Senior Manager, Tax - State & Local (Hybrid) (, AL, United States)

You will provide strategic leadership and technical expertise for all state and local tax matters, including income, premium, sales and use, property, withholding, and information reporting tax obligations. You will oversee tax planning, compliance, accounting, audits, and controversy matters while identifying opportunities to improve operational effectiveness, enhance automation, reduce tax expense, and support enterprise growth projects. The role partners with senior leadership and serves as a necessary contributor to mergers and acquisitions, business expansion plans, and other projects. You will report to the Corporate Tax Director. In this hybrid role, you will be expected to work a minimum of 10 days per month from the office. You should reside within approximately 35-50 miles of Madison, WI 53783 or Boston, MA 02110.

Responsibilities

State & Local Tax Strategy, Planning, and Advisory

• Lead the development and execution of state and local tax strategies to support enterprise objectives while managing tax risk.
• Monitor and assess legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments and communicate implications to business leaders.
• Provide strategic tax guidance related to mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, new products and distribution models, investments and reinsurance transactions, and strategic business initiatives.
• Identify and implement tax savings opportunities, incentives, credits, abatements, and expense efficiency initiatives.
• Conduct research and financial modeling to evaluate the impact of tax law changes and business decisions.
• Represent American Family within industry tax organizations, committees, and professional associations.

Tax Compliance and Operational Excellence

• Oversee the preparation, review, and filing of all state and local tax returns and related tax payments.
• Ensure timely, complete, and accurate tax compliance across all applicable jurisdictions.
• Lead efforts to improve tax processes, controls, and governance frameworks.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, standardization, and scalability.
• Leverage technology, automation, analytics, and emerging AI capabilities to modernize tax operations and reduce manual effort.
• Partner with Finance, Accounting, IT, and other business functions on enterprise data and system transformation initiatives.

Tax Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Lead state tax provision calculations under both GAAP and statutory accounting requirements.
• Oversee tax-related financial statement disclosures, footnotes, forecasts, budgeting support, and management reporting.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, Model Audit Rule requirements, and audit documentation standards.
• Partner with Accounting and Finance teams to ensure accurate treatment of tax‑sensitive transactions.

Audit, Controversy, and Risk Management

• Lead state and local tax audits, examinations, appeals, and refund opportunities.
• Develop controversy strategies that minimize financial exposure and protect company interests.
• Manage relationships with external auditors, consultants, and taxing authorities.
• Evaluate uncertain tax positions and audit reserves and provide recommendations to leadership.
• Ensure proactive identification and mitigation of emerging tax risks.

Strategic Business Partnership

• Serve as the primary state and local tax advisor to business leaders throughout the organization.
• Support enterprise growth objectives through proactive consultation and practical solutions.
• Provide executive‑ready analyses, presentations, and recommendations regarding the tax implications of strategic decisions.
• Collaborate across the enterprise to deliver tax insights that create measurable business value.

People Leadership and Talent Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of seven direct reports responsible for state income tax, premium tax, sales and use tax, tax accounting, tax compliance, tax controversy, and related tax operations.
• Foster an environment focused on accountability, engagement, inclusion, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Support succession planning, knowledge transfer, and capability development within the tax organization.
• Encourage participation in industry associations, professional development programs, and cross‑functional initiatives.
• Champion American Family's leadership principles and culture.

Qualifications

• CPA license preferred.
• 8+ years of tax experience, specifically with state premium and sales and use tax.
• Prior people management experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience providing customer‑driven solutions, support or service.
• Demonstrated experience reflecting agility, flexibility and problem‑solving attributes.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of GAAP and/or statutory accounting.
• Demonstrated experience researching technical tax, accounting, or other business issues and developing business plans and strategies.
• Demonstrated experience preparing or reviewing financial or accounting statement information or other required filings such as tax returns and tax payments.
• Demonstrated experience managing tax or other financial audits conducted by external parties.
• Demonstrated experience communicating highly technical or complex information.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and wellbeing benefits.
• Competitive 401(k) contribution, pension plan, and annual incentive.
• 9 paid holidays and 23 days of paid time‑off per year for full‑time employees.
• Student loan repayment program and paid‑family leave.
• Additional benefits support physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing.

Compliance and Sponsorship

• Offer to selected candidates will be contingent on the results of applicable background checks and signing a non‑disclosure agreement for proprietary information, trade secrets, and inventions.
• Our policy restricts consideration of applicants needing employment sponsorship (visa) to specialty occupations. Sponsorship will not be considered for this position unless otherwise specified in the posting.

Employee Orientation

All employees participate in our New Employee Orientation during their first week. This experience is held in person at our Madison, WI Headquarters or one of our AmFam core locations, with virtual sessions available based on scheduling and availability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws pertaining to non‑discrimination, non‑harassment and equal opportunity. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. American Family Insurance is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please email View email address on apply.placed-app.com to request a reasonable accommodation.