Manager, Indirect Tax

Fervo Energy • Houston, TX

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Fervo Energy is seeking an Indirect Tax Manager to own sales and use, property, and other transaction tax processes across a multi-entity, multi-jurisdiction footprint. The role builds accurate, efficient, and audit-ready processes that can scale with the company’s drilling, construction, and power plant development activities, where equipment and contractor spending creates significant indirect tax exposure and exemption-management needs.

The manager oversees compliance and filings, exemption and taxability determinations, audits, and transaction support. The role partners closely with Supply Chain, Operations, and Accounts Payable to ensure correct tax treatment at the point of transaction, and collaborates across Accounting, Finance, Legal, Treasury, Commercial, FP&A, and external advisors. It calls for strong technical knowledge of transaction taxes, disciplined project management, a controls mindset, ownership, and clear communication.

The position is based at Fervo Energy’s Houston, Texas office and follows a hybrid schedule. Employees are expected to work in the office three days per week, and some travel may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of progressive indirect tax experience across sales and use tax and/or property tax, in public accounting, industry, or a combination.
• Strong knowledge of multi-state sales and use tax concepts and ability to research, document, and defend taxability and exemption positions.
• Experience preparing or reviewing indirect tax filings, use tax accruals, and audit-ready workpapers.
• Experience working across multiple entities and jurisdictions, including use tax self-assessment on capital and contractor spending.
• Strong analytical skills and comfort working with complex agreements, ERP data, and supporting documentation.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple high-priority matters under tight filing deadlines while partnering cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment.
• Regular in-office presence in Houston three days per week; the schedule is described as an essential function of the role.

Nice To Haves

• CPA or CMI certification.
• Big Four, national indirect tax, or large-industry tax department experience.
• Experience with construction, drilling, manufacturing, or capital-project indirect tax exposure and exemptions.
• Experience implementing or operating tax engines such as Vertex or Avalara, ERP tax configuration, or exemption certificate management tools.
• Experience in energy, renewable power, infrastructure, or high-growth, multi-entity public-company environments.
• SOX readiness or process documentation experience.

Responsibilities

• Own or review sales and use tax, property tax, gross receipts, and other transaction tax filings across multiple states, jurisdictions, and entities.
• Manage use tax accrual processes, reconciliations, and self-assessment for equipment, materials, and contractor spending associated with drilling and construction.
• Coordinate external compliance providers and ensure the completeness and accuracy of data provided to advisors and taxing authorities.
• Maintain clear, audit-ready support documenting purpose, scope, authoritative guidance, inputs, assumptions, conclusions, controls, and reviewer sign-off.
• Oversee taxability and exemption determinations, including manufacturing, resale, and energy-related exemptions relevant to geothermal development and power generation.
• Manage exemption certificate processes, vendor and customer documentation, and direct-pay permits where applicable.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Operations, and Accounts Payable to ensure indirect tax is correctly applied at purchase and to mitigate over- and under-accrual.
• Evaluate indirect tax implications of contracts, projects, and new operating jurisdictions, providing practical guidance and early risk mitigation.
• Manage indirect tax audits, notices, and refund and recovery opportunities through resolution, coordinating with external advisors as needed.
• Build and maintain desktop procedures, process narratives, and control documentation for indirect tax workstreams embedded in recurring workpapers.
• Support SOX readiness and external audit, managing indirect tax PBCs, auditor questions, and review comments.
• Identify automation and standardization opportunities, including tax engine, ERP, and exemption certificate management tools, to reduce manual effort and rework.
• Partner with Accounting, Treasury, Legal, Supply Chain, Commercial, and FP&A to assess transaction tax impacts of purchasing decisions, project structures, and entity expansion.
• Support indirect tax forecasting and cash impact analysis to inform project budgets and operational decisions.
• Own work end-to-end, follow up through reviewer sign-off, and escalate blockers early.
• Communicate clear action items, deadlines, and business context.
• Use technology, AI-enabled drafting, and automation thoughtfully while validating outputs and underlying data.
• Develop repeatable processes and cross-training to help the tax and accounting organization scale sustainably.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plan options.
• Employer-paid basic life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage.
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% match.
• Flexible paid time off and paid parental leave.
• Family-building, fertility, hormonal health, pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting support through Carrot.
• Dependent care FSA for eligible child and elder care expenses.
• Annual Lifestyle Spending Account for eligible wellness expenses, including fitness, financial planning, pet insurance, and pet care.
• Employee ownership opportunities through the Employee Stock Purchase Program, stock option grants, and bonus opportunities for eligible roles.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager