The Senior Tax Manager leads the enterprise tax function for Blue Cross of Idaho, Gemstone Holdings, and affiliated entities. This role serves as the organization's primary internal tax subject matter expert, with responsibility for tax compliance, tax accounting and provision support, strategic tax planning, tax governance, internal controls, and external advisor management across a complex, regulated holding company environment. The position partners closely with Finance, Accounting, Legal, Treasury, Investments, Business Development, regulatory reporting teams, and external advisors to identify tax risks and opportunities, support business decisions, ensure timely and accurate reporting, and build scalable internal tax capability.
The Senior Tax Manager will report to the Chief Accounting Officer.
Key Responsibilities- Lead federal, state, and entity-specific tax compliance activities, including insurance company filings, consolidated reporting considerations, federal filings, estimated tax payments, state premium tax filings, state income taxes, apportionment, Foundation filings, and recurring tax reconciliations.
- Develop and implement proactive tax planning strategies to identify cash tax savings, manage net operating loss utilization, evaluate entity structure and intercompany activity, and support capital planning, restructuring, and strategic growth initiatives.
- Lead the annual and quarterly tax provision process, including current and deferred tax calculations, effective tax rate analysis, valuation allowance assessment, uncertain tax position support, return-to-provision analysis, financial statement disclosures, audit support, and coordination with financial reporting teams.
- Own and maintain tax calendars, filing procedures, documentation standards, review checklists, audit response protocols, tax-sharing allocations, and tax control activities.
- Handle external tax advisor engagements within established budgets, including scope, deliverables, technical review, timing, follow-up, and evaluation of opportunities to transition routine tax activities in-house.
- Advise Finance leadership and cross-functional business partners on tax implications of new entities, intercompany transactions, tax-sharing arrangements, capital transactions, restructuring activity, acquisitions, divestitures, investments, and other pivotal initiatives.
- Research and communicate technical tax matters in a clear, practical manner for senior leadership, auditors, regulators, and business partners.
- Build internal tax capability by training and mentoring accounting team members, documenting key processes, and creating succession depth for critical tax responsibilities.
Required QualificationsExperience: 7-10 years of progressive corporate tax experience, including a combination of public accounting and/or industry experience.
Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, or a related field; or equivalent work experience (Two years' relevant work experience is equivalent to one-year college
- CPA license
- Proven experience with federal and state income tax compliance, tax accounting, tax provision, and technical tax research
- Strong understanding of tax controls, documentation standards, audit support, and the financial reporting implications of tax matters.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience managing external tax advisors and reviewing technical tax work products.
- Experience supporting complex, multi-entity organizations, corporate tax structures, consolidated returns, intercompany transactions, tax-sharing arrangements, state tax matters, and net operating loss management.
- Experience in insurance, healthcare, regulated industries, or holding company environments.
Leadership Competencies- Strategic thinker with the ability to connect tax planning to enterprise objectives, cash flow, capital planning, and long-term growth.
- Strong technical judgment and ability to apply complex tax concepts to practical business decisions.
- High attention to detail, accuracy, documentation, and process discipline.
- Ability to communicate complex tax matters clearly to non-tax audiences, including Finance leadership and business partners.
- Collaborative business partner with the ability to work effectively across Accounting, Finance, Legal, Treasury, external advisors, auditors, and operational leaders.
- Ownership mentality with the ability to build, mature, and scale tax processes in an evolving corporate environment.
As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay range is $106,762 to $177,758. The position is eligible for an annual incentive bonus (variable depending on company and employee performance). The pay range for this position considers a wide range of factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, relevant experience, skills, seniority, performance, shift, travel requirements, internal equity, geography, business or organizational needs, and alignment with market data. At Blue Cross of Idaho, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top range for the position. Compensation decisions are dependent on factors and circumstances at the time of offer.
We offer a robust package of benefits including paid time off, paid holidays, community service and self-care days, medical/dental/vision/pharmacy insurance, 401(k) matching and non-contributory plan, life insurance, short and long term disability, education reimbursement, employee assistance plan (EAP), adoption assistance program and paid family leave program. We will adhere to all relevant state and local laws concerning employee leave benefits, in line with our plans and policies.
