Accounting Careers Trainee(Target Class: Revenue Examiner 1)

Introduction

Eager to pursue a career in Accounting and auditing with the State of Connecticut?  Check out the opportunity below and apply today!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Revenue Services (DRS) has current openings and future anticipated openings for the position of Accounting Careers Trainee (ACT) with a target class of Revenue Examiner 1. 

The Accounting Careers Trainee is a training program targeted to college graduates to provide up to a two-year training program to develop the vital tools to work in the professional field of Revenue Examiners.

These exciting opportunities can be located in any one of our three dynamic locations throughout the state in Hartford, Norwich, or Waterbury. Our main building located at 450 Columbus Boulevard in downtown Hartford is a beautiful building located right in one of the most exciting parts of the city. The building is easily accessible to restaurants, shops, the Connecticut Science Center, and the Riverfront.

These positions are full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with potential Telework options and alternative work schedules.

Note: College students who are expecting to graduate with a bachelor’s degree at the conclusion of the Fall 2024 semester or the Spring of 2025 semester are encouraged to apply.  If recommended for a position, appointment will be made upon verification of having successfully earned the degree.

What our dedicated employees have to say about ACT: 

"When the position of an ACT at DRS was offered to me, I was excited and overwhelmed at the same time. However, when I started the job, I fell in love with the work environment. Everyone at DRS is so friendly and willing to help. What I love about the ACT program is the exposure to different tax types and the opportunity to learn and gain new skills every day. In addition, trainers and mentors are available whenever I need their help. I feel proud and lucky working for a governmental agency like DRS." 

-Faouzi Nemlaghi, Accounting Careers Trainee

"The ACT position provided me with the skills and training necessary to grow within the department; I enjoy making a difference everyday by working with local businesses to help guide and to help ensure state tax compliance now and for the future." 

-Karen Pollack, Revenue Examiner 2

Curious what a "Day in the Life" might look like for you? 

This is not your typical Tax Department. The days of large stacks of paper as tall as you, never ending red tape and a pocket protector full of pencils and erasers are gone. 

As you enter into our Accounting Careers Trainee program, with the use of the latest technology and process efficiency, you will be surprised to find yourself in the new world of government!

What we can offer you

• Explore our new State Employee Benefits Overview page to get an understanding of the various benefits we provide to our employees.
• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule! This recognition highlights our commitment to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment.
• Professional growth and development opportunities to enhance your skills and advance your career. We believe in investing in our employees' success.
• A healthy work/life balance is a priority for us. We are committed to fostering an environment that supports the personal and professional growth of all employees.

ACT Program Highlights

As an ACT, you will be a part of a 1- or 2-year training program depending on your level of education.

The length of the training program is 2 years for individuals with a Bachelor's degree in accounting or in a closely related business field with at least 15 semester hours in accounting. 

The length of the training program is 1 year for individuals with a Master's degree in accounting or a closely related business field with at least 15 semester hours in accounting. The length of the training program for an individual who earns a Master's degree in accounting or in a closely related business field with at least 15 semester hours in accounting while assigned to this classification is 1 year from the date the Master's degree is conferred or the end of the original 2-year training period, whichever comes first.

Throughout the training, you will:

• Gain intensive technical tax training, from a combination of classroom style training and job shadowing with experienced examiners within your expected career path. 
• Receive hands on training on multiple tax administration computer systems maintained by DRS and other state and federal taxing agencies. 
• Acquire customer service training through multiple methods of communication including telephone, written correspondence, and direct face to face interactions, in a Call Center environment. 

Some of the Subdivisions and Taxes you may get the opportunity to work in/with are:

• Business Tax Subdivision - Corporation Tax, Excise Taxes and Pass-Thru Entity
• Income Tax Subdivision - Personal Income Tax
• Sales & Use Tax - Sales Tax, Business Use Tax, Room Occupancy Tax and Admissions Tax
• Taxpayer Services - Call Center environment, handling routine & complex tax inquiries, and providing tax education to taxpayers. 

After successfully completing the training program, as a Revenue Examiner, you will:

• Complete desk audits and/or field audits for various tax types, such as Excise, Income, Corporation Business Tax and Sales Taxes. If assigned to perform field audits, in-state and/or out of state travel is required. 
• Independently conduct in-house examinations of tax returns and other tax related documents. 
• Educate taxpayers with respect to filing requirements, record keeping responsibilities and properly assessing taxes due. 

Salary plan

Minimum Requirements 

Hiring Rate

Completion of 1 year of Training

Bachelor's Degree with at least 15 
semester hours in accounting and/or qualifying experience

Step 3 - $58,311

Step 5 - $62,233

Bachelor's Degree with at least 30 
semester hours in accounting

Step 5 - $62,233

Step 7 - $66,170

Master's Degree in a related field
with at least 15 credits in accounting

Step 5 - $62,233

AR 23 Step 1 - $78,296

Master's Degree in a related field 
with at least 30 semester hours in accounting

Step 6 - $64,208

AR 23 Step 1 - $78,296

Important salary note

If in a 2-year training program and have a bachelor’s degree, after one year you will either advance to step 5 $62,233.00 annually (if you have least 15 semester hours in accounting and/or qualifying experience) or step 7 $66,170.00 annually (if you have at least 30 semester hours in accounting). Once you have successfully completed the training program, you will be promoted to Revenue Examiner 1, salary plan AR 23 step 1 with an annual salary of $78,296.00.

Important note

If you are a recommended candidate for a position with DRS, there are some things you need to know prior to being able to be formally offered a position with the Department:

1. ALL employees of the Department of Revenue Services are prohibited from engaging in the following:

• Preparation of tax returns in exchange for financial compensation.
• Work at a tax preparation service (either as an employee, contractor, subcontractor, self-employed individual, or other designation).
• Work at an accounting firm or similar type of business with responsibility for the preparation of tax returns (either as an employee, contractor, subcontractor, self-employed individual, or other designation).
• If you currently work in or perform any of the above, you will be required to cease those activities prior to your first day with the Department of Revenue Services should an official offer of employment be made to you.

2.  Other outside employment activities are not necessarily prohibited, however, if you are currently employed by, or have ownership in a business and intend to continue your employment/involvement with this outside business, you are required, prior to an official offer of employment, to disclose the nature of this outside employment including the name of the business, your role, your schedule, and whether you participate in or are responsible for the preparation of any financial or tax-related documentation on behalf of that outside business entity. 

Mission of the Department of Revenue Services

The mission of the Department of Revenue Services is to instill public confidence in the integrity and fairness of tax collection; achieve the highest level of voluntary taxpayer compliance; continuously improve agency performance; contribute to the fiscal and economic well-being of the state; and provide a positive and professional workplace.

Selection Plan

Accounting Careers Trainee positions are DRS's entry-level accounting positions and will spend 1 to 2 years in a training program depending on your educational level. In this training program you will be expected to train in different units throughout the agency, including but not limited to the DRS Call Center.

To apply

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

Important information after you apply

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• Candidates will be required to submit a copy of their accredited United States college transcripts or a US Degree Equivalency Assessment Report for a foreign degree prior to interview (if selected).
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check, including being fingerprinted, State and Federal tax compliance checks. 

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.

For technical questions regarding the filing of your application, please contact Benjamin Beaudry at Benjamin.Beaudry@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state agency this class is accountable for mastering the skills necessary to satisfactorily complete the training program for a professional accounting or auditing position.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Receives training in introductory accounting or auditing work for development of skills and knowledge in order to qualify for advancement into a professional agency accounting or auditing position;
• Performs a variety of increasingly difficult duties as skills are acquired during the course of the training period;
• Examines financial records of governmental or private businesses and accounting methods and procedures to ensure compliance with statutes, regulations, guidelines or accepted accounting principles;
• May receive training in such areas as maintaining financial records and accounts, establishing financial statements and schedules, and preparing budget estimates;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Knowledge of
  • accounting and auditing principles and practices; 
  • business mathematics and statistics;
  • business uses of information technology;
  • effective report writing;
• Ability to
  • read and understand written materials;
  • utilize computer software.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must be able to meet the experience and training requirements of the designated job class at the completion of the development program.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance;
• Experience with Microsoft Excel including functions such as tables and formatting, data manipulation and pivot tables;
• Experience analyzing financial statements and data, such as through course work, work experience or internships;
• Experience interacting with diverse groups of individuals through phone, email, and face-to-face communication.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.