Senior Tax Manager

Slate Auto

• $110K — $130K *
Troy, MI 48085In-Person
Legal & Accounting
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA, JD, or advanced degree preferred.
  • 8+ years of progressive tax experience focusing on corporate federal and state income tax and audit defense.
  • Experience in automotive, manufacturing, or complex multi-state operations is a plus.
  • Strong command of U.S. federal, state, and local tax regulations; familiarity with ASC 740 tax accounting principles.
  • Proficiency in tax compliance, planning, and reporting software (Avalara, SAP, OneSource or CorpTax preferred).
  • Demonstrated leadership abilities and experience managing complex projects.
  • Excellent communication skills to convey complex tax issues simply.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute tax strategies to optimize the company's tax position and support growth.
  • Partner with leadership to assess tax implications of major business decisions like mergers and acquisitions.
  • Drive tax efficiency through process improvements and technology adoption.
  • Oversee preparation and timely filing of corporate income tax returns at all levels.
  • Monitor tax nexus footprint and ensure compliance with jurisdictional requirements.
  • Advise on uncertain tax positions and loss contingencies, ensuring proper documentation.
  • Lead tax technology initiatives to enhance process efficiency and data accuracy.

Benefits

  • Mentorship opportunities within a growing tax team.
  • Potential for direct people-management responsibilities as the team expands.
  • Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams.
  • Engagement in high-impact tax initiatives that influence business strategy.
Full Job Description
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

As the Senior Tax Manager, you will be a key strategic leader responsible for overseeing all aspects of the company's income tax function, including compliance, reporting, planning, and risk management. This role requires a forward-thinking tax professional who can design and implement tax strategies that align with the organization's business objectives, drive efficiency, and ensure full compliance with all regulatory requirements. You will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, lead high-impact tax initiatives, and mentor a growing tax team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

WHAT YOU GET TO DO

Strategic Tax Leadership
  • Develop and execute tax strategies that optimize the company's overall tax position, manage risk, and support long-term business growth.
  • Partner with executive leadership and finance teams to evaluate the tax implications of major business decisions, including mergers, acquisitions, and expansions.
  • Drive tax efficiency across the organization through process improvements, technology adoption, and automation.

Corporate Income Tax
  • Oversee the preparation, review, and timely filing of all corporate income tax returns (federal, state, and local).
  • Develop and maintain a quarterly process to monitor the company's income tax nexus footprint, registering the company where required and ensuring ongoing compliance with all jurisdictional requirements.
  • Co-own preparation of the income tax provision in accordance with ASC 740, ensuring accuracy and alignment with corporate financial reporting; review and approve return-to-provision adjustments and deferred tax entries.
  • Monitor evolving federal, state, and local tax legislation, proactively assessing business impact and advising leadership on necessary actions.
  • Maintain SOX compliance over income tax processes, ensuring internal controls are designed and operating effectively, and promptly remediating any identified deficiencies.
  • Evaluate and advise management on uncertain tax positions and loss contingencies (ASC 740-10 / ASC 450), ensuring positions are properly tracked and documented.
  • Manage the R&D tax credit study in partnership with external service providers, ensuring documentation supports qualified research expenses (QREs) and that credits are accurately captured and reflected in the return.
  • Support transfer pricing strategy, documentation, and intercompany transaction reporting.
  • Lead tax technology initiatives within the income tax function, including system implementations, user acceptance testing, and integrations to improve process efficiency and data accuracy.

Tax Planning & Advisory
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on complex, issue-specific tax questions as they arise, including transaction structuring, international expansion, and capital investment decisions.
  • Research and analyze emerging and ambiguous tax issues, delivering clear, actionable recommendations to mitigate risk and support decision-making.

Tax Audits & Risk Management
  • Lead the company's response to federal, state and local income tax audits and examinations, managing relationships with external auditors and regulatory authorities.
  • Oversee the preparation of supporting documentation and ensure effective resolution of disputes.

Team Leadership & Development
  • Serve as a mentor and technical resource to other members of the tax team, supporting their growth and development even in the absence of direct reporting relationships.
  • Contribute to building a scalable, high-performing tax function as the team grows, with the expectation of taking on direct people-management responsibilities over time.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with finance, legal, and operations teams to integrate tax considerations into business strategies and initiatives.
  • Manage relationships with external advisors, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality service delivery.
  • Lead and support other tax initiatives as required.


WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA, JD, or advanced degree (Master's in Taxation or LLM) strongly preferred.
  • Experience: 8+ years of progressive tax experience with a focus on corporate federal and state income tax and audit defense, including prior leadership or team management experience.
  • Industry Knowledge: Experience in automotive, manufacturing, or complex multi-state operations is a plus.
  • Technical Expertise: Strong command of U.S. federal, state, and local tax regulations; experience with ASC 740 tax accounting principles.
  • Technology Skills: Familiarity with tax compliance, planning, and reporting software (Avalara, SAP, OneSource or CorpTax preferred).
  • Leadership Qualities: Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage complex projects, and influence senior stakeholders.
  • Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to simplify complex tax issues for non-tax audiences.
  • Mindset: Strategic thinker with strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

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