Job Description

Brief Summary of Work for this Position
This position reports to the Controller and serves as a member of the Controller’s Office leadership team. The role requires expert knowledge of federal and state tax regulations. This position is pivotal in ensuring compliance and strategic planning for the organization’s tax-related functions.

Key responsibilities include responding to tax inquiries, conducting thorough research, and advising management on tax planning strategies along with their financial implications. This position involves excellent verbal and written communication skills, collaborating with others to resolve complex and unprecedented tax issues, and developing, delivering, and maintaining multi-level training and comprehensive documentation for campus units. The role ensures the accurate preparation and submission of all required tax forms, returns, and financial reports for the organization. Coordination with the Payroll Department is essential for payroll-related reporting and compliance. This position is responsible for staying informed about changes in tax laws and regulations, communicating their impact, and implementing necessary updates to organizational policies and procedures. This position proactively identifies activities and transactions that expose the organization to tax risks and recommends and implements policy or process changes to mitigate these risks.

The role collaborates with internal departments such as Payroll, Human Resources, Purchasing, Office of General Counsel, Student Accounts, and International Programs to address tax implications for independent contractors, employees working outside North Carolina, non-U.S. citizen employees working within the U.S., and foreign national students. This role performs treaty analysis for foreign nationals to ensure correct federal withholding and reporting. Additional duties include advising and assisting departments such as Athletics, the Office of General Counsel, the Chancellor’s Office, and the Provost’s Office on tax-related matters.

The position oversees the application and maintenance of sales tax exemptions. This role requires tactful handling of sensitive or controversial issues, fostering productive relationships with internal stakeholders and external entities, and demonstrating leadership in continuous improvement, staff development, and operational excellence. This role performs other duties as assigned or required by the Controller.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance or other discipline related to the area of assignment with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework and three years of professional accounting experience, of which at least one is supervisory; or equivalent combination of training and experience. Some positions may require additional credit hours of accounting coursework. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience
MBA, master’s in accountancy, or other relevant degree
Experience in tax accounting
CPA or another relevant professional credential
Direct supervisory experience
Experience in higher education
Experience with Banner (Ellucian) Systems
Experience in North Carolina government fund accounting
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent work ethic with commitment to meeting deadlines
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Ability to work independently
Ability to learn technology/software systems to run tax processes and diagnose system issues
Experience with Microsoft Office products with proficient Excel skills