"Tax Compliance Manager"

Job Summary

We are currently seeking skilled and team-oriented applicants for the following position: Tax Compliance Manager. The Tax Compliance Manager provides continual management and implementation of university tax requirements, including tax advisory, planning, compliance, and reporting needs. This position has and continues to develop expert knowledge of the various regulatory issues related to state, federal, and international tax compliance. With ever-growing complexity in tax regulation and requirements, this position ensures compliance of existing and future laws both within the state, interstate, as well as internationally.

• The Tax Compliance Manager will collaborate closely with functional teams and prepare training resources to continuously improve systems and educate the University community on tax matters. Reporting to the controller, this position operates with a high level of independence and is expected to demonstrate a significant level of acumen, tact, and discretion. The Tax Manager performs as a team player and an experienced technical advise.
• The Tax Compliance Manager is responsible for assuring data submitted in tax documents comply with all university, state and federal requirements. This position communicates verbally and in writing the University’s tax requirements including preparation and delivery of instructional materials and acts as a tax subject matter expert in response to inquiries. This position is responsible for various EWU tax filings and collaboration with other departments including identifying and resolving University tax compliance obligations and many tax reporting functions.
• The Tax Compliance Manager works with outside tax service providers and legal experts to manage contractual relationships for research and compliance requirements related to employment outside of Washington State (i.e., tax home).

EWU is committed to supporting and promoting a workforce that is welcoming to all and encourages applicants of all backgrounds to apply for this position.

The salary for this position is $112,850 In addition to salary, the university offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and disability insurance and retirement. In addition, EWU offers generous vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays per year and fringe benefits, such as tuition waiver for employees and eligible family members, discounted EWU sports tickets, full access to our campus workout facilities at a minimum fee and free transportation through STA buses. For additional information regarding insurance benefits please see our Benefits page: https://inside.ewu.edu/hr/benefits/insurance/.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or closely related field
• Three years of progressively responsible operational experience in areas such as finance, payroll, and tax regulation
• Three years of progressive experience preparing institutional tax returns
• Experience working with federal and state tax regulations and reporting
• Experience researching and interpreting complex tax laws and regulations for business applications
• Demonstrated experience with integrated, enterprise level accounting software systems
• Exceptional analytical and organizational skills
• Excellent consultative, written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to apply a responsive and flexible approach that is supportive of the needs including universal access of our students, faculty, staff and the public.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA or Master’s Degree with an emphasis in Taxation
• Specific experience in managing tax regulation requirements
• Experience interpreting and implementing applicable federal/state tax guidance related to higher education
• Direct tax experience (federal, state, local, and/or international) at a large public accounting firm, law firm, multinational corporation, or university
• High-level proficiency using enterprise-level accounting systems, ad hoc query tools and/or report writers
• Extensive hands-on system administration experience with Ellucian Banner or similar ERP systems
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in federal tax-exempt organization tax matters
• Experience with IRS, state, and foreign government audits

Other Skills and Abilities

• Ability to identify problems, develop solutions and implement change
• Ability to use discretion, tact and good judgment when working with highly sensitive and confidential information

Job Duties

Institutional Tax Compliance Leadership, Consultation and Operations

Leadership & Consultation
• Serve as the operational leader for the tax planning function, ensuring that university-wide tax practices follow international, federal, state and local tax laws as well as other regulatory requirements
• Manage income tax matters for the institution, including unrelated business income tax and foreign income tax
• Advise individuals at all levels of the organization regarding tax issues and appropriate courses of action
• Provide oversight for tax reporting and compliance across the institution for international, federal, state, and local tax laws. Serve as a technical resource to the EWU community on all tax issues
• Proactively collaborate with University partners to gain a thorough understanding of EWU operations in order to identify tax needs and provide effective tax guidance
• Proactively reach out to and advise the University units on international, federal, and state income and sales tax consequences associated with revenue generating activities for potential unrelated business income tax liability
• Advise management of the impact of new tax laws, coordinate audits by various taxing authorities, and function as the University liaison with external auditors on tax related matters
• Identify and support tax technology and process improvement initiatives
• Make articulate and concise presentations on the tax issues and risks to a diverse group of senior leaders
• Prepare responses to governmental (international, federal, or state) tax inquiries, requests, or correspondences
Regulatory Research
• Monitor compliance with complex IRS rules and regulations, devising tax strategies to mitigate or eliminate tax liability exposure
• Evaluate new payroll tax regulations, determine impact on EWU, prepare implementation plan
• Review IRS guidance pertaining to the university’s deferred compensation plans and monitor for compliance
• Prepare interpretation of tax regulations and provide relevant executive summaries that assess the impact upon the institution
Operational
• Collaborate with Accounts Payable, Payroll, Student Services, and Human Resources for all tax matters including sales and use tax, foreign national payments and honorariums, payroll taxes, 1099’s and 1098-T
• Collect and organize data from stakeholders to prepare tax returns
• Manage the preparation, review and submission (filing) of various tax returns, including payroll tax reporting for the institution (IRS Form 941 and Forms W-2, state, federal, and international reporting)
• Set up and maintain state and international tax accounts, as needed
• Maintain tax software applications (e.g., International Tax Navigator)
• Maintain employee information forms for non-traditional employees (i.e., working away from their tax home)
• Conduct planning, analysis and continuous communication regarding UBIT, UBIT estimates, and UBIT sources.Percent of Time: 75

Tax Service Provider Contract Management (relationships with external tax professionals)

• Manage contractual relationships with the University’s external tax service and legal providers for interstate and international employment tax research and requirements
• Prepare a tax analysis of local country rules and regulations for all aspects of EWU research, collaborations, and significant initiatives in foreign countries where EWU has a presence or is considering establishing a presencePercent of Time: 10

Training and Documentation

• Identify training needs for tax related issues such as sales tax, UBIT and independent contractors
• Design and prepare instructional materials and deliver on-line and in-person training to campus personnel
• Prepare internal procedures for tax compliance
• In collaboration with the Payroll Manager, assist with the production of training materials and staff training for payroll related matters with tax implications
• Understand and develop expertise of the systems that support tax related functions and reportingPercent of Time: 15

Salary Information

The salary for this position is $112,850