Tax Manager - Corporate Finance

Standard Insurance Company • Portland, OR

1d

About The Position

The Manager of Tax is a hands-on leader in The Standard’s corporate finance division, responsible for key tax and compliance functions. As a member of the leadership team, the role provides direction for the company’s tax function, oversees tax compliance and provision work, and leads professional staff. It requires technical tax expertise along with strong communication and leadership skills.

The manager oversees preparation and review of federal, state, and other tax returns; complex income tax provisions under GAAP and SAP; effective tax rate and deferred tax analyses; tax research and written analyses; and tax audits. The role also identifies tax-planning opportunities, conducts special studies, supports management decisions, maintains effective internal controls and documentation, and partners with operating groups as a trusted business advisor. The manager delegates work, develops junior tax professionals, and leads process improvements and the implementation of tax strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related area.
• CPA or Enrolled Agent certification.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience handling complex, broad-based federal and state tax compliance, tax provisions, and supporting tax analysis.
• Proficiency with tax reporting software and tools.
• Ability to use new and changing technology to streamline or automate company processes and deliverables.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to lead and develop a team.
• Demonstrated collaborative teamwork and motivation toward overall team success.
• Ability to challenge the status quo collaboratively and drive positive change.
• Leadership skills and a record of meeting long-term goals, motivating an organization, and earning coworkers’ respect.
• Personal accountability and an adaptable, solution-focused approach to problems.
• Ability to build influential, collaborative relationships across teams, functions, and cultures.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Taxation or JD.
• Participation in professional associations such as TEI, COST, or ACLI.

Responsibilities

• Oversee preparation and review of federal and state corporate, franchise, excise, gross receipts, premium, sales and use, and property tax returns; provide timely feedback and develop preparers.
• Identify, recommend, and implement opportunities to reduce the company’s federal and state income tax liabilities.
• Oversee preparation and review of complex federal and state income tax provisions under GAAP and SAP.
• Supervise and review analysis of effective tax rates, deferred taxes, tax balance sheets, and GAAP and statutory deferred tax balances.
• Supervise and review the company’s FIN 48 analysis, including schedules of unrecognized tax benefits and valuation allowance.
• Identify, recommend, and implement opportunities to reduce the company’s federal and state effective tax rates.
• Delegate and oversee tax research; support preparers through feedback and training; review and approve formal memoranda documenting complex tax positions.
• Prepare written analyses and supporting materials, including memoranda and presentations, for senior leadership review and consideration.
• Supervise tax audits and ensure adequate resources are available to respond to Internal Document Requests within agreed timeframes.
• Mentor and provide technical leadership to junior tax professionals working on federal and state tax audits.
• Conduct special studies and analyses, develop alternatives, present recommendations to management, and influence decisions.
• Research, analyze, develop, and implement strategies, programs, and processes in response to changing internal and external conditions.
• Participate in industry groups and professional associations to network and develop industry peer relationships.
• Ensure internal controls mitigate tax and business-process risks; identify and evaluate risks in light of compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Update policies and procedures for tax compliance, lead process-improvement efforts, maintain documentation standards, and implement procedural changes to meet internal-control needs.
• Maintain responsive communication with team members and ensure tax proactively partners with operating groups on business decisions and the company’s strategic tax vision.
• Delegate work and provide supervision, leadership, and mentorship to junior tax professionals.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• 401(k) plan with matching company contributions.
• Annual incentive bonus plan.
• Paid time off, including 11 holidays, 2 wellness days, and 8 volunteer hours annually; PTO increases with tenure.
• Paid parental leave.
• Adoption and surrogacy assistance.
• Employee giving program that double matches donations to eligible nonprofits and schools.
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement.
• Supportive, responsive management approach.

What This Job Offers

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