General Summary
The Sales and Use Tax Accountant will own the company's indirect tax function from inception to completion, managing the entire lifecycle of tax compliance, research, and audit defense. Serving as the internal subject matter expert, this role will act as the trusted advisor for all business units. The ideal candidate must have experience navigating the unique tax complexities of a hybrid construction/manufacturing enterprise, specifically distinguishing tax application between retail transactions (furnish-only sales) and real property contracting (furnish-and-install projects).
The Sales & Use Tax Manager is responsible for leading the company's multi-state sales and use tax function, ensuring compliance while minimizing tax risk and maximizing available exemptions. This role serves as the company's internal subject matter expert on indirect tax matters, partnering with Accounting, Operations, Procurement, Estimating, Manufacturing, and Project Management to provide strategic tax guidance for a hybrid manufacturing and construction business.
Competitive Pay range: $100,000 - $130,000 based on experience
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Tax Leadership & Compliance
- Manage the company's end-to-end sales and use tax function, including compliance, reporting, filings, and account reconciliations.
- Ensure timely and accurate filing of multi-state sales and use tax returns.
- Maintain exemption certificates, tax registrations, and tax engine configurations.
- Develop and maintain tax policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Technical Research & Advisory
- Serve as the company's subject matter expert on sales and use tax matters.
- Conduct complex multi-state tax research using tax research platforms, statutes, regulations, and case law.
- Interpret contractors, manufacturers, retailers, and fabrication tax rules, providing guidance on contracts, procurement, and business transactions.
- Monitor legislative changes and recommend process improvements to ensure ongoing compliance.
- Construction & Manufacturing Tax
- Determine proper tax treatment for furnish-only versus furnish-and-install contracts.
- Apply state-specific contractors, manufacturers, and retailer tax rules.
- Identify and maximize available manufacturing exemptions and other tax-saving opportunities.
- Audit & Risk Management
- Lead state and local sales and use tax audits from start to finish.
- Research and defend tax positions with supporting statutes, regulations, and technical guidance.
- Manage audit responses, appeals, refund claims, and voluntary disclosure agreements while minimizing tax exposure.
- Business Partnership & Leadership
- Partner with cross-functional teams to evaluate tax implications of contracts, projects, procurement, and operational decisions.
- Train internal stakeholders on indirect tax requirements and best practices.
- Supervise and mentor Sales & Use Tax staff while driving continuous process improvement.
Key Interfaces
- Internal
- Finance and Accounting Team Members
- Vertical | Horizontal Leadership
- Business Development
- Engineering
- Manufacturing
- Field
- External
- Vendors
- State Tax vendors
Key Metrics and Deliverables
- On time state tax filings
- Process implementation around sales and use tax
- Process implementation on invoice transactions relating to sales and use tax
- On time business license registrations
- Customer Feedback
Skills and Abilities
- Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as the ability to effectively listen and engage with all levels of the organization.
- Build strong relationships; engages and motivates teams representing diverse backgrounds and viewpoints; exceptionally collaborative.
- Ability to maintain attentiveness to detail and accuracy throughout involvement in multiple projects without losing sight of goals and deadlines.
- Excellent organization skills to drive topics with multiple stakeholders/interests.
- Problem solving skills that aim to remedy and prevent reoccurrence.
- Comfortable escalating issues while maintaining positive relationships with team members and other organizations.
- Passionate about Clark Pacific’s vision and mission; able to promote, demonstrate, and communicate the mission, values, and core competencies of Clark Pacific to others.
- Ability to read plans and blueprints. Able to exercise appropriate discretion when handling confidential and/or sensitive information.
- Display willingness and interest in stepping up into greater leadership role if the situation requires or the opportunity presents itself.
- Proficient with Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Office Suite programs.
Work Environment
- General in-person office environment will be experienced.
- There will be periodic exposure to manufacturing environments which may present hazards such as noise, electricity, chemicals, heavy equipment, and other automated and manual machinery.
- There will be periodic exposure to outside weather conditions, including extreme cold and extreme heat, wet and/or humid environments.
Physical Demands
- Frequent: Sitting at desk, utilizing computers and phones, standing and walking
- Periodic: Repetitive foot, leg, hand, arm, shoulder, and torso movements
- Occasional: Business travel (5%), Bending squatting, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting.
Experience and Education
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA or CMI preferred.
- 5-7+ years of multi-state sales and use tax experience, preferably in construction, manufacturing, or heavy industrial industries.
- Prior leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
- Strong knowledge of contractors, retailers, manufacturers, and tangible personal property vs. real property tax rules.
- Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Viewpoint Vista) and tax software (Avalara, Vertex).
- Advanced research, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Core Values
- Determination: Meet challenges head on
- Innovation: Always look for better
- Well-Being: Seek the success, health, and happiness of all
Benefits
- Competitive compensation, paid weekly
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance, including Kaiser and VSP options
- Medical FSA
- Dependent Care FSA
- Employer-paid life insurance
- Voluntary ancillary benefits including Critical Illness, Accident Insurance, and Whole Life Insurance
- 401k matching: 100 percent of the first 3 percent, then 50 percent of the next 2 percent
- Benefits are subject to a waiting period.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
