Senior Specialist, Tax

Overview

The Senior Sales & Use Tax Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely administration of U.S. sales and use tax, Canadian GST/QST, Superfund Excise tax, and Unclaimed Property compliance activities and provides technical expertise and operational support across the organization. This position serves as a subject matter expert on sales and use tax matters, including taxability determinations, compliance, reconciliations, audits, exemption documentation, research, and process improvement.

The Senior Sales & Use Tax Specialist works independently on complex assignments, identifies and resolves tax issues, partners with Accounting, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Procurement, Customer Service, Plant Operations, and other business functions, and provides guidance to ensure transactions are appropriately taxed and tax compliance requirements are met.

This role is also expected to identify opportunities to improve efficiency through technology, automation, and process enhancements and to support the ongoing optimization of sales and use tax systems and processes.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, and file assigned U.S. sales and use tax, Canadian GST/QST, and Superfund Excise tax returns accurately and timely.
• Calculate and remit sales and use tax liabilities in accordance with applicable state and local requirements.
• Prepare bi-weekly Superfund Excise tax payments.
• Perform monthly/quarterly account reconciliations and investigate and resolve variances between tax returns payments and SAP tax accrual accounts.
• Monitor tax accruals, adjustments, payments, and other activity to ensure appropriate accounting and reporting.
• Research and resolve discrepancies between OneSource tax system, SAP data, and tax reporting.
• Maintain supporting documentation and workpapers for compliance and audit activities.
• Assist with auditor responses for state audits.
• Monitor filing requirements, registrations, tax rates, and jurisdictional changes.
• Provide technical guidance to internal business partners regarding sales and use tax requirements.
• Provide tax exemption certificates to stakeholders.
• Maintain and monitor sales and use tax exemption documentation.
• Research exemption certificate requirements by jurisdiction.
• Provide timely and knowledgeable sales and use tax support to internal stakeholders.
• Partner with Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Procurement and Accounting teams to resolve tax-related issues.
• Proactively identify potential tax issues and communicate recommended solutions.

  Senior-Level Responsibilities

  • Independently manage complex sales and use tax assignments with limited supervision.
  • Serve as a resource and subject matter expert for other team members.
  • Take ownership of issues from identification through resolution and follow through to ensure corrective actions are implemented.
  • Prioritize multiple deadlines and competing requirements while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
  • Exercise sound judgment when evaluating tax issues and determining appropriate courses of action.
  • Escalate significant risks, exposures, and unresolved technical matters to management with clear recommendations.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Tax, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in sales and use tax, indirect tax, accounting, or a related tax function.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. sales and use tax concepts and compliance requirements.
• Experience preparing and/or reviewing sales and use tax returns and performing tax account reconciliations.
• Experience researching and resolving sales and use tax issues.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other data analysis tools.

Preferred

• Experience with a large ERP environment such as SAP.
• Experience with a sales and use tax engine such as OneSource.
• Experience supporting state and local tax audits.
• Experience with exemption certificate management.
• Experience using Alteryx or similar data analytics/automation tools.
• Experience in a manufacturing or multinational corporate environment.
• Experience identifying and implementing process improvements and automation.