Indirect Tax Audit Manager

NWN Carousel•Exeter, RI

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Indirect Tax Audit Manager leads NWN’s indirect tax audit function across multiple jurisdictions and provides strategic oversight of indirect tax operations, compliance, and risk management. As a key member of the Corporate Tax team, the Manager partners with Billing, Finance, Sales, Customer Success, Operations, Product Management, and IT to establish audit strategy, direct complex matters, strengthen controls and processes, and ensure accurate, timely, and defensible indirect tax outcomes. The role owns the company’s indirect tax audit program from notification through final resolution and represents NWN with taxing authorities, external auditors, consultants, and internal leaders. It also oversees tax exemption certificates, business licenses and registrations, product taxability mapping, and tax system configurations. The Manager monitors legislative and regulatory developments and leads continuous improvement in internal controls, automation, documentation, metrics, training, and audit readiness. Other duties may be assigned, and the employee is expected to comply with company policies and standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) in Accounting or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
Advanced knowledge of sales and use tax laws, audit procedures, exemption certificate requirements, state and local tax regulations, and indirect tax risk management.
Proven ability to lead complex, multi-jurisdiction indirect tax audits from initiation through resolution and negotiate directly with taxing authorities.
Demonstrated experience evaluating tax notices, assessments, refund claims, settlement options, and material audit exposures.
Experience establishing audit strategy, governance, documentation standards, controls, and executive-level reporting.
Experience overseeing business licenses, state registrations, and Tax Exemption Certificate programs.
Experience governing product taxability determinations, tax code maintenance, and tax configurations within ERP or tax automation systems.
Strong leadership, project management, judgment, and stakeholder influence skills, including the ability to direct multiple audits and competing priorities.
Ability to explain complex tax matters as clear business risks, recommendations, and decisions for cross-functional and senior leaders.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong mathematical, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
Comfort adopting emerging AI tools and technologies to optimize processes, improve collaboration, and drive operational effectiveness.

Nice To Haves

5–7 years of progressive indirect tax experience, including significant experience leading multi-state indirect tax audits and complex tax projects.
Experience in the technology, cloud, telecommunications, or managed services industry.
Experience with sales tax engines, NetSuite, and CCH SureTax.
CPA, CMI, or another relevant tax certification.

Responsibilities

Own NWN’s indirect tax audit program across multiple jurisdictions, setting strategy and directing engagements from notification through final resolution.
Serve as the primary decision-maker and company representative with taxing authorities, external auditors, consultants, and internal leaders during audit engagements.
Establish audit plans, priorities, timelines, documentation standards, and escalation protocols.
Direct research and analysis of complex indirect tax matters and approve technical positions, supporting documentation, and resolution strategies.
Review and approve financial and transactional documentation, including invoices, contracts, exemption certificates, and system data used to support audit and compliance positions.
Evaluate audit findings, notices, assessments, refund opportunities, and settlement options, and recommend actions to reduce financial exposure and business risk.
Advise cross-functional leaders on tax risks, business impacts, and compliant solutions.
Manage the Tax Exemption Certificate program, including policy, controls, certificate validation, maintenance, renewals, exception management, and audit readiness.
Maintain business licenses and registrations and ensure timely, accurate compliance with state and local requirements.
Govern product taxability mapping and tax system configurations in partnership with Product Management and IT, including tax determination, reporting, testing, and change controls.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and lead continuous improvement initiatives involving internal controls, automation, documentation, metrics, training, and audit readiness.
Perform other duties as assigned and comply with all policies and standards.