Indirect Tax Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

The Specialist Tax serves as a primary owner of indirect tax compliance, risk management, and business partnering across multiple Daikin entities. Operating within a co-source model, the role is responsible for reviewing and approving prepared returns, maintaining control over indirect tax data and reconciliations, and serving as the internal point of escalation for taxability decisions. The Specialist Tax drives value beyond compliance by identifying refund opportunities, supporting audit defense, building cross-functional relationships, and contributing to the continuous improvement of the indirect tax function.

Position Responsibilities may include, but not limited to:

• Manage the co-source compliance relationship: provide accurate and timely transaction data to third-party preparers, review prepared returns for technical accuracy, approve filings, and maintain oversight of the filing calendar across monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual cycles for domestic and Canadian entities.

• Monitor nexus exposure across jurisdictions; initiate registration, renewal, or cancellation of sales and use tax permits in coordination with business changes, acquisitions, and operational footprint shifts.

• Own the indirect tax general ledger: prepare and review sales tax journal entries, perform monthly reconciliation of transaction tax accounts, and ensure accruals, payments, and liabilities are accurately reflected on the books and reconcile to filed returns.

• Manage the exemption certificate program: issue certificates to vendors, maintain certificate records within the tax automation system, and drive certificate collection processes across business units.

• Serve as the primary internal resource for indirect tax questions raised by AP, procurement, sales, finance, and operations teams; respond to inquiries from taxing jurisdictions and support cross-functional tax education initiatives.

• Apply advanced technical knowledge of sales and use tax laws, regulations, rulings, and case law to render taxability decisions on complex transactions; escalate technical positions with documented research and recommend process changes where recurring issues indicate systemic risk.

• Identify and pursue refund and recovery opportunities including overpaid sales and use tax, input tax credits (GST/HST), and prior-period corrections; prepare or coordinate amended return filings and track pending refunds through resolution.

• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes across jurisdictions; assess business impact, communicate findings to relevant stakeholders, and lead implementation of process or system changes required to maintain compliance.

• Support indirect tax due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, and entity restructurings; identify exposure, assess historical liability, and assist with integration of acquired entities into the indirect tax compliance program.

• Mentor and develop junior team members; contribute to SOP development, process documentation, and internal training on indirect tax concepts for finance, AP, and procurement stakeholders.

• Respond to state and local notices, assessments, and inquiries; coordinate with co-source providers and outside counsel as needed, and escalate audit activity with appropriate documentation and legal privilege considerations.

• Lead sales and use tax audit defense: manage document requests (IDRs), coordinate data production, develop audit strategy in collaboration with the Indirect Tax Manager and outside advisors, and work toward favorable resolution of assessments.

• Review purchase transactions and vendor invoices to validate taxability determinations; oversee the use tax accrual process and ensure accurate self-assessment across entities.

• Manage property tax compliance and indirect tax matters beyond sales and use tax, including gross receipts, B&O, and Canadian GST/HST obligations, in coordination with external advisors and business unit controllers.

• Perform other related duties or assist with special projects as required.

Nature & Scope:

• Applies advanced knowledge of job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience

• Manages projects and processes while working independently and with limited supervision

• Coaches and reviews the work of lower-level professionals

• Problems faced are difficult and sometimes complex; takes a new perspective on existing solutions

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with others at all levels inside and outside the company.

• Proficient in Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.

• Strong verbal and written communications skills.

• Excellent organizational and time management skills.

• Possess strong interpersonal skills to deal effectively with a wide variety of people assertively and confidently.

• Strong tax research skills and experience with tax research software (CCH/TTR preferred).

Competencies:

• Advanced technical knowledge of multi-state sales and use tax law, with the ability to evaluate complex transactions, identify exposure, and render well-supported taxability positions across numerous jurisdictions.

• Ability to complete work and meet deadlines with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Problem Solving & Decision Quality: Able to use rigorous logic and methods to solve problems with effective solutions.

• Relationship Management: Able to build constructive and effective relationships with a broad and diverse group of business partners.

Experience:

• Minimum 6 plus years of sales tax experience in public accounting, or multiple entities/multi-state company (manufacturing industry experience is preferred).

Education/Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field is required.

• CPA, CMI Sales Tax designation or progress toward certification is preferred.

People Management: No

Physical Requirements / Work Environment:

• Must be able to perform essential responsibilities with or without reasonable accommodations. Working outside standard office hours may be required to meet deadlines and as needed on-call schedule. Physically be able to participate in training sessions, presentations, and meetings. Some travel may be required.

Reports To: Tax Manager

The Company provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of a person’s race, color, religion (including religious dress or grooming practices), creed, national origin (including language use restrictions), citizenship, uniform service member or veteran status, ancestry, disability, physical or mental disability (including HIV/AIDS), medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, request for protected leave, marital status, sex, pregnancy, age (over 40), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Company will comply with all federal and state regulations and statutes about individuals with disabilities.