Indirect Tax Manager

KONE•Moline, IL

1d•$109,600 - $162,015•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you a senior indirect tax professional who thrives on owning outcomes, not just executing tasks? Do you enjoy working in complex environments where success depends on influence, judgment, and collaboration? KONE Americas is seeking an Indirect Tax Manager to lead U.S. indirect tax and property tax compliance, governance, and advisory across project-based construction and after-sales service businesses (maintenance, repairs, modernization, spare parts, and service contracts). This is a high-impact individual contributor role with end-to-end ownership of indirect tax outcomes across all state, city, and county jurisdictions. You will partner with Finance, Accounting, Sales, Service Operations, IT, Legal, and external advisors to ensure compliant, scalable, and business-aligned solutions. As Indirect Tax Manager, you will: Lead U.S. state, city, and county indirect tax compliance (sales and use tax, contractor taxes, and related requirements) Oversee property tax return review, modernization, and transition toward electronic filing and retention Own and manage indirect tax audits end-to-end and implement improvements Govern the tax technology landscape (Vertex) to ensure accurate tax determination Partner with Sales, Service, Finance, and IT to embed tax into contracts, billing, and systems Advise on complex project and service transactions while managing risk Drive process improvements, automation, and controls to reduce exposure and manual effort The Indirect Tax Manager leads U.S. state, city, and county indirect tax and property tax compliance, governance, and risk management across KONE’s construction and after-sales service businesses. Operating in a matrixed environment without direct reports, success depends on influencing and coordinating across Finance, Accounting, Operations, Sales, Service, IT, Legal, and external advisors to deliver compliant, efficient, and scalable tax outcomes.

Requirements

8–10+ years of U.S. indirect tax experience (sales and use tax); property tax exposure a plus
Hands-on experience with Vertex or similar tax engines; SAP a plus
Experience supporting service-based and/or project-driven businesses
Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive execution
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Tax; CPA or advanced degree preferred
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills
Deep understanding of controls and risk management
High ownership, accountability, and ability to work independently
Continuous improvement mindset and change leadership
Effective stakeholder management and influencing skills
Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and consistently meet tight deadlines
Experience with Vertex (preferred), ERP systems (SAP), and reporting tools
Ability to translate complex tax requirements into practical business and system solutions
Strong written and verbal communication, including technical and executive summaries
8–10+ years of indirect tax experience, ideally in construction, engineering, manufacturing, or service environments; property tax experience a plus
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Tax, or related field; CPA, JD, MST, or advanced degree preferred

Responsibilities

Lead sales and use tax compliance across all U.S. state, city, and county jurisdictions for: Construction and modernization projects Maintenance, repair, spare parts, and service businesses Service contracts, time & material billing, warranties, renewals, and digital sales
Ensure timely preparation, review, and filing of returns
Own monthly reconciliation of indirect tax balance sheet accounts and support the close process
Manage reconciliations covering customer invoices, vendor invoices, and use tax accrual
Ensure accurate tax treatment for bundled transactions, mixed supplies, contract billing, digital sales, and multi-state service delivery
Review property tax returns and ensure compliance across applicable jurisdictions
Drive modernization of property tax processes, including electronic filing and digital record retention
Improve controls and documentation to replace paper-based filing practices
Own and manage Vertex, including taxability rules and ongoing maintenance
Oversee external Vertex support partner (Ryan), including ticket creation, coordination, issue resolution, and follow-up
Lead indirect tax system initiatives (ERP/SAP integrations, billing enhancements, regulatory updates)
Partner with IT, Finance, and vendors to ensure system-driven compliance and auditability
Recommend technology and process improvements to support business growth
Manage exemption certificate processes, approvals, and preventive controls
Identify refund opportunities and lead reverse audits
Serve as primary interface with customers, operations, and tax authorities on exemption matters
Lead state and local audits end-to-end, including data preparation, negotiations, and resolution
Respond to inquiries from tax authorities, customers, vendors, and internal teams
Perform root-cause analysis of audit findings and implement corrective actions
Act as escalation point for operational tax issues
Monitor legislative and regulatory changes affecting construction, services, digital transactions, and property tax
Assess business impact and provide actionable guidance
Identify tax planning opportunities (exemptions, credits, deferrals, process improvements)
Evaluate tax implications early for new products, services, and contracts
Maintain the internal control framework for indirect and property tax
Design monitoring, reconciliation, and compliance controls
Provide training to Sales, Service, Operations, and Finance teams
Act as a trusted advisor ensuring consistent tax application across business lines
Retain oversight and review responsibility for the 1099 process, including supervision of execution
Partner with Finance team members performing day-to-day work to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely filing
Drive process clarity and continuity as responsibilities evolve