Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Tax Supervisor

💰 $95,000 - $135,000 (Varies by location, industry, and experience)

AccountingFinanceTaxationCorporate FinanceComplianceSupervisory

🎯 Role Definition

The Tax Supervisor is a mid-level leadership position that bridges the gap between staff-level execution and senior management strategy. This individual is primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the tax function, including the comprehensive review of complex tax returns and the accurate preparation of tax provisions under ASC 740. Beyond compliance, the Tax Supervisor serves as a technical resource and mentor for junior staff, fostering their professional growth. They are instrumental in identifying and implementing process improvements, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, and supporting strategic tax planning initiatives that align with the organization's business goals. Success in this role requires a blend of deep technical tax expertise, strong leadership capabilities, and a proactive, detail-oriented mindset.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Tax Accountant
  • Experienced Tax Associate
  • Senior Tax Analyst

Advancement To:

  • Tax Manager
  • Senior Tax Manager
  • Director of Tax

Lateral Moves:

  • Internal Audit Supervisor
  • Senior Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) Analyst

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead and oversee the preparation and detailed review of complex federal, state, and local income tax returns for various entity types, including C-corporations, S-corporations, partnerships, and consolidated entities.
  • Manage the quarterly and annual income tax provision process in accordance with ASC 740, including calculating the global effective tax rate, preparing journal entries, and drafting comprehensive footnote disclosures for SEC filings.
  • Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of tax accountants and associates by providing regular performance feedback, hands-on technical training, and career development support to foster a high-performing and engaged team.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for and manage all aspects of federal, state, and local tax audits, including gathering requested information, drafting responses to inquiries, and representing the company before tax authorities.
  • Conduct in-depth research on complex and ambiguous tax issues using tax research software, interpret new legislation, and prepare detailed technical memorandums to document findings and support the company's filing positions.
  • Ensure timely and accurate filing of all income and non-income tax returns, extensions, and estimated tax payments to maintain compliance across all jurisdictions and mitigate penalty exposure.
  • Proactively identify, recommend, and lead the implementation of tax process improvements and technology solutions to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and internal controls of the tax compliance and reporting functions.
  • Assist senior management and the tax director in developing and implementing strategic tax planning initiatives designed to minimize the company's effective tax rate and cash taxes.
  • Maintain and reconcile all tax-basis balance sheets and deferred tax assets and liabilities, ensuring all accounts are accurately stated, properly supported, and roll forward from period to period.
  • Review and analyze proposed business transactions, such as mergers, acquisitions, or dispositions, to identify potential tax implications and provide strategic recommendations to business leaders.
  • Continuously monitor changes in tax legislation and regulations at the federal, state, and international levels, and effectively communicate the potential impact of these changes to senior management.
  • Manage the preparation and review of various non-income tax filings, such as sales and use tax, property tax, and other indirect taxes, ensuring compliance across all operating jurisdictions.
  • Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal partners (e.g., accounting, legal, treasury, FP&A) and external advisors to facilitate effective, cross-functional tax management.
  • Oversee the annual analysis and documentation of uncertain tax positions (ASC 740-10/FIN 48), maintaining all necessary supporting documentation for auditor review.
  • Coordinate the flow of financial and operational information from various departments to ensure all data necessary for tax compliance and provision is collected accurately and on a timely basis.
  • Serve as a power user for core tax software (e.g., ONESOURCE, CCH Axcess), troubleshooting technical issues and training team members on best practices and effective use.
  • Review complex book-to-tax differences (M-1s/M-3s), analyze financial data to identify necessary tax adjustments, and ensure all permanent and temporary differences are properly documented.
  • Lead and execute special projects related to tax planning, research, and compliance, such as R&D tax credit studies, transfer pricing analysis, state nexus reviews, or accounting method changes.
  • Prepare and present clear, concise summaries and presentations of complex tax matters to non-tax professionals and senior leadership to aid in strategic decision-making.
  • Manage the departmental tax compliance calendar, ensuring all statutory and internal deadlines are tracked, communicated to the team, and met without exception.
  • Support the company's international tax compliance efforts, including the review of foreign tax credit calculations, Form 5471/5472 filings, and global transfer pricing documentation.
  • Review and approve tax-related journal entries and account reconciliations as part of the monthly and quarterly accounting close process.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the financial planning and analysis (FP&A) team by providing tax-related inputs for budgeting and forecasting processes.
  • Assist with due diligence efforts for potential mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions from a tax perspective.
  • Contribute to the enhancement of internal controls over the financial reporting (SOX) process for tax-related accounts and disclosures.
  • Participate in cross-functional finance projects, providing tax expertise and ensuring tax implications are considered in broader business initiatives.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • CPA license or Enrolled Agent (EA) credential is required.
  • Expert-level proficiency with corporate tax preparation software such as CCH Axcess, Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE, or GoSystem Tax RS.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, index/match, complex formulas, and data modeling.
  • Deep technical knowledge of U.S. GAAP, specifically ASC 740 (Accounting for Income Taxes) for domestic and multinational corporations.
  • Comprehensive understanding of federal and multi-state tax laws and regulations for corporations, partnerships, and other flow-through entities.
  • Proficiency with tax research platforms like BNA Tax Management Portfolios, CCH IntelliConnect, or RIA Checkpoint.
  • Verifiable experience managing or directly supporting responses to tax audits conducted by the IRS, state, or local tax authorities.
  • Familiarity with large-scale ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and their interaction with tax reporting processes.
  • Proven experience in calculating, documenting, and managing tax provisions and uncertain tax positions (FIN 48).
  • Demonstrated ability to prepare and review complex tax-basis balance sheets and deferred tax inventory rollforwards.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional leadership and team development skills, with a genuine passion for mentoring and growing junior staff.
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex tax concepts to diverse, non-tax audiences.
  • Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to delivering accurate, high-quality work products.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a proven track record of navigating ambiguity and technical challenges.
  • Excellent project management and organizational skills, able to manage multiple competing priorities and consistently meet tight deadlines.
  • A proactive and self-motivated work ethic, with the ability to work independently and take ownership of the tax function.
  • A highly collaborative and team-oriented mindset, focused on fostering positive and productive relationships across departments.
  • High level of integrity and professional judgment in handling confidential and sensitive tax information.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Science in Taxation (MST), Master of Accounting (MAcc), or an LL.M. in Taxation.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Accounting
  • Finance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 4-7 years of progressive tax experience.

Preferred: A combination of experience from a Big 4 or large regional public accounting firm, followed by corporate in-house tax experience, is highly desirable. Experience in a supervisory or lead reviewer capacity is strongly preferred.

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