Tax Staff Accountant

About the role

The Senior Tax Accountant is a hands-on role designed for a financial and tax professional who has experience in tax compliance and GAAP/Statutory tax accounting. Under the direction of the AVP, Taxation, this position will be primarily responsible for accurately preparing and filing state and federal tax returns. In addition, the Senior Tax Accountant will assist the AVP, Taxation in monitoring current and impending changes to tax regulation, and to develop effective tax planning strategies that align with business objectives.

What you'll do

Tax Specific

• Assisting in the preparation of quarterly/ annual GAAP and statutory income tax provisions and all information supporting the financial close, including tax footnotes and disclosures
• Teaming and working with various departments including risk/actuarial, investment accounting, and operations; ensuring the tax implications are considered for current and future business decisions
• Assisting in the preparation and review of all tax compliance, including the federal, state income/franchise tax returns, and premium/municipal tax returns.
• Ownership of controls and overall risk assessments required under Sarbanes-Oxley and Model Audit Rules, as applicable to the tax department processes
• Monitoring changes in tax law and researching/concluding on significant tax compliance and tax accounting matters
• Actively manage and monitor TPA policy holder activities and matters pertaining to tax withholding and information reporting

Administrative Duties (may include)

• Handling incoming and outgoing mail / FedEx intended for the tax department.
• Preparation for tax correspondence including envelopes, labels, assembling filings, and deliveries to the post office.
• File organization and maintenance, including new file set up, scanning documents, etc.
• Staffing oversight and recruiting, where required

Qualifications

Experience

• Significant experience (3 - 5+ years) in life insurance tax compliance and tax accounting
• Bachelor’s degree and CPA, or progress towards, required; advanced tax degree preferred
• Strong understanding of federal and state tax laws, regulations, etc.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and statutory accounting guidance and practical application thereof
• Familiarity with control design and testing
• Demonstrated ability to deliver timely results and be attentive to deadlines.

Skills/Competencies

• Strong organizational skills with elevated level of attention to detail
• Demonstrated persistency and ability to deliver results under pressure
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal communication and proofreading skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, etc.
• Must be a flexible self-starter who can prioritize tasks, follow through and meet deadlines
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision