Director, Tax

Security Benefit•Des Moines, IA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Director, Tax you will serve as a senior tax leader for Security Benefit, owning all aspects of federal, state, and local tax compliance, planning, and reporting across the enterprise. This individual will work closely with finance leadership and external advisors to ensure tax efficiency and regulatory compliance, while managing a complex multi-entity structure that includes both life and non-life insurance subsidiaries. The Director, Tax position reports to the Assistant Vice President of Tax and can be based out of our office in Topeka or Overland Park, Kansas, or Des Moines, Iowa. We work a hybrid schedule, offering flexibility to work both remotely and on-site.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA required.
10+ years of progressive tax experience, with significant exposure to life insurance company taxation.
Deep knowledge of ASC 740 (income tax accounting under GAAP) and SSAP 101 (statutory income tax accounting).
Strong familiarity with Statutory (Stat) accounting principles as they apply to life insurance companies.
Demonstrated experience managing tax compliance for a multi-entity corporate group, including consolidated return positions.
Experience with premium tax compliance across multiple states.
Proven ability to manage and coordinate IRS and state tax audit processes.
Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
Expert-level knowledge of insurance company taxation, including life and nonlife tax regimes, reserve deductibility, and policyholder tax rules.
Strong command of ASC 740 and SSAP 101 with hands-on experience leading tax provision processes.
Ability to translate complex tax concepts into clear communication for non-tax stakeholders, including finance leadership and the board.
Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines across compliance, provision, and planning workstreams.
High degree of intellectual curiosity and initiative in identifying and acting on tax planning opportunities and risk areas.
Proficiency with tax technology platforms and accounting systems; comfort working across GL, Stat, and GAAP reporting environments.
Collaborative, relationship-oriented approach with the ability to work effectively across actuarial, legal, investment, and finance teams.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in taxation (MST) preferred.
Experience working with or at a Big 4 or national public accounting firm in an insurance tax practice preferred.
Familiarity with tax-advantaged investment structures (e.g., low-income housing tax credits, renewable energy credits) preferred.

Responsibilities

Directly manage and develop direct reports, providing day-to-day direction, coaching, and performance feedback to build a collaborative and high-performing tax team.
Lead and model technical excellence within a lean, high-performing team, contributing directly to complex tax work while developing and elevating the capabilities of direct reports.
Foster a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and technical excellence within the tax function, in alignment with Security Benefit’s broader organizational values.
Shape and execute the multi-year roadmap for the tax function, identifying opportunities to strengthen capabilities, improving processes, and scale the department to meet the evolving needs of the enterprise.
Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on the tax implications of enterprise initiatives, including new product development, capital allocation, investment strategy, and corporate restructurings.
Contribute to enterprise-wide financial planning by providing forward-looking tax analysis that informs budgeting, capital planning, and long-range forecasting.
Monitor and anticipate legislative, regulatory, and industry developments that may impact the organization’s tax posture, proactively communicating risks and opportunities to senior leadership.
Manage the end-to-end tax compliance process for the consolidated group, including day-to-day oversight of the co-sourcing relationship, ensuring quality, timeliness, and accountability of all income tax return deliverables.
Manage all foreign tax reporting obligations, including international informational returns, and monitor the impact of GILTI, FDII, BEAT, and other international provisions on the enterprise.
Research federal, state, and international tax issues relevant to the insurance industry and prepare technical memoranda documenting positions and conclusions for audit defense and internal governance.
Manage IRS and state tax audit responses and coordinate quarterly estimated tax payments to minimize underpayment exposure.
Review federal, state, and premium tax filings for accuracy and timely submission across all applicable jurisdictions.
Analyze the tax treatment of reinsurance transactions and structures — including coinsurance, modified coinsurance, and funds withheld arrangements — and advise on tax-efficient structuring for new and existing treaties.
Ensure accurate tax reporting of reinsurance activity across both subgroups, monitor regulatory and IRS developments affecting reinsurance taxation, and partner with actuarial and legal teams on treaty review.
Lead the ASC 740 tax provision process, including current and deferred tax calculations, uncertain tax position analyses, and preparation of the income tax footnote and related GAAP disclosures.
Manage SSAP 101 statutory tax calculations and disclosures for the life insurance subgroup.
Design and maintain the internal control framework over tax reporting, serving as the primary contact for internal and external auditors on the design and effectiveness of ASC 740 and statutory tax controls.
Maintain control documentation, identify and remediate deficiencies, and ensure tax controls are integrated into the organization’s broader financial reporting control environment.
Oversee tax technology infrastructure — including provision software and compliance platforms — and identify opportunities to streamline and automate tax processes.
Partner with IT and finance to maintain data integrity across GL, statutory, and GAAP reporting systems, and support system upgrades that impact tax reporting.

Benefits

Competitive salary and annual incentive bonuses to reward your contributions.
33 days of paid time off (including PTO, holidays, Volunteer Day, and days of significance).
Paid parental leave after 90 days of service.
Comprehensive medical, dental & vision insurance.
401(k) with company match, plus Profit Sharing & Savings Plan.
Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance to give you peace of mind.
Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
Life Insurance to protect your loved ones.
Educational assistance to support your career development.
Associate assistance programs for your personal and professional well-being.