Public Benefits Specialist 3 (Spanish Optional)
State of Washington
FreshPosted Jan 15
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Posted: January 15, 2026 (1 day ago)
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ES Benefits Specialist 3: UI Field Audit
State of Washington
Employment Security Department
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$60,132 - $80,820
per year
Type
Full Time
More Human Resources jobs →Closes
January 30, 2026More State jobs →
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
This job involves auditing employers to ensure they follow unemployment insurance rules, investigating businesses that might be cheating the system, and helping them understand how to comply.
It's perfect for someone who loves digging into financial details, communicating clearly, and serving the public with honesty and fairness.
You'll mostly work from home but may need to travel occasionally for on-site checks.
Key Requirements
- Conduct financial audits using GAAP, GAAS, and GAGAS to verify employer compliance with state and federal regulations
- Review employer records, processes, and documentation to identify discrepancies and calculate owed amounts, interest, and penalties under RCW 50a
- Independently investigate inactive, unregistered, or non-compliant employers, including those in the underground economy or misclassifying workers
- Travel to business sites as needed to perform investigations and audits
- Prepare detailed reports on audit findings and provide education/technical assistance to employers and stakeholders
- Demonstrate strong analytical skills, integrity, and communication to support public service and regulatory enforcement
Full Job Description
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This position is currently scheduled for telework, but the incumbent may need to report to the office in Olympia a few times a year based on business and management needs.
The ideal candidate for the ES Benefits Specialist 3: UI Field Audit role is a detail-driven professional who thrives in environments where accuracy, accountability, and public service intersect.
They bring a strong sense of integrity to their work and understand the importance of upholding ESD’s core values while representing the Employer Audit Team.
Their commitment to fairness and proper practices ensures they approach each audit with objectivity, professionalism, and a genuine desire to support the agency’s mission.
This individual excels at conducting comprehensive financial audits and navigating complex regulatory requirements with confidence.
They are skilled at independently investigating employers, whether inactive, unregistered, or suspected of significant non-compliance, and can interpret federal and state guidelines with precision.
Their analytical mindset allows them to identify discrepancies, assess risk, and make sound determinations that protect the integrity of Washington’s unemployment insurance programs.
Equally important, the candidate is an effective communicator who can translate technical requirements into clear, actionable guidance.
They are patient and collaborative when educating employers and supporting internal and external customers, ensuring compliance is both understood and achievable.
Through partnership, professionalism, and a commitment to service, they strengthen the Employer Audit Team and contribute meaningfully to timely, accurate benefit delivery across the state.
Requirements
Conduct audits of employer records to determine compliance with federal and/or state requirements. This includes:
- Conduct audits of employer records in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), and Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) to ensure compliance with state requirements
- Review employer processes to verify adherence to regulations by examining records, reports, operating practices, and supporting documentation
- Perform complex reviews of financial records to confirm accuracy and compliance with RCW 50a, calculate amounts owed, and apply interest and penalties as required
Independently investigate businesses that are inactive, not registered, and/or those registered ESD employers where there is suspicion of significant non-compliance. This includes:
- Actively identify unregistered and inactive employers within statutory timeframes, as well as employers with closed accounts suspected of non-compliance
- Investigate businesses suspected of participating in the underground economy, focusing on those paying workers off the books or misclassifying employees
- Travel to business sites when necessary to conduct investigations
Educate employers and internal/external customers and provide technical assistance to meet regulatory requirements. This includes:
- Prepare accurate and comprehensive reports of audit findings, including documentation and recommendations regarding the need for audit expansion or follow-up
- Conduct entrance and exit conferences or interviews with employers
- Present audit results to employers and explain any required corrective actions
To request a detailed position description, click here.
Qualifications
- 6 years of equivalent education/experience as detailed below
- OR 1 year as an ES Benefits Specialist 2
- OR 1 year of experience equivalent to the ES Benefits Specialist 2 with another state that administers insurance benefits programs
- OR Associate’s degree in a health or social science, public administration or a related field AND 4 years of the required experience below
- OR Bachelor’s Degree in a health or social science, public administration or a related field AND 2 year of the required experience below
- OR Master’s Degree in a health or social science, public administration or a related field AND 1 year of the required experience below
Required equity competencies:
- The ability to take action to learn and grow
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others
The required experience includes:
- Regulatory Knowledge & Communication Skills: Proficiency in explaining complex regulations clearly
- Quality Assurance & Review Skills: Ability to assess and ensure accuracy in casework
- Adaptability & Multitasking Skills: Flexibility to manage varied responsibilities
- Analytical & Investigative Skills: Expertise in analyzing claim documentation for accuracy.
- Audit & Quality Assurance Expertise: Proficiency in conducting thorough evaluations of casework
- Employer Outreach & Compliance Promotion Skills: Proficiency in advising on program requirements
- Auditing to assess accuracy: Data analysis to interpret findings, problem-solving to resolve discrepancies, regulatory knowledge to ensure compliance, and decision-making to apply necessary adjustments.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.
Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy.
Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents.
Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.
responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.
Additional Information
Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship.
We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities.
Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.
Opportunity for All
We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity.
Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Caleb Baldwin or at 253-306-2999 or the Talent Acquisition Team, prior to the position closing.
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.
This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.
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