Tax Lead

Overview: The Tax Lead is a technical leadership position within the Tax Department with primary tax accounting and compliance responsibilities. This position requires highly specialized insurance tax technical skills and proven experience with complex tax accounting for life insurance companies (GAAP & Statutory basis) in consolidated groups including solid working knowledge of reinsurance transactions and related tax aspects of reporting and compliance. The individual will be responsible for preparation of the more complex, non-routine federal, foreign and state income tax filings for the domestic life and foreign captive life insurance entities and the non-life entities. This role will provide process management, resource coordination and review of the routine, less complex federal, foreign and state income tax filings. This individual will also be responsible for preparation and review of the quarterly and annual statutory and GAAP income tax reporting for the insurance entities. The Tax Lead will be responsible for coordinating, managing and reviewing tax compliance, tax financial reporting and project work performed by interns, loaned staff, off-shore co-sourcing teams, outsourcing providers (e.g., research & experimentation tax credits and internal software capitalization) and tax advisors. This role has primary responsibility for execution and documentation of key controls. Responsibilities: • Prepare the higher level and complex Statutory income tax accounting and reporting in accordance with SSAP101. Coordinate, manage, and review of lower level, more routine aspects of the Statutory income tax accounting and reporting.

• Prepare the higher level and complex GAAP income tax accounting and reporting in accordance with ASC740. Coordinate, manage, and review of lower level, more routine aspects of the GAAP income tax accounting and reporting.
• Prepare and review investment tax accounting reporting and compliance for all asset classes including partnerships, bonds, stocks, alternative investments, mortgages, and structured securities. Primary responsibility for investment tax reporting from the PAM (PFI) system.
• Prepare and review of tax basis balance sheets for insurance companies.
• Execute and document internal controls and assist in design and/or revision of internal controls.
• Responsible for communicating with auditors and providing requested information as needed
• Responsible for preparation of the higher level and complex aspects of the life insurance entity federal income tax returns and estimates. Coordinate, manage and review of lower level, more routine aspects of the federal income tax returns and estimates.
• Coordinate, manage and review of foreign information reporting for corporate tax returns to include Forms 926, 5471, 8865, 8991, 8992 and 8993.
• Coordinate, manage and review federal excise tax return filings.
• Coordinate, manage and review of state income tax returns and estimates.
• Coordinate, manage and review of non-life S corporation tax returns.
• Responsible for communicating with other areas of SFG to stay informed of new issues or changes in the business that would impact tax compliance and/or tax accounting/reporting. Identify tax issues and perform analysis and implement changes to tax compliance and/or tax accounting/reporting.
• Performs tax research and makes recommendations based on analysis.
• Assist with federal, state, and local taxing authority inquiries and audits.
• Assist with annual business plan and updates as needed.
• Lead role with tax software automations and updates and maintenance as needed.
• Responsible for identifying and implementing automation and modernization of tax processes that increases efficiency and reduces tax compliance and reporting cycle time.
• Monitor and analyze new federal and state tax legislation, determine impacts to SFG entities, and implement new requirements as enacted. Assist tax leadership with modeling tax legislative proposals to support advocacy initiatives.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.
• Participate in other initiatives and/or projects as assigned.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.
• Other duties as assigned. Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or other related field Required
• Minimum 6 years' related experience in a corporate tax environment or public accounting firm, including experience in:
• Previous experience in life insurance taxation (i.e. Subchapter L of the IRC) required
• Experience with tax accounting principles under US GAAP and National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) statutory accounting required
• Experience with tax accounting, compliance and financial reporting for investments including partnerships, bonds, stocks, structured securities, hedging, derivatives, real estate, mortgages and debt instruments preferred
• Intermediate level tax technical skills in corporate income tax, consolidated groups, and complex life insurance entities (including offshore captive insurance companies)
• Demonstrated in depth understanding of life insurance company statutory and GAAP financial reporting
• Effective written and oral communication skills with an engaging and approachable style
• Advanced Microsoft Office Excel skills; working knowledge of other Microsoft Office applications
• Proven ability to prioritize and handle multiple complex tasks in a fast paced environment
• Advanced skills with Accounting for Income Taxes under ASC 740 and/or SSAP 101
• Ability to manage multiple processes, projects, and work performed by interns, loaned staff, co-sourcing/offshore resources, outsourcing projects.
• High degree of analytical skills
• Excellent attention to detail with a high level of accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to research and apply tax laws and financial reporting standards
• Proficient in corporate tax return preparation software (OneSource experience preferred)
• Basic knowledge of internal controls over financial reporting
• Desire to attain or enhance insurance-industry specific accounting, finance and tax skills
• Driven, team-oriented individual interested in working in a high performance culture
• Process improvement mindset
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the courage to challenge existing processes
• CPA Preferred
• FLMI Preferred
• 5% •Some travel between office locations and to conferences may be required

Suitability Requirements: • Criminal background check required.

• Due to the financial nature and level of accountability of this position, a credit and criminal background check is required - The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires Sammons Financial Group Companies to notify you that, as a routine part of processing this application for employment, Sammons Financial Group may request a consumer report on you to verify all information contained in this application. Such report may include information about work-related behaviors, performance, character, general reputation, and personal characteristics, in addition to information about your previous employment, education, credit history and criminal records

Company Information: •Sammons Financial Group offers a competitive benefit package that includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Retirement, PTO and Holiday Pay.

• Our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a 100% company-funded retirement plan, so you can save for retirement without contributing a penny of your own paycheck.
• Healthy balance between work and personal lives. Friday afternoons off all year long, competitive PTO, and generous number of paid holidays.
• Our incentive program for defined goals subject to eligibility and performance. Monetary rewards are based on individual and/or overall company performance.
• Colleagues who support one another, model our core values, and drive our healthy, high-performing culture. Pay Range: USD $74,301.00 - USD $154,793.00 /Yr. Pay Transparency Verbiage: Range includes data points from multiple labor markets. Specific range is dependent on the labor market where the incumbent will be hired to perform the position. Starting salary is dependent on candidate qualifications and experience. For a narrower salary range specific to your labor market, please inquire. Work Authorization/Sponsorship: At this time, we’re not considering candidates that need any type of immigration sponsorship now or in the future or those needing work authorization for this role (This includes, but is not limited to students on F1-OPT, F1-CPT, J-1, etc.)