesa Tax Auditor, meeting the specific criteria-based promotion requirements, and meeting the minimum qualifications of the Senior Tax Auditor classification. This class is FLSA exempt-administrative.
Senior Tax Auditor ($75,134.38 - $107,644.37 annually)
The Senior Tax Auditor is primarily responsible for performing professional Transactional Privilege Tax (TPT) auditing work, known as sales tax, involving on-site field audits of businesses located both in and out of the City that are liable for sales/TPT and Use Tax under the City of Mesa and State of Arizona codes/regulations/ordinances/statutes (“laws”). Duties include: auditing financial records of taxable businesses to calculate sales/TPT and Use Tax liability; determining compliance with established policies, procedures, and tax laws; and generating tax revenues for the City of Mesa and other Arizona taxing jurisdictions. This class performs related duties as required.
The Senior Tax Auditor is distinguished from the Tax Auditor by the responsibility for performing journey-level TPT auditing duties, whereas the Tax Auditor is an entry level classification. Employees in this class must be able to comprehend and interpret City of Mesa TPT and Use Tax laws, as well as Federal, State of Arizona, and other Arizona municipalities' TPT and Use Tax laws. The position requires a high level of communication skills since a written comprehensive report, which may be the basis for legal action, is prepared for each audit detailing the procedures followed, facts discovered, and determinations made based on these facts and applicable TPT laws. The position also assists in the training of less experienced auditors, primarily in a field setting during actual TPT audits. Employees in this class may be required to travel both in and out-of-state in order to complete assignments. Employees may progress to this classification via noncompetitive promotion after successful completion of original City probation, a minimum of one year as a City of Mesa Tax Auditor, and meet both the specific criteria-based promotion requirements and the minimum qualifications of the Senior Tax Auditor classification. This class is supervised by the Tax Audit Supervisor and is FLSA exempt-administrative.
Please refer to the links below for the full job descriptions and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.
Qualifications & Requirements
Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.
Tax Auditor:
Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, and/or experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Auditing, or closely related area. Some (6 months - 1 year) experience performing full-time, professional-level accounting or general auditing duties.
Special Requirements. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License within 90 days of hire or promotion date. Requires the use of a personal vehicle on City business. Requires valid liability insurance with minimum statutory coverage within 90 days of hire or promotion date.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Proficiency in the use of a personal computer (PC), including Windows-based software, such as Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Pro is highly desirable.
Senior Tax Auditor:
Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, and/or experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Auditing, or a closely related area. A minimum of three years full-time, professional-level accounting or general auditing experience.
Special Requirements. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License within 90 days of hire or promotion date. Requires the use of a personal vehicle on City business. Requires valid liability insurance with minimum statutory coverage within 90 days of hire or promotion date.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Proficiency in the use of a PC, including Windows-based software, such as Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Pro is highly desirable.
Tax Auditor:
Link to Job Description
apps.mesaaz.gov/JobDescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4227.pdf
Senior Tax Auditor:
apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4551.pdf
A Summary of City of Mesa Benefits is linked here.
01
Do you have a Bachelor's Degree (or higher) in Accounting, Auditing, or closely related field? **To receive education credit, you MUST fully detail your degree(s) and major(s) on your application. Information provided only on a resume will NOT be considered.**
How many years of experience do you have performing full-time, professional-level accounting or general auditing duties? Please detail your experience on your application.
Please describe your experience in professional-level accounting or general auditing duties below; include employment dates and names of employer(s). If none, type N/A. **To receive credit, you MUST fully detail this experience on your application. Incomplete applications or responses such as "see resume" will not be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed, detailed application.**
04
Both positions require use of a personal vehicle. Will you have access to a personal vehicle on a regular basis in order to conduct City business?
Do you have a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License, or can you obtain one by hire or promotion date?
Please describe your proficiency using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Pro. If none, type N/A.
The current recruitment will be used to fill one (1) vacancy at either the Tax Auditor or Senior Tax Auditor level.
First review of all applications will be on Monday, August 10, 2026.
Tax Auditor ($61,822.80 - $88,572.85 annually)
A Tax Auditor is the entrance level of the professional tax auditing class series and is primarily responsible for auditing Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT), also known as sales tax. The employee performs responsible, professional work in the auditing of financial records of businesses to calculate sales/TPT and Use Tax liability; determining compliance with established policies, procedures, codes, and ordinances (“laws”); and generating tax revenues for the City and other Arizona taxing jurisdictions. This class performs related duties as required.
The work assigned to the Tax Auditor class involves the acquisition and application of professional knowledge and judgment. This class is distinguished from the Senior Tax Auditor class in that the latter handles advanced level audits requiring well-developed professional knowledge of accounting theory, and investigative and reconstructive accounting skills that are utilized when records are incomplete, poorly kept, or extremely complex. This class is supervised by the Tax Audit Supervisor through work papers, reports, and conferences. Employees in this class may progress by noncompetitive promotion to a Senior Tax Auditor after successfully completing original City probation, being employed a minimum of one year as a City of Mesa Tax Auditor, meeting the specific criteria-based promotion requirements, and meeting the minimum qualifications of the Senior Tax Auditor classification. This class is FLSA exempt-administrative.
Senior Tax Auditor ($75,134.38 - $107,644.37 annually)
The Senior Tax Auditor is primarily responsible for performing professional Transactional Privilege Tax (TPT) auditing work, known as sales tax, involving on-site field audits of businesses located both in and out of the City that are liable for sales/TPT and Use Tax under the City of Mesa and State of Arizona codes/regulations/ordinances/statutes (“laws”). Duties include: auditing financial records of taxable businesses to calculate sales/TPT and Use Tax liability; determining compliance with established policies, procedures, and tax laws; and generating tax revenues for the City of Mesa and other Arizona taxing jurisdictions. This class performs related duties as required.
The Senior Tax Auditor is distinguished from the Tax Auditor by the responsibility for performing journey-level TPT auditing duties, whereas the Tax Auditor is an entry level classification. Employees in this class must be able to comprehend and interpret City of Mesa TPT and Use Tax laws, as well as Federal, State of Arizona, and other Arizona municipalities' TPT and Use Tax laws. The position requires a high level of communication skills since a written comprehensive report, which may be the basis for legal action, is prepared for each audit detailing the procedures followed, facts discovered, and determinations made based on these facts and applicable TPT laws. The position also assists in the training of less experienced auditors, primarily in a field setting during actual TPT audits. Employees in this class may be required to travel both in and out-of-state in order to complete assignments. Employees may progress to this classification via noncompetitive promotion after successful completion of original City probation, a minimum of one year as a City of Mesa Tax Auditor, and meet both the specific criteria-based promotion requirements and the minimum qualifications of the Senior Tax Auditor classification. This class is supervised by the Tax Audit Supervisor and is FLSA exempt-administrative.
Please refer to the links below for the full job descriptions and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.
Qualifications & Requirements
Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.
Tax Auditor:
Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, and/or experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Auditing, or closely related area. Some (6 months - 1 year) experience performing full-time, professional-level accounting or general auditing duties.
Special Requirements. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License within 90 days of hire or promotion date. Requires the use of a personal vehicle on City business. Requires valid liability insurance with minimum statutory coverage within 90 days of hire or promotion date.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Proficiency in the use of a personal computer (PC), including Windows-based software, such as Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Pro is highly desirable.
Senior Tax Auditor:
Minimum Qualifications Required. Any combination of training, education, and/or experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Auditing, or a closely related area. A minimum of three years full-time, professional-level accounting or general auditing experience.
Special Requirements. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License within 90 days of hire or promotion date. Requires the use of a personal vehicle on City business. Requires valid liability insurance with minimum statutory coverage within 90 days of hire or promotion date.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Proficiency in the use of a PC, including Windows-based software, such as Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Pro is highly desirable.
Tax Auditor:
Link to Job Description
apps.mesaaz.gov/JobDescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4227.pdf
Senior Tax Auditor:
apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4551.pdf
A Summary of City of Mesa Benefits is linked here.
01
Do you have a Bachelor's Degree (or higher) in Accounting, Auditing, or closely related field? **To receive education credit, you MUST fully detail your degree(s) and major(s) on your application. Information provided only on a resume will NOT be considered.**
- Yes
- No
How many years of experience do you have performing full-time, professional-level accounting or general auditing duties? Please detail your experience on your application.
- None
- Some but less than 6 months
- 6 months or more but less than 1 year
- 1 year or more but less than 3 years
- 3 years or more but less than 5 years
- 5 years or more but less than 7 years
- 7 years or more
Please describe your experience in professional-level accounting or general auditing duties below; include employment dates and names of employer(s). If none, type N/A. **To receive credit, you MUST fully detail this experience on your application. Incomplete applications or responses such as "see resume" will not be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed, detailed application.**
04
Both positions require use of a personal vehicle. Will you have access to a personal vehicle on a regular basis in order to conduct City business?
- Yes
- No
Do you have a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License, or can you obtain one by hire or promotion date?
- Yes
- No
Please describe your proficiency using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Adobe Acrobat Pro. If none, type N/A.
- Required Question
Salary : $61,823 - $88,573