[whopper]

Hello everyone!

I’ve come across some openings for a sales-tax auditor position under the State Comptroller. Does anyone know the pros/cons of this position (besides govt benefits lol)?

REG - 89, 04/29/13
BEC - 81, 08/06/13
FAR - 84, 12/19/13
AUD - 82, 10/05/13

[whopper]

Awesome! Sorry in advance if I bombard you with too many questions 🙂

1) How are the advancement opportunities? I heard that at a certain point, you hit a ceiling, is that true?

2) I was told I may need to go to court at a certain point to testify if a client is disputing sales tax due. Does the training offered prepare you for testifying in court? It sounds a bit intimidating (but exciting)

3) Are you eligible to do accounting work on the side (as long as the work does not happen to be for one of the clients)?

4) What % of the time are you traveling vs. at the home office? Are you ever permitted to work from home?

5) Can you tell me what you most/least enjoy about the job?

REG - 89, 04/29/13
BEC - 81, 08/06/13
FAR - 84, 12/19/13
AUD - 82, 10/05/13

[Anonymous]

Woah, did not think I would write this long…..oh well

1) How are the advancement opportunities? I heard that at a certain point, you hit a ceiling, is that true?

You will be automatically promoted based on the number of months in “grade.” For example, you will be promoted from Auditor I to II automatically in 12 months if all performance levels are “met.” Then from Auditor II to III in 15 months if all performance levels are “met”… The higher the Auditor level, the more months required to be promoted. However, if you obtain an “exceed” on your performance review, you can be promoted in a shorter amount of time. An “exceed” will get you from an Auditor I to II in 6 months and II to II in 9 months. This is current policy, but I believe they are changing it because of the new division manager and recent legislation.

2) I was told I may need to go to court at a certain point to testify if a client is disputing sales tax due. Does the training offered prepare you for testifying in court? It sounds a bit intimidating (but exciting)

I’ve always wanted to testify, but never had the opportunity because most of my taxpayers requested written submission. The hearing takes place at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) in front of an Administrative Law Judge. I’ve heard that it looks like a courtroom but is not as formal. You’d get a chance to fly/drive to Austin and stay in a hotel for the night. It shouldn’t be too bad. The hearing Attorney just wants you there as backup in case the taxpayer representative get all technical. You would have had already completed the audit and will be basing your responses from your audit plan. Make sure to document everything that goes on during fieldwork in your audit plan. The ALJs think of it as the bible. It’s the best way to show what exactly happened during the audit instead of attorneys assuming the facts.

3) Are you eligible to do accounting work on the side (as long as the work does not happen to be for one of the clients)?

I believe you will not be able to perform any tax work for an entity “engaged in business” in Texas. So pretty much if you live in Texas, you can’t do taxes for anyone there, as I assume they would be required to file a Texas tax return. I’m lucky to work in an out-of-state office so this “conflict of interest” won’t apply to me.

4) What % of the time are you traveling vs. at the home office? Are you ever permitted to work from home?

At the time of prior policy, as long as the field office manager was OK with you teleworking, you were able to do it. But now you would have to earn an “exceed” on your current performance review to have the privilege.

As far as overnight travel goes, it really depends on each field office. Since I work out of state, I travel quite frequently. At one point, I had stayed 55 nights in a hotel for one year. But the “in-state” offices are a whole different ball game. The first few years you might be kept local. I prefer doing all the work at the taxpayer location, rather than bringing documents to the field office. Plus you would want to travel to the taxpayer office because you will be reimbursed 55 cents each mile. It might sound little, but the miles add up quick.

5) Can you tell me what you most/least enjoy about the job?

When I first started, the travel was most exciting. I was fresh out of college and able to go to different states all on the government’s dime. But now after 5 years every hotel looks the same.

If you show to your supervisor that you want to be challenged and take on big assignments they will definitely accommodate you. The first year I was auditing Fortune 500 companies all by myself.

The least enjoying part of the job is the documentation. The audit process is very simple and fun. I enjoy researching taxability issues and writing taxability letter. But documenting every single action you took in the field can be very tedious.

Which field office will you be working?

[Anonymous]

Woah, did not think I would write this long…..oh well

1) How are the advancement opportunities? I heard that at a certain point, you hit a ceiling, is that true?

You will be automatically promoted based on the number of months in “grade.” For example, you will be promoted from Auditor I to II automatically in 12 months if all performance levels are “met.” Then from Auditor II to III in 15 months if all performance levels are “met”… The higher the Auditor level, the more months required to be promoted. However, if you obtain an “exceed” on your performance review, you can be promoted in a shorter amount of time. An “exceed” will get you from an Auditor I to II in 6 months and II to II in 9 months. This is current policy, but I believe they are changing it because of the new division manager and recent legislation.

2) I was told I may need to go to court at a certain point to testify if a client is disputing sales tax due. Does the training offered prepare you for testifying in court? It sounds a bit intimidating (but exciting)

I’ve always wanted to testify, but never had the opportunity because most of my taxpayers requested written submission. The hearing takes place at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) in front of an Administrative Law Judge. I’ve heard that it looks like a courtroom but is not as formal. You’d get a chance to fly/drive to Austin and stay in a hotel for the night. It shouldn’t be too bad. The hearing Attorney just wants you there as backup in case the taxpayer representative get all technical. You would have had already completed the audit and will be basing your responses from your audit plan. Make sure to document everything that goes on during fieldwork in your audit plan. The ALJs think of it as the bible. It’s the best way to show what exactly happened during the audit instead of attorneys assuming the facts.

3) Are you eligible to do accounting work on the side (as long as the work does not happen to be for one of the clients)?

I believe you will not be able to perform any tax work for an entity “engaged in business” in Texas. So pretty much if you live in Texas, you can’t do taxes for anyone there, as I assume they would be required to file a Texas tax return. I’m lucky to work in an out-of-state office so this “conflict of interest” won’t apply to me.

4) What % of the time are you traveling vs. at the home office? Are you ever permitted to work from home?

At the time of prior policy, as long as the field office manager was OK with you teleworking, you were able to do it. But now you would have to earn an “exceed” on your current performance review to have the privilege.

As far as overnight travel goes, it really depends on each field office. Since I work out of state, I travel quite frequently. At one point, I had stayed 55 nights in a hotel for one year. But the “in-state” offices are a whole different ball game. The first few years you might be kept local. I prefer doing all the work at the taxpayer location, rather than bringing documents to the field office. Plus you would want to travel to the taxpayer office because you will be reimbursed 55 cents each mile. It might sound little, but the miles add up quick.

5) Can you tell me what you most/least enjoy about the job?

When I first started, the travel was most exciting. I was fresh out of college and able to go to different states all on the government’s dime. But now after 5 years every hotel looks the same.

If you show to your supervisor that you want to be challenged and take on big assignments they will definitely accommodate you. The first year I was auditing Fortune 500 companies all by myself.

The least enjoying part of the job is the documentation. The audit process is very simple and fun. I enjoy researching taxability issues and writing taxability letter. But documenting every single action you took in the field can be very tedious.

Which field office will you be working?

[whopper]

I can't thank you enough! This is exactly what I was needing to make my decision!

I received an offer to work for TX. The benefits are outstanding and I really like that they have a 4 month training program. My old job usually just threw people to the wolves right away and it could be a quite a headahe sometimes.

As far as not being able to perform any tax work for an entity “engaged in business' in Texas, would I be able to perform nontax work (i.e. Quickbooks)?

REG - 89, 04/29/13
BEC - 81, 08/06/13
FAR - 84, 12/19/13
AUD - 82, 10/05/13

[whopper]

I can't thank you enough! This is exactly what I was needing to make my decision!

I received an offer to work for TX. The benefits are outstanding and I really like that they have a 4 month training program. My old job usually just threw people to the wolves right away and it could be a quite a headahe sometimes.

As far as not being able to perform any tax work for an entity “engaged in business' in Texas, would I be able to perform nontax work (i.e. Quickbooks)?

REG - 89, 04/29/13
BEC - 81, 08/06/13
FAR - 84, 12/19/13
AUD - 82, 10/05/13

[whopper]

Also, do you know if the entire 4 month training course is in Austin?

REG - 89, 04/29/13
BEC - 81, 08/06/13
FAR - 84, 12/19/13
AUD - 82, 10/05/13

[whopper]

Also, do you know if the entire 4 month training course is in Austin?

REG - 89, 04/29/13
BEC - 81, 08/06/13
FAR - 84, 12/19/13
AUD - 82, 10/05/13

[Anonymous]

I interviewed for a tax auditor job. For us the comptrollers doesn't audit taxes other divisions do, comptrollers usually means auditing government agencies and state pension stuff. I am not sure why they audit taxes in Texas. State jobs are very hard to get and once your out you are out for good usually so take it and never turn back.

Generally you travel 1 week out of the month and a lot of it can be over night and on weekends. The traveling can be pretty intense but aside from that your work schedule should be way better then big 4. Also state pension and benefit plans are great if you stay with the state you don't even have to bother saving for retirement. I'm surprised the awesome state jobs aren't talked about on here more but I think it's because most people don't take the CPA exam who work for the state.

I'll give you a quote about how much better this job is then the big 4 jobs. This was from a guy I meant at a career fair who moved from PWC to tax auditor. He said that when he worked at PWC he was working 80 hour weeks and that he could never see his girlfriend. So he moved to tax auditor so he wouldn't have to work such ridiculous hours, now he said he was making just slightly under what his friends who are managers make and he has way better benefits while only working a 40 hour work week.

If you are that ambitious you can't handle just having 1 job then this probably isn't the job for you. The state doesn't like you to have more than 1 job and wants you to get approval for anything else you get paid for. You could potentially get fired for trying to do other things. Also you shouldn't be taking other jobs when you are expected to travel like that.

[Anonymous]

I interviewed for a tax auditor job. For us the comptrollers doesn't audit taxes other divisions do, comptrollers usually means auditing government agencies and state pension stuff. I am not sure why they audit taxes in Texas. State jobs are very hard to get and once your out you are out for good usually so take it and never turn back.

Generally you travel 1 week out of the month and a lot of it can be over night and on weekends. The traveling can be pretty intense but aside from that your work schedule should be way better then big 4. Also state pension and benefit plans are great if you stay with the state you don't even have to bother saving for retirement. I'm surprised the awesome state jobs aren't talked about on here more but I think it's because most people don't take the CPA exam who work for the state.

I'll give you a quote about how much better this job is then the big 4 jobs. This was from a guy I meant at a career fair who moved from PWC to tax auditor. He said that when he worked at PWC he was working 80 hour weeks and that he could never see his girlfriend. So he moved to tax auditor so he wouldn't have to work such ridiculous hours, now he said he was making just slightly under what his friends who are managers make and he has way better benefits while only working a 40 hour work week.

If you are that ambitious you can't handle just having 1 job then this probably isn't the job for you. The state doesn't like you to have more than 1 job and wants you to get approval for anything else you get paid for. You could potentially get fired for trying to do other things. Also you shouldn't be taking other jobs when you are expected to travel like that.

[Anonymous]

@whopper – I don't about doing general accounting work on the side and if it becomes a conflict of interest. You can look into that once you start.

The first few months are real easy. You will attend Basic Audit Training (BAT) the first 3-4 months. The State basically holds your hand and walks you through the entire audit process. The first week is spent at your local office doing admin paper work.The second week will be in Austin for you to take your picture for the badge, fill out more paper work, and listen to guest speakers from various departments. Then I believe you spend two weeks at your local office, then one week at another training facility with all the other new hires. This cycle is continued for the rest of the training duration. The training is completed in the city that has the most new hires. For example, if in this hiring cycle the State hired 30 people and 15 are coming from Dallas. Then the training will take place in Dallas to conserve on travel costs. But it's always going to be two weeks in your local office, then one week wherever they decide to group all the new hires together.

If you do decide to take on the position, have fun in BAT!!

[Anonymous]

@whopper – I don't about doing general accounting work on the side and if it becomes a conflict of interest. You can look into that once you start.

The first few months are real easy. You will attend Basic Audit Training (BAT) the first 3-4 months. The State basically holds your hand and walks you through the entire audit process. The first week is spent at your local office doing admin paper work.The second week will be in Austin for you to take your picture for the badge, fill out more paper work, and listen to guest speakers from various departments. Then I believe you spend two weeks at your local office, then one week at another training facility with all the other new hires. This cycle is continued for the rest of the training duration. The training is completed in the city that has the most new hires. For example, if in this hiring cycle the State hired 30 people and 15 are coming from Dallas. Then the training will take place in Dallas to conserve on travel costs. But it's always going to be two weeks in your local office, then one week wherever they decide to group all the new hires together.

If you do decide to take on the position, have fun in BAT!!

[Anonymous]

hey candlemass, arent you the guy who said you couldnt get any interviews for accounting jobs and didnt know what an accounting clerk was?

….

[Anonymous]

hey candlemass, arent you the guy who said you couldnt get any interviews for accounting jobs and didnt know what an accounting clerk was?

….

[Anonymous]

lol well this was back when I was in college and I understand taxes and finance very good so that's generally my strength as an accountant when it gets into auditing and processes is when I kind of break down because of no real world experience

I did not internships per say but volunteer work with the state comptrollers, department of transportation, and non profits so I've never been in a business environment

[Anonymous]

lol well this was back when I was in college and I understand taxes and finance very good so that's generally my strength as an accountant when it gets into auditing and processes is when I kind of break down because of no real world experience

I did not internships per say but volunteer work with the state comptrollers, department of transportation, and non profits so I've never been in a business environment

[Author]

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