Tax Manager

Amherst College•Amherst, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Amherst College invites applications for the Tax Manager position. This is a full-time, year-round position. Amherst College is seeking a highly skilled individual to lead our institutional tax strategy and assist with other accounting, analysis, and special projects within the Office of the Controller and general finance areas of the College. Reporting to the Assistant Controller, this individual is responsible for ensuring the Institution remains in full compliance with federal, state, and local tax laws.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree; degree in finance or accounting.
3 to 5 years of related experience.
An equivalent combination of education/experience in lieu of the minimum education and related experience.

Nice To Haves

In-depth knowledge of IRS 501(c)(3) tax regulations, specifically those relating to higher educational institutions.
Experience with completing Forms 990 and 990T, and similar forms.
Ability to interpret complex IRS private letter rulings, general IRS regulations, and court decisions related to tax issues.
Ability to incorporate required changes in business processes to comply with tax regulations.
Demonstrated knowledge of GAAP, general ledgers, higher education financial statements, and working within an audited environment.
Experience with Workday, Microsoft Excel, Tax Navigator (or similar system (Sprintax, Glacier)).
Proven ability to translate complex tax implications to non-financial stakeholders, such as colleagues and Trustees.
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate difficult conversations.
Bachelor’s degree in taxation and/or accounting.
Certified Public Accountant.
Four years in a tax position within a higher education institution.

Responsibilities

Ensures the College remains in full compliance with federal, state, and local tax laws.
Guides the College, both on a macro level and specific to individual department needs, on tax law requirements and planning.
Conducts annual reviews of activities (e.g., athletics, facility rentals, advertising, etc.) to identify, calculate, and report Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT).
Leads the administration, preparation, review, and timely filing of the IRS Form 990 and 990-T, similar Commonwealth of MA tax forms, and other states as needed by UBIT calculations, ensuring accurate disclosure of governance and financial data.
Manages Non-Resident Alien (NRA) taxation for payments to international students, visiting faculty and other visitors utilizing comprehensive compliance software (Tax Navigator & FNIS (Foreign National Information System)) designed to gather data and process residency verification and treaty benefit eligibility to ensure accurate tax withholding and reporting.
Oversees the accurate administration of IRS Form 1098-T to students and the IRS.
Assists treasury colleagues in monitoring "private business use" of campus facilities financed through tax-exempt bonds to ensure the College remains within IRS limits.
Serves as the backup for the Assistant Controller for administrative and accounting purposes in the area of the endowment and other investments.
Administers and leads selective projects and analysis needs identified by finance leadership, within and outside of the tax area.