Lead Specialist - Tax
About The Position
Pearson is seeking an experienced US indirect tax professional to lead and oversee sales and use tax activity across multiple legal entities and jurisdictions. This is an autonomous, manager-level individual contributor role within Group Tax, with national US scope. The role manages outsourced compliance delivery, state and local tax audits, exemption certificates, registrations, business licenses and indirect tax accounting. It also provides practical advice on product taxability, nexus, customer questions and evolving business models. The position works closely with Finance, Technology, Legal, Operations and commercial stakeholders to translate tax requirements into effective system and process changes, including Vertex-related requirements, while monitoring VAT/GST exposure for US entities operating internationally. The role is remote within the United States and requires sufficient working-hours overlap with the UK-based Manager and global tax colleagues.
Requirements
- Deep technical knowledge of multi-state US sales and use tax.
- Experience overseeing high-volume, multi-jurisdiction compliance, ideally in a large corporate environment.
- Strong state and local tax audit experience, including information requests, documentation and audit defense.
- Experience managing outsourced providers, external advisers and finance or shared-service teams.
- Ability to advise non-tax stakeholders clearly on taxability, nexus, exemptions and changing business activity.
- Indirect tax accounting experience, including reconciliations, accruals, journal entries and balance-sheet controls.
- Strong stakeholder management across Tax, Finance, Technology, Legal, Operations and commercial teams.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented and able to manage concurrent monthly, quarterly and annual deadlines.
- A self-starting approach and confidence operating independently in a remote environment.
Nice To Haves
- Vertex experience is highly beneficial.
Responsibilities
- Oversee accurate and timely sales and use tax returns, reconciliations, filings and payments across multiple entities and jurisdictions.
- Manage outsourced compliance providers and annual personal property tax filings.
- Lead state registrations, de-registrations, nexus, business licensing and exemption certificate programs.
- Provide practical guidance on product taxability, customer queries, new initiatives, sales channels and operating-model changes.
- Manage indirect tax accounting, including reconciliations, accruals, journal entries, financial reporting and supporting documentation.
- Lead state and local tax audits and represent Pearson with tax authorities, auditors, advisers and service providers.
- Partner with Technology on Vertex requirements, tax logic, testing, tax-code maintenance and process optimization.
- Monitor and manage relevant global VAT/GST registrations, filings, reporting and e-invoicing obligations for US entities.
Benefits
- Eligible to participate in an annual incentive program.
- Benefits are offered; details are referenced on Pearson’s benefits page.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
