Tax Specialist

Northwestern Mutual • Milwaukee, WI

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

About the Job: The Tax Specialist prepares tax-related financial reporting for Northwestern Mutual and affiliated entities to ensure accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting to internal management as well as external agencies and auditors. You’ll support federal, state, local and foreign compliance, execute tax accounting in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP), and help build technology-enabled processes that produce timely, audit-ready tax and financial-statement data. What You'll Do: Prepare tax-related financial statement accounting in accordance with GAAP and SAP including tax adjustments for investments, expenses, deferred compensation, reserves and others. Prepare tax return workpapers and filings (premium, sales & use, income tax) for Northwestern Mutual and affiliates. Support foreign tax compliance activities such as foreign returns, withholding filings, and U.S. residency certificates. Communicate proactively with cross-functional internal and external partners to ensure accuracy of data and resolve issues. Perform tax research and summarize findings for senior staff; escalate complex technical issues as needed. Collect, validate and organize source data across teams; maintain audit-ready workpapers. Identify and execute technology-driven process improvements to accelerate accurate tax reporting. What You'll Bring to the Role: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field, or equivalent education plus experience. MST / CPA or actively working toward certification. Strong working knowledge of accounting and tax principles; prior tax experience is a plus. Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to prepare clean, audit-ready documentation. Demonstrate analytical and problem-solving skills; methodical approach to gathering and reconciling data. Proficient with Excel and willing to learn tax preparation and document-management/reporting tools. Team-oriented, ability to effectively maintain relations within divisions of Finance and other company departments as needed. Detail-focused, and able to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment. A high degree of personal initiative and self-motivation is required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field, or equivalent education plus experience.
• MST / CPA or actively working toward certification.
• Strong working knowledge of accounting and tax principles; prior tax experience is a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to prepare clean, audit-ready documentation.
• Demonstrate analytical and problem-solving skills; methodical approach to gathering and reconciling data.
• Proficient with Excel and willing to learn tax preparation and document-management/reporting tools.
• Team-oriented, ability to effectively maintain relations within divisions of Finance and other company departments as needed.
• Detail-focused, and able to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• A high degree of personal initiative and self-motivation is required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare tax-related financial statement accounting in accordance with GAAP and SAP including tax adjustments for investments, expenses, deferred compensation, reserves and others.
• Prepare tax return workpapers and filings (premium, sales & use, income tax) for Northwestern Mutual and affiliates.
• Support foreign tax compliance activities such as foreign returns, withholding filings, and U.S. residency certificates.
• Communicate proactively with cross-functional internal and external partners to ensure accuracy of data and resolve issues.
• Perform tax research and summarize findings for senior staff; escalate complex technical issues as needed.
• Collect, validate and organize source data across teams; maintain audit-ready workpapers.
• Identify and execute technology-driven process improvements to accelerate accurate tax reporting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees