ABOUT THE ROLEAs the State Tax Manager, you'll take a leadership role in shaping and managing our state and local income and franchise tax function across the Company and its U.S. subsidiaries and partnerships. You'll be responsible for ensuring we meet our state tax compliance requirements while also looking beyond compliance to identify thoughtful tax strategies that reduce our overall state tax burden and support broader business goals.
In this role, you'll serve as a trusted tax advisor to leaders across the organization. You'll bring your technical expertise to complex state tax matters, provide practical guidance that supports business decisions, identify planning opportunities, and proactively assess and manage tax risks. You'll also partner with key stakeholders across the business to help translate evolving state tax requirements into clear, actionable recommendations.
You'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on how the state tax function operates by improving processes, strengthening controls, and advancing the use of technology and automation. If you enjoy combining deep state tax expertise with strategic thinking, cross-functional partnership, and continuous improvement, this role gives you the opportunity to influence both the day-to-day work and the longer-term direction of the function.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The Manager, Federal/Domestic Tax (State Tax Manager) is responsible for all aspects of the Company's state income and franchise tax matters, including:
- Lead the preparation and timely filing of accurate state and local income and franchise tax returns, estimates, extensions, and amended returns. Monitor filing obligations, maintain supporting documentation including preparation/reconciliation of apportionment information, and identify tax planning opportunities that minimize state tax liabilities while ensuring compliance.
- Prepare and review state income tax provision calculations, including return-to-provision, deferred taxes, state NOL and credit carryforwards, uncertain tax positions, reserves, and related ASC 740 financial reporting support.
- Research complex state tax issues, evaluate the impact of legislative and regulatory developments, document technical positions, and communicate recommendations and business impacts to senior leadership.
- Provide state tax planning and advisory support for business operations, restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, expansions into new jurisdictions, and other strategic initiatives.
- Lead all state tax audits, notices, and controversy matters by responding to taxing authority inquiries, developing audit strategies, negotiating settlements, and communicating risks and status to leadership.
- Monitor state legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments and proactively communicate significant changes affecting the Company's tax position or business operations.
- Build strong partnerships across Tax, Accounting, Treasury, Legal, Finance, and the business to provide practical state tax guidance and support strategic decision-making.
- Manage relationships with outside advisors, legal counsel, and other service providers to support planning initiatives, audits, and technical matters.
- Leverage Corptax and other tax technology solutions to improve compliance, reporting, automation, and overall process efficiency.
- Oversee the Company's property tax compliance process, including gathering and validating property tax data for submission to the outsourced provider, management of outsourced providers, assessments, appeals, audits, budgets, reconciliations, and payment support.
- Lead special tax projects, including assigned federal tax responsibilities, sales and use tax support, process improvement initiatives, and state tax due diligence related to mergers, acquisitions, and other business transactions.
- Mentor and develop team members while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE YOU'LL BRING- Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance
- Master's/advanced degree in Tax, Accounting, or a Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.)
- 7+ years of state income tax or relevant experience
- Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship for full-time employment.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS- Experience with Accounting for Income Taxes (ASC 740) and partnership taxation.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and meet competing deadlines.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely communicate complex tax concepts to stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with demonstrated effectiveness working cross-functionally and contributing to team outcomes.
- Ability to influence, lead projects, and effectively collaborate to achieve objectives and produce results.
- Experience with Corptax income tax compliance software.
JOB REQUIREMENTS- This position is located at our Corporate Headquarters on Howe Street in Racine
- Full-time, Monday through Friday business hours with overtime as necessary and includes, but is not limited to, year-end close, tax return filing season, and time-sensitive projects.
- Some domestic travel may be required
- This role is eligible for domestic relocation assistance
- Remote work is available once per week for eligible employees after the 90-day onboarding period
BENEFITS AND PERKSSC Johnson's total compensation packages are at or above industry levels. In addition to salary, total packages may include bonuses, long-term incentives, matching 401(k) contributions and profit sharing based on company profitability, job level and years of service. As a family company, we're committed to providing benefits such as subsidized health care plans, maternity/paternity/adoption leave, flexible work arrangements, vacation purchase options, recreation and fitness centers, childcare, counseling services and more.
