Tax Manager, State and Local Tax

BDO USA•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The Tax Manager, State and Local Tax advises clients on the tax implications of business objectives, recommends alternative courses of action, and identifies ways to comply with tax regulations. The role includes marketing, networking, and business development within the manager’s area of experience and specialization; monitoring tax-policy changes and applying new policies to tax compliance; and providing SALT expertise to clients in coordination with Core Tax Partners, Directors, and Senior Managers. The manager handles tax research, compliance reviews, consulting, controversy matters, and specialized state and local tax work. Responsibilities include reviewing returns, responding to state tax notices, supporting examinations, preparing tax memoranda and opinions, managing engagements and client expectations, representing clients before tax authorities, and working with tax-related software. The role also includes income-tax accounting work, tax strategy development, and identifying ways to reduce client taxes or expenses or provide non-tax benefits. The manager supervises SALT Senior Associates, Associates, and Interns on assigned engagements, reviews their work, supports their training and professional development, evaluates performance, provides feedback, and may act as a Career Advisor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; a focus in business is preferred.
Four years of prior state and local or multistate experience, legal professional services experience, or equivalent experience through an advanced degree program required.
Prior experience supervising tax professionals on a project or engagement basis required.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, specifically Excel and Word, required.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Superior analytical and research skills.
Solid organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet project deadlines.
Ability to multitask successfully while working independently or in a group environment.
Ability to work in a deadline-driven environment and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
Ability to manage a team of tax professionals effectively and delegate assignments as needed.
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and client personnel.
Ability to foster teamwork on engagements and contribute to assigned personnel’s professional development.
Executive presence and ability to act as the primary contact on assigned engagements.
Ability to interact successfully with professionals at all levels.
Advanced knowledge of appropriate tax standards and their application to deliver tax services effectively and efficiently.
Advanced knowledge of sources of relevant information used in tax filings.
Advanced knowledge and understanding of taxable conditions, their causes and effects, and potential client tax issues.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Accounting or Taxation, or a J.D.
Prior experience preparing or reviewing tax provisions.
Prior experience with corporate taxation, consolidations, and partnerships.
CPA certification or another relevant certification.
Exposure to and familiarity with standard tax applications and research tools.

Responsibilities

Advise clients on tax implications of business objectives, recommend alternative courses of action, and identify methods of complying with tax regulations.
Market, network, and develop business within the manager’s area of experience and specialization.
Recognize changes in tax policy and apply new policies to tax compliance.
Provide state and local tax expertise to clients in coordination with Core Tax Partners, Directors, and Senior Managers.
Identify complex research issues, outline the issues and appropriate research sources, analyze findings, and prepare detailed research reports.
Develop relationships with in-state and out-of-state Department of Tax or Department of Revenue personnel.
Review tax returns in detail and identify significant state tax issues.
Draft responses to notices from state taxing authorities and assist with examination support.
Draft tax memoranda, tax opinions, and other documents on tax issues.
Apply relevant state tax consulting specialties, consult with other tax professionals when appropriate, and determine tax-planning processes.
Ensure engagement letters are adopted before engagement work begins and manage engagements and assigned client expectations.
Assist in developing consultative selling strategies.
Represent clients before tax authorities on contested issues.
Use GoSystems, tax research databases, and other tax-related software to complete assigned work.
Provide technical client service to multistate companies with state and local tax issues.
Negotiate settlements and voluntary disclosure agreements and represent clients in state tax audits.
Prepare tax accrual workpapers and apply industry standards, firm policies, and Tax Quality Manual requirements related to FAS 109, FIN 48, and FAS 5 for sales tax and unclaimed property.
Review studies of tax implications and identify alternative courses of action that benefit clients.
Develop or improve ideas to advance client or firm interests through reductions in taxes or expenses or through non-tax benefits.
Research potential tax strategies and suggest marketing approaches for acquiring new clients.
Supervise the day-to-day workload of SALT Senior Associates and Associates on assigned engagements and review their work.
Ensure SALT Senior Associates, Associates, and Interns are trained on relevant tax software.
Evaluate SALT Senior Associates and Associates and help develop their goals and objectives.
Provide periodic performance feedback and complete performance evaluations for SALT Senior Associates, Associates, and Interns.
Act as Career Advisor to SALT Senior Associates and Associates, as appropriate.
Perform other duties as required.