26-730.B - Sr. Sales Tax Accountant

Hilcorp Energy•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Senior Sales Tax Accountant supports the Company’s sales and use, motor fuels, and excise tax functions across multiple states and legal entities. The role manages assigned compliance responsibilities, researches and analyzes complex tax issues, supports audits and refund opportunities, and provides tax guidance to internal business groups. It also helps identify tax risks and savings opportunities, improve processes and controls, and ensure compliance with applicable state and local tax laws and regulations. The position works with tax, accounting, accounts payable, operations, field personnel, taxing authorities, and external advisors. It analyzes transactional and operational data, maintains tax rates and system tax determination rules, performs reconciliations, supports tax controversy matters, and contributes to process improvements, training, and special projects.

Requirements

At least five years of experience in sales and use tax or indirect tax.
Strong knowledge of state and local sales and use tax laws and regulations, particularly Texas.
Experience supporting state and local tax audits, including audit defense, transaction analysis, development of tax positions, and interaction with taxing authorities.
Experience with indirect tax compliance, tax research, planning, refund opportunities, and tax controversy matters.
Experience analyzing tax implications of oil and gas operational activities, including drilling, completions, production, facilities, equipment, and services.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to analyze large volumes of transactional and operational data, identify issues, and develop practical solutions.
Business acumen and ability to understand operational activities and translate them into appropriate tax treatment.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to explain complex tax and operational matters to tax and non-tax personnel.
Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills and ability to maintain effective working relationships across departments, with field personnel, taxing authorities, and external advisors.
Ability to independently manage multiple assignments and competing priorities while meeting deadlines.
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with ability to maintain accurate, well-supported documentation.
Proactive, achievement-oriented approach, with willingness to take ownership, identify opportunities, and contribute to the Tax Department.
Ability to collaborate, support team members, share knowledge, and adapt to changing department and business priorities.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year university or college in accounting, finance, or a closely related field.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the oil and gas industry, preferably in upstream, midstream, and/or oilfield services operations.
Experience with motor fuels and excise taxes.
Advanced Excel skills.
CMI certification.

Responsibilities

Manage sales and use, motor fuels, and excise tax compliance across multiple states and legal entities, including preparation, review, reconciliation, and timely filing of tax returns.
Research and interpret state and local sales and use, motor fuel, and excise tax laws and regulations, particularly as they apply to upstream oil and gas operations.
Review purchase and operational transactions to determine tax treatment and identify exposures, exemptions, and overpayments.
Provide tax guidance to Accounting, Accounts Payable, Operations, and other business groups on purchases, services, equipment, fuel usage, and operational activities.
Support tax audits by gathering documentation, analyzing transactions, preparing workpapers, responding to auditor requests, and assisting with tax positions.
Identify and pursue tax savings and refund opportunities through transaction analysis, exemption reviews, refund claim preparation, and supporting documentation.
Assist with tax controversy matters by researching technical issues, developing factual support, preparing responses, and coordinating with taxing authorities and outside advisors.
Monitor legislative, regulatory, and administrative developments and evaluate their potential impacts on company operations and tax obligations.
Review and maintain tax rates, tax codes, exemption information, and system tax determination rules.
Analyze transactional and operational data using SAP, Excel, and other tax or reporting systems to identify errors, trends, exposures, and opportunities.
Perform tax account reconciliations and investigate differences among tax returns, general ledger accounts, tax accruals, and underlying transaction data.
Assist with motor fuel and excise tax determinations involving purchases, consumption, exemptions, taxable uses, and reporting requirements.
Partner with field and operational personnel to understand use of fuel, equipment, and services and determine appropriate tax treatment.
Develop and maintain procedures, documentation, and internal controls for sales and use, motor fuel, and excise tax processes.
Assist with process improvements, system enhancements, and automation initiatives to improve tax accuracy and efficiency.
Review work prepared by other team members and provide guidance on compliance, taxability, research, and technical matters.
Assist with training and development of less-experienced tax staff.
Participate in special projects involving acquisitions, new operations, new entities, system changes, tax planning, and other business initiatives.
Identify opportunities to reduce tax risk, recover overpayments, improve processes, and provide value to the business.
Support team members with compliance, audits, research, special projects, and other priorities as needed.
Collaborate across the Tax Department, share knowledge and best practices, and help resolve issues and improve team performance.
Identify opportunities to increase efficiency, strengthen controls, and enhance the quality of the department’s work.
Adapt to new or changing responsibilities as business needs and department priorities evolve.
Contribute to a positive, accountable, and team-oriented work environment through effective communication, ownership, and support of the Tax Department.
Adhere to company values, support the company vision and mission, follow work schedules and attendance standards, and remain punctual for work and meetings.
Maintain professionalism and protect employee confidence and company assets, including intellectual property, by keeping information confidential.
Accomplish related results as needed and perform other duties as assigned by management.