Tax Senior Manager, Core Tax Services

BDO USA•Norfolk, VA

About The Position

The Core Tax Services Senior Manager advises clients on the tax implications of their business objectives, evaluates actions to reduce tax burden and compliance costs, and identifies ways to comply with tax regulations. The role serves as the primary client contact for complex tax issues and makes top-level decisions regarding tax filings, preparation, and responses to federal and state agencies. It also identifies potential tax issues and risks, communicates potential changes in tax policy, and participates in office or regional leadership, marketing, networking, and business development while maintaining client relationships. The Senior Manager oversees tax compliance and quality, conducts top-level reviews of tax returns and resolves client tax issues, and plans for early recognition of material tax and compliance matters. The role identifies and frames research questions, guides research methodology, trains staff in research skills, and involves firm specialists as appropriate. It applies and reviews work under ASC 740 and firm policies, including tax provisions, workpapers, and uncertain tax positions, and explains related matters to clients. The position develops and implements tax consulting approaches that maximize client benefits while managing risk, coordinates with specialists, monitors consulting work plans, handles inquiries from federal and state agencies, assists with appeals, and manages client expectations. It develops expertise in one or more tax specialties, may deliver external CPE training, and may train and mentor colleagues. The role also develops and implements tax strategies, suggests improvements to prior work, may lead marketing campaigns, and presents complex strategies to clients and prospective clients. The Senior Manager supervises associates and senior associates, reviews their work, trains them on current software tools, serves as a Career Advisor, manages their workloads, and provides written and verbal performance feedback.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; a major in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Statistics is preferred.
Eight or more years of prior relevant tax experience and/or public accounting, private industry accounting, or consulting/professional services experience required.
Prior supervisory experience required.
CPA certification, attorney admitted to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction, or IRS Enrolled Agent designation (or equivalent) required.
Superior verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to delegate work effectively.
Strong analytical, research, critical-thinking, and decision-making skills.
Ability to work well in a team environment and develop and manage a team of tax professionals.
Ability to compose written tax advice.
Ability to develop and maintain client relationships and act as the primary client contact when presenting issues and resolutions.
Executive presence.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Accountancy or Taxation preferred.
Industry expertise in one or more tax specialties preferred.
Other professional degrees or certifications applicable to the role preferred.
Proficiency with the Microsoft Office Suite preferred.
Experience with tax research databases and tax compliance process software preferred.

Responsibilities

Advise clients on tax implications of business objectives and identify ways to reduce tax burdens and compliance costs.
Serve as the primary client contact for complex tax matters and manage client expectations and relationships.
Make top-level decisions regarding filings, tax preparation, and resolutions of inquiries from federal and state agencies.
Identify, communicate, and address potential tax issues, risks, and changes in tax policy.
Ensure clients and service teams comply with applicable authorities, firm policies, standards, and the BDO Tax Quality Manual.
Conduct top-level review of tax returns and resolve tax issues with clients, consulting specialists when appropriate.
Recognize material tax and compliance issues early and consult with clients or partners as appropriate.
Identify research needs, frame issues, provide efficient research methodology, and communicate analyses clearly.
Train managers and staff in research skills and help them frame tax issues for analysis.
Apply firm policies and standards and ASC 740 requirements; review tax provisions and prepared workpapers, and explain income tax provisions and uncertain tax positions to clients.
Develop, recommend, and implement tax consulting methods that maximize client benefits while managing risk.
Coordinate with STS specialists and monitor consulting work plans for efficient and effective execution.
Manage written and telephone inquiries from federal and state agencies and assist with protests at the appeals level.
Develop in-depth technical and practical expertise in one or more tax specialties.
May organize, conduct, or participate in external CPE training and train or mentor colleagues in areas of specialization.
Develop and implement tax strategies and improvements to client or firm work products and approaches; may lead marketing campaigns and present complex strategies.
Supervise associates and senior associates on projects, review their work, train them on current software tools, serve as their Career Advisor, manage workloads, and provide performance feedback.
Participate in office or regional leadership, marketing, networking, and business development.