Sales Tax Specialist

Overview

This role is a Sales Tax Specialist (US) position within the finance team, reporting to the CFO. Responsibilities include managing U.S. state and local sales and use tax compliance, supporting audits and controversy, and maintaining tax automation systems.

Although the role is remote, an East Coast location is required for optimal collaboration with a Europe-based team.

Responsibilities

Compliance & Reporting

• Prepare, review, and file multi-state sales and use tax returns (monthly, quarterly, and annual cycles) across 30+ jurisdictions.
• Calculate tax liabilities, review GL account reconciliations, and ensure timely remittance to taxing authorities.
• Maintain a compliance calendar and monitor filing deadlines, extensions, and payment due dates.
• Manage exemption certificate collection, validation, and storage (preferably with experience using a certificate management system such as Avalara CertCapture, EXEMPTAX, or similar).

Nexus & Taxability Analysis

• Monitor the company’s economic nexus footprint across all states and applicable territories following South Dakota v. Wayfair.
• Research product and service taxability questions and document conclusions in internal tax memos.
• Evaluate the tax impact of new products, services, business lines, and acquisitions.

Audit & Controversy

• Serve as the primary point of contact for state and local sales tax audits; coordinate document requests and draft responses.
• Identify and quantify potential audit exposures and recommend and implement risk mitigation strategies.
• Manage voluntary disclosure agreements (VDAs) and amended filings where required.

Systems & Technology

• Recommend, administer, and maintain tax automation software (Avalara AvaTax, Vertex O Series, or equivalent), including rate updates, product mappings, and nexus settings.
• Partner with IT and ERP teams on system upgrades, integrations, and testing for sales tax logic.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for all compliance processes.

Cross-Functional Support

• Advise internal stakeholders (Sales, Operations, Finance) on sales tax implications of transactions and contracts.
• Support the annual tax provision process by providing accurate indirect tax accrual data.
• Assist with due diligence on mergers and acquisitions from an indirect tax perspective.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or an equivalent qualification.
• 3–5 years of direct, hands-on U.S. sales and use tax compliance experience.
• Working knowledge of multi-state nexus rules, including economic nexus thresholds post-Wayfair.
• Experience with a major tax automation platform (Avalara, Vertex, Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE, or similar).
• Familiarity with Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) registration and compliance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data validation).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with superior attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent deadlines under pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to explain tax concepts to non-tax stakeholders.
• Energetic, self-motivated, and committed to continuous learning and process improvement.
• Commitment to good corporate governance, integrity, and professional discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• CMI (Certified Member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation) designation preferred, or active pursuit.
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle NetSuite, or Microsoft Dynamics.
• Exposure to marketplace facilitator rules and e-commerce or SaaS taxability.

Compensation & Benefits

• Not specified in the job description.

Location

• Remote role; an East Coast location is required for optimal collaboration with a Europe-based team.

Equal Employment Opportunity

• Equal employment opportunities are provided to all employees and applicants. Discrimination and harassment are prohibited on any basis protected by federal, state, or local laws, including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.