Tax Manager, State and Local Tax

BDO USA, P.C. • Houston, TX

3h • $79,800 - $168,000

About The Position

The Tax Manager, State and Local Tax (SALT) 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, as well as recognizing tax policy changes and applying new policies to tax compliance. The manager works with Core Tax Partners, Directors, and Senior Managers to provide SALT expertise to clients.

The position oversees tax research, compliance, consulting, controversy, and specialization work. Responsibilities include reviewing state tax returns, responding to taxing-authority notices, supporting examinations, preparing tax memoranda and opinions, managing engagements and client expectations, representing clients before tax authorities, and providing technical service to multistate companies. The role also involves tax accrual workpapers, applying accounting standards and firm policies, developing tax strategies and marketing approaches, and identifying tax planning opportunities.

The manager supervises and develops SALT Senior Associates, Associates, and Interns, including assigning and reviewing work, providing training and performance feedback, evaluating performance, and serving as a career advisor where appropriate. BDO describes its culture as relationship-focused and emphasizes meaningful work, career growth, and professional judgment when using generative and agentic AI to develop work products, improve workflows, and identify risks.

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 while working independently or within 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 work assignments.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and client personnel.
• Ability to foster teamwork on engagements and contribute to the professional development of assigned personnel.
• 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 applying tax standards to deliver tax services effectively and efficiently.
• Advanced knowledge of sources of relevant information used in tax filings.
• Advanced understanding of the cause and effect of taxable conditions for clients and potential tax issues.

Nice To Haves

• Business-focused bachelor’s degree.
• Master’s degree in Accounting or Taxation, or a J.D.
• Prior experience preparing and/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 relating to their business objectives, recommend alternative courses of action, and identify methods of complying with tax regulations.
• Participate in marketing, networking, and business development within the area of experience and specialization.
• Recognize potential tax policy changes and apply new policies to tax compliance.
• Work with Core Tax Partners, Directors, and Senior Managers to provide state and local tax expertise to clients.
• Identify complex research situations, outline issues and appropriate research sources, analyze researched facts and sources, and prepare detailed reports of findings.
• 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.
• Compose responses to notices from state taxing authorities and provide examination support.
• Draft tax memorandums, tax opinions, and other documentation on tax issues; apply relevant state tax consulting specialties and confer with other tax professionals when appropriate.
• Determine tax planning processes, ensure engagement letters are adopted before work begins, manage engagements, assist with consultative selling strategies, and manage assigned client expectations.
• Represent clients before tax authorities on contested issues.
• Use GoSystems, tax research databases, and other tax-related software to complete assigned tasks.
• Provide technical client service to multistate companies with state and local tax issues.
• Conduct settlement negotiations, voluntary disclosure agreements, and state tax audit representation.
• Prepare tax accrual workpapers and apply relevant industry standards, firm policies, and BDO Tax Quality Manual requirements relating to FAS 109, FIN 48, and FAS 5 for sales tax and unclaimed properties.
• Review tax-implication studies to identify alternative courses of action that benefit clients; develop ideas to advance client, firm, or personnel interests through tax or expense reduction or non-tax benefits; research potential tax strategies; and suggest marketing approaches for new client acquisition.
• Supervise the day-to-day workload of SALT Senior Associates and Associates on assigned engagements and review their work product.
• Train SALT Senior Associates, Associates, and Interns on relevant tax software.
• Evaluate performance and help develop professional goals and objectives for SALT Senior Associates and Associates; deliver periodic feedback and complete performance evaluations for Senior Associates, Associates, and Interns.
• Act as a career advisor to SALT Senior Associates and Associates, as appropriate.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• ESOP participation that provides beneficial ownership and an opportunity to share in the firm’s success.
• Comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits offerings.

What This Job Offers

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