Tax Manager - Direct TaxesDepartment: Accounting
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: US TX Houston - Corporate Office
Job DescriptionThe Tax Manager (Direct) will own income and franchise tax workstreams across all filing jurisdictions and all entities within the combined Caturus platform (Commonwealth LNG and Caturus Energy). This role brings tax provision and compliance work in-house, building institutional knowledge and workpapers rather than relying solely on outside firms, and plays a key role in the organization. This role is based in Houston and reports to the Tax Director.
Key Accountabilities:- Own income and franchise tax compliance workstreams across all filing jurisdictions and all entities (Commonwealth LNG and Caturus Energy) and manage those workstreams in partnership with external providers.
- Build and maintain income and franchise tax workpapers, reducing reliance on outside firms and increasing visibility into underlying tax calculations.
- Prepare the quarterly and annual income tax provision under ASC 740, coordinating closely with the Financial Reporting team.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for third-party tax advisors coordinating preparation, review, and timely filing of federal, state, and local income and franchise tax returns, extensions, estimates, and notices.
- Assist the Tax Director with tax research and transaction planning, as needed.
- Review the work of tax staff (Tax Analyst/Associate) once hired, establishing true segregation of duties.
- Stay current on changes in federal and state income/franchise tax laws and regulations and proactively communicate updates to relevant teams.
- Maintain accurate and organized records of all direct tax filings, payments, and correspondence, including tracking all tax deadlines.
- Collaborate with Accounting, Financial Reporting, and other departments to ensure proper tax treatment of transactions.
- Identify and implement strategies to minimize direct tax liabilities and maximize tax savings.
- Manage data preparation and documentation for tax audits, if any, using statutory, regulatory, or judicial authority to support the Company's position on issues arising during an audit.
Qualifications: Education, Certificates, and Licenses:
- Bachelor's degree in finance or accounting required.
- CPA or other relevant professional certification strongly preferred.
Experience:
- 7+ years of experience in multi-jurisdictional income and franchise tax compliance, including preparation and review of the ASC 740 income tax provision.
- Experience with multi-entity or partnership tax structures; energy or LNG industry experience a plus. Public Accounting experience preferred, but not required.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Strong technical knowledge of ASC 740 income tax provision preparation and federal/state income and franchise tax compliance.
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines simultaneously.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail and a solutions-oriented approach.
- Clear, professional communicator (written and verbal) able to work effectively with external advisors, internal stakeholders, and Financial Reporting.
- Experience with tax software and ERP systems (SAP preferred).
- Experience managing or mentoring junior tax staff, or readiness to do so, is a plus.
- Ability to work independently and build scalable, in-house tax processes; detail-oriented and organized with strong record-keeping skills.
