L&I Financial Examiner 3 - Certification Services Unit Supervisor

State of Washington; Tumwater (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is seeking a Financial Examiner 3-Certification Services Unit Supervisor to lead complex audits and financial examinations of self-insured employers across Washington. You will plan, conduct, and supervise risk-focused audits, applying GAAP concepts and policy interpretations to ensure compliance and financial integrity.

The role emphasizes analytical rigor, cross-team communication, and mentoring staff, with a hybrid work model and a

Qualifications

• Seven years of qualifying professional experience in accounting, auditing, or industrial insurance underwriting with emphasis on financial/loss analysis.
• Bachelor’s degree with major study in finance, business administration, economics, or accounting including 12 sem/20 qtr hours of accounting/finance/economics and three years of qualifying experience.
• Master’s degree in accounting or MBA with 24 sem/36 qtr hours in accounting/finance/economics and two years of qualifying experience.

Responsibilities

• Review self-insured employers’ financial stability and compliance with WA State self-insurance/workers’ compensation rules.
• Plan, conduct, and lead analysis of regulated self-insure employers.
• Take action against non-compliant self-insureds, including penalties or loss of certification.
• Prevent and detect losses from default; pursue recovery from surety, excess insurance, or bankruptcy.
• Conduct audits of workers’ compensation trusts and test reserve adequacy.

Skills

Critical thinking

Analytical skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Prioritization

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree with accounting/finance/economics coursework

Master’s degree in accounting or MBA with accounting/economics coursework

12 sem or 20 ch hours in accounting/finance/economics

Tools

Excel

SharePoint

Job description

Our Mission: Keep Washington Safe and Working!
Our Values: Customer Focus, One L&I, Respect, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Learning and Growth, Reliability

Please Note: This opportunity and is open to current Labor & Industries employees only.
If you apply and are not a current employee, you will not be considered.

Job Highlights

Are you a detail-oriented individual who possesses knowledge of accounting, auditing, and financial analysis? Are you looking for an opportunity to provide excellent customer service and work on a positive, goal-oriented team? If so, don’t miss this opportunity. You have the chance to make a difference by joining our team as the next Financial Examiner 3-Certification Services Unit Supervisor.

The Certification Services Unit processes applications for self-insured employers and manages their workers’ compensation accounts in Washington State. In this position, you will be the lead auditor and financial examiner in charge of independently planning, conducting, and overseeing the most complex risk-focused audits and financial examinations and analysis of self-insured employers throughout the state of Washington.

Why Work for us:

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health, and security of Washington's workers. We help employers meet safety and health standards and inspect workplaces when alerted to hazards. As administrators of the state's workers' compensation system, we are similar to a large insurance company providing medical and limited wage-replacement coverage to workers who suffer job-related injuries and illness. Our rules and enforcement programs help ensure workers are paid what they are owed, that children and teens' work hours are limited, and that consumers are protected from unsound business practices.

Insurance Services is the largest division within the agency and administers one of the premier workers’ compensation organizations in the nation serving over 3.8 million employees working for 260,000 employers.

The Insurance Services Self-Insurance program is dedicated to supporting employers and protecting workers by providing impartial oversight and timely, expert services to all employers in Washington State that elect to administer and pay their own workers’ compensation claims.

Here is what we are looking for:

• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex information clearly and succinctly in a way that is easy to understand for a variety of audiences both orally and in written format.
• Your organizational skills and attention to detail to coordinate to lead, direct, and monitor the work of others to ensure activities are completed in a timely manner with accuracy and quality.
• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple tasks with competing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and build rapport with others to contribute to team cohesion and positive, respectful working relationships.

• Ability to review, independently interpret, analyze, and apply specialized program policies and procedures to draw sound conclusions and make recommendations based on data.
• A motivated problem-solver who actively seeks solutions to a variety of business questions and concerns.
• Proficiency utilizing Microsoft Office applications with specific expertise in Excel and SharePoint.

Some of what you will do:

• Review self-insured employers’ financial stability and determine whether they are or are not in compliance with applicable WA State rules and laws related to self-insurance and workers’ compensation.
• Plan, conduct, and lead analysis of regulated self-insure employers.
• Take action against self-insured employers who do not comply with all rules and laws that could lead to penalties and or withdrawal of their self-insurance certification.
• Prevent and detect losses due to default and issue orders seeking recovery of funds from available surety, excess insurance and bankruptcy action.
• Conduct audits of workers’ compensation trusts, testing the adequacy of pooled funds to meet expected claim liabilities.
• Review high-level transactions of existing self-insurers and other businesses, such as stock or asset only acquisitions, mergers, and joint ventures, to determine whether the resulting entity may continue to self-insure or must surrender their certification.
• Establish expectations and conduct timely performance appraisals and progress reports. Use formal and informal methods to monitor and track each employee’s performance.
• Ensure processes and tasks are well defined. Train, mentor and work check new employees.
• Develop strategies and provide technical assistance to self-insured employers to help them assess and control their risks.
• Analyze employer annual report of claim expenditures and reserves to determine employers’ claim liabilities.
• Prepare and present information for the Insolvency Trust Advisory Board.

• And much more!

Required:

• A total of seven years of qualifying professional experience in accounting, auditing, or industrial insurance underwriting, with an emphasis on financial and/or loss analysis development, including 12 semester or 20 quarter hours of accounting, finance or economics.

OR

One of the following qualifications applies:

• A Bachelor’s degree with major study in finance, business administration, economics, or accounting including at least 12 semester or 20 quarter hours of accounting, finance, or economics classes AND three (3) years of qualifying professional experience in accounting, auditing, or industrial insurance underwriting, with an emphasis on financial and/or loss analysis development.

OR

• Master’s degree in accounting or business administration with a minimum of 24 semester or 36 quarter hours in accounting, finance, or economics AND two (2) years of qualifying professional experience in accounting, auditing, or industrial insurance underwriting, with an emphasis on financial and/or loss analysis development

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Desired:

• Experience with General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), surety calculation, leading others and debt collection.

Things You Need To Know

At L&I, your voice matters. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Watch this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

L&I provides a modern work environment and excellent benefits including paid leave, tuition reimbursement, Infants at Work Program and a generous retirement package for qualified employees at the end of their career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.

We value our employees and their work-life balance. We support a hybrid work model and offer flexible custom work schedules. This position is eligible for a flexible schedule (4/10’s, 9/80’s, 5/8’s, etc.) upon approval by management.

For this position, teleworking is permitted up to full time with the expectation of working from the office on occasion to attend in-person meetings, training, or upon business needs. The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater, Washington.

Background Check Notice

Prior to placement in this position, a background check, including criminal history records will be conducted. Information from your background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining your eligibility to perform the requirements of the position.

Other information

• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• This position is represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.
• Please note: L&I may use this announcement to fill multiple permanent and/or non-permanent positions.

Did You Know?

Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s [e-mail].

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contributes to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency