Senior Manager - Sales & Use Tax

Job Description

Job Description

Bunzl Distribution is seeking a Senior Manager — Sales & Use Tax to lead and oversee the Company’s sales and use tax function across its diverse distribution operations. This position handles sales and use tax compliance, audits, tax research, technology, process improvement, and tax planning.

The Senior Manager will serve as a strategic tax resource and business partner to Finance, Accounting, district leadership, Operations, Sales, IT, and senior management. This role will provide leadership in supporting effective tax processes, mitigating tax risk, ensuring compliance with applicable state and local tax laws, and supporting Bunzl’s long-term business goals.

Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of the sales and use tax function, including compliance, tax research, audits, reporting, technology, process improvement, and planning.
• Provide leadership and guidance on sales and use tax matters involving tax law, technology, administration, and business operations.
• Partner with local operations and business-unit leadership to resolve customer, product taxability, exemption certificate, invoicing, and delivery-related tax questions.
• Lead, develop, train, and manage sales and use tax team members while promoting accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting sales and use taxes and assess their impact on Bunzl’s operations.
• Implement proper procedural, process, and system changes resulting from changes in tax laws and regulations.
• Develop and support Company tax guidelines and instructions to reflect legislative and regulatory changes.
• Research and evaluate tax planning opportunities and provide recommendations that support business goals while maintaining proper compliance and risk controls.
• Coordinate and manage sales and use tax audits with state and local taxing authorities, including information requests, documentation, responses, negotiations, and resolution of audit issues.
• Manage relationships with external tax advisors, consultants, and service providers and coordinate planning, research, audit, and examination support.
• Coordinate estimated and final payments associated with sales and use tax returns, audits, assessments, and other tax obligations.
• Coordinate data collection and perform analytical reviews to identify and mitigate tax risks, including product taxability, exemptions, deductions, credits, and documentation supporting tax filing positions.
• Review and coordinate sales and use tax accruals within appropriate General Ledger accounts and support accurate financial reporting.
• Maintain and improve sales and use tax technology processes and systems, identifying opportunities to increase automation, efficiency, and compliance.
• Partner with IT on tax technology initiatives, system enhancements, testing, implementation, and process improvements.
• Provide clear and prompt communication to senior management and local operations regarding sales and use tax requirements, risks, opportunities, and changes in tax law.
• Support cross-functional initiatives and special projects involving Finance, Accounting, Sales, Operations, IT, and other business functions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field required. Advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant sales and use tax experience required.
• Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license required.
• Significant experience managing sales and use tax compliance for a complex, multi-location organization.
• Strong knowledge of state and local sales and use tax laws, regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Experience with Vertex Indirect Tax or comparable indirect tax technology.
• Experience with sales and use tax research platforms and compliance technology.
• Experience with AS400 or a comparable enterprise resource planning system.
• Demonstrated experience managing sales and use tax audits, including data gathering, documentation, deadline management, issue resolution, and communication with taxing authorities.
• Experience leading and developing tax professionals and managing external tax service providers.

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership, people management, and team-development skills.
• Excellent analytical, research, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution abilities.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Explain complex tax requirements clearly to both tax and non-tax audiences.
• Strong understanding of tax implications related to product taxability, customer exemptions, sales invoicing, and distribution operations.
• Monitor changes in state and local tax laws and translate those changes into practical guidance for local business-unit personnel.
• Develop and manage budgets, audits, projects, and departmental priorities.
• Evaluate and communicate tax technology and system-change recommendations while building effective partnerships with IT.
• Strong business judgment and the ability to balance compliance requirements, operational needs, and business objectives.
• Work effectively across a large, decentralized organization and build strong relationships with local business leadership and corporate stakeholders.
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally.

Success in This Role

Success in this position will require a combination of technical sales and use tax expertise, strong leadership, business partnership, and process discipline. The Senior Manager will be expected to proactively identify tax risks and opportunities, develop practical solutions, and effectively communicate tax requirements throughout Bunzl’s organization.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic and collaborative tax leader who can translate complex sales and use tax requirements into clear, actionable guidance for business partners while maintaining strong compliance and operational controls.

The perks of being a Bunzl team member don’t stop at being part of a great team or being valued as our #1 asset. We offer a full range of benefits to help our employees take care of themselves and their families today, tomorrow and for the future.

• Medical, Dental & Vision Benefits effective the 1st day of the month after 30 days
• Paid Time Off - Vacation, Sick, Holidays and Personal Time
• 401K with generous company match
• Additional benefit information can be found on the Bunzl Careers home page under Benefits and Perks. 

Bunzl is a global leader in the Cleaning & Hygiene, Food Processing, Grocery, Health Care, Non‑Food Retail, and Safety industries. We have grown both organically and through acquisitions to exceed $10 billion in sales. Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Bunzl North America operates more than 100 warehouses and serves all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and parts of the Caribbean and Mexico. With more than 10,000 team members and over 400,000 supplies, Bunzl is recognized as a leading supplier across North America—and proudly certified as a Great Place to Work®. At Bunzl, you’ll find Unlimited Potential… your career, our future.

Bunzl Distribution has a tradition of commitment to equal employment opportunity. It is the established policy to attract and retain the best qualified people without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex/gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status as provided by law.