Sr. Benefits Tax Accountant II

Pacific Life • Newport Beach, CA

19d • Hybrid

About The Position

Providing for loved ones, planning rewarding retirements, saving enough for whatever lies ahead – our policyholders count on us to be there when it matters most. It’s a big ask, but it’s one that we have the power to deliver when we work together. We collaborate and innovate – pushing one another to transform not just Pacific Life, but the entire industry for the better. Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Pacific Life is more than a job, it’s a career with purpose. It’s a career where you have the support, balance, and resources to make a positive impact on the future – including your own. Pacific Life is investing in bright, agile, and diverse talent to contribute to our mission of innovating our business and creating a superior customer experience. We’re actively seeking a talented Group Benefits Tax Lead to join the Finance team in our Workforce Benefits division. This role is available as a hybrid position at one of our Pacific Life locations: Newport Beach, CA or Omaha, NE. As a Senior Group Benefits Tax Accountant, you’ll play a key role in Pacific Life’s growth and long-term success by leading tax compliance and financial support for our group benefits products, including disability, life, supplemental health, dental, and vision. You’ll be responsible for overseeing the tax treatment of disability claims, ensuring accurate tax reporting and remittance, and serving as the division’s subject matter expert on benefits taxation. This is a new role within our Finance team, offering the opportunity to shape and lead tax operations in a dynamic and growing business. As part of the Workforce Benefits division, you will thrive in an agile, start-up environment surrounded by industry experts building a new business within a strong and long-standing enterprise.

Requirements

• Minimum 8+ years of relevant experience in finance, tax, or compliance roles within the insurance or group benefits industry.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Deep knowledge of federal and state tax regulations related to disability benefits, sick pay, and group insurance products.
• Experience managing multi-state tax compliance and understanding of state-specific disability and PFML programs.
• Strong analytical and auditing skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial and tax data.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; familiarity with business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI) and claims systems (e.g., EIS) is a plus.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a customer-service mindset.

Nice To Haves

• Professional certifications such as CPA, EA, or CEBS.
• Advanced degree in Taxation, Accounting, or Business Administration (MBA).
• Experience with tax reporting platforms such as FINEOS, ADP, or Sovos.
• Proven leadership in process improvement and tax operations within a growing organization.
• Familiarity with IRS revenue rulings and emerging tax requirements for group benefits and PFML.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex tax regulations into clear, actionable guidance for internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Disability Claims Calculations & Taxability Perform and review complex pre- and post-disability earnings calculations.
• Calculate partial earnings for claimants returning to part-time work.
• Verify claim taxability at the employer/policy level and request annual documentation.
• Ensure accurate benefit payments and net amounts based on tax status.
• Financial Analysis & Overpayment Management Conduct financial audits within the EIS system to validate benefit calculations, offsets, and payment integrity.
• Identify and correct underpayments or overpayments.
• Recalculate FICA withholdings when taxability changes occur.
• Issue corrected W-2s (W-2Cs) for prior-year adjustments.
• Oversee the financial recovery process and develop long-term strategies for fund recovery.
• Payroll Tax Withholding, Remittance & Reporting Validate daily, quarterly, and annual tax withholdings and remittances.
• Ensure timely and accurate remittance to federal and state tax agencies.
• Lead year-end tax reporting for claimants (W-2, 1099) and employers based on tax support agreements and elections.
• Tax Guidance & Customer Support Provide expert guidance on tax-related matters beyond standard claims processing.
• Support call center staff with tax inquiries and develop annual FAQs for W-2, 1099-LTC, and 1099-INT forms.
• Respond to tax questions from claimants, employers, and brokers.
• Manage policy-level taxability corrections and Tier 1 policyholder tax reports.
• Prepare and distribute FICA consent letters for prior-year overpayment refunds.
• Collaboration & Process Improvement Partner with Finance to establish financial controls and robust reporting mechanisms.
• Collaborate with Training to develop financial training programs to improve accuracy.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance tax compliance and operational efficiency.

Benefits

• Prioritization of your health and well-being including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Wellbeing Reimbursement Account that can be used on yourself or your eligible dependents
• Generous paid time off options including: Paid Time Off, Holiday Schedules, and Financial Planning Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave as well as an Adoption Assistance Program
• Competitive 401k savings plan with company match and an additional contribution regardless of participation

What This Job Offers

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