Direct Tax Manager

Ashley Furniture Industries•Arcadia, WI

50d•Hybrid

About The Position

Direct Tax Manager Ashley Furniture Industries About Ashley Furniture Industries Ashley Furniture Industries is one of the world's largest furniture manufacturers and retailers. Join our Finance team and help drive tax compliance, process improvement, and technology adoption in a dynamic, growth-focused environment. Position Summary The Direct Tax Manager manages day-to-day direct tax compliance, team leadership, and process improvement for Ashley Furniture Industries. Reporting to the Direct Tax Director, this role serves as the primary operating lead for federal, state, and local income/franchise tax processes while providing leadership, coaching, and technical support to staff. This is a hands-on leadership role where you'll combine technical tax expertise with team development, process improvement, automation, and responsible use of AI-enabled solutions to modernize how our tax department operates.

Requirements

Bachelor's in Accounting, Finance, or Tax
5–7+ years public accounting and/or corporate tax experience
Federal/multistate tax compliance and workpaper review experience
Experience coaching, training, or leading staff
Strong knowledge of federal/state income/franchise tax
Advanced Excel and tax software proficiency
Project management and organization
Responsible AI and automation use (with appropriate controls and validation)
Clear communication with leadership and non-tax stakeholders

Nice To Haves

CPA (MST, EA, or other tax credential a plus)
S-corp, partnership, C-corp, or multistate experience
Exposure to tax provision, tax accruals, or ASC 740
Experience with process improvement, automation, or AI tools
Manufacturing, retail, or distribution industry experience

Responsibilities

Manage federal, state, and local income/franchise tax compliance processes (filings, extensions, estimates, payments)
Lead and develop direct tax staff by assigning work, reviewing deliverables, and providing coaching
Coordinate with external tax advisors and internal partners to ensure accurate, timely reporting
Prepare and review quarterly/annual tax estimates and payment support
Prepare tax account reconciliations, book-tax schedules, and provision support schedules
Support income tax provision processes and learn provision methodology
Manage fixed asset tax work (depreciation, acquisitions, dispositions)
Identify opportunities to standardize workpapers, automate processes, and improve efficiency
Use automation, analytics, workflow tools, and approved AI solutions to improve accuracy and scalability
Maintain compliance calendars, status trackers, and documentation repositories
Develop templates, checklists, process maps, and training guides
Assist with tax planning, M&A support, credits and incentives, and 1031 exchanges
Research and document federal/state tax issues
Support tax audits and notices with organized documentation
Collaborate with Accounting, Finance, Legal, Treasury, IT, and Operations