Tax Manager, SALT (Direct Tax)

Tax Manager, SALT (Direct Tax)

The Tax Manager, SALT (Direct Tax) leads and delivers high-quality state and local tax compliance and advisory services while serving as a key leader within engagement teams. This position builds strategic client relationships, applies deep multi-state technical expertise, and develops high-performing teams — partnering with firm leadership to identify client needs, drive value-added solutions, and support the firm's growth and culture.

What you'll be doing

• Lead and manage SALT engagements for clients across the full engagement lifecycle — planning, issue identification, technical analysis, workpaper preparation, and final deliverable review and sign-off — ensuring compliance with applicable state and local tax laws, regulations, and firm methodology, and preparing deliverables for shareholder review with accuracy and professional presentation tailored to the audience.
• Evaluate and advise on state income and franchise tax matters, including nexus determinations, unitary filing positions, apportionment methodologies, tax base rules, combined state tax returns for corporations and pass-through entities, ASC 740 state tax provisions, and the preparation and review of workpapers supporting state compliance filings.
• Manage engagement economics with financial and operational discipline — overseeing pricing, budgeting, billing, scope management, staffing, and workflow efficiency across multiple concurrent engagements — while driving accountability and timely execution against profitability targets.
• Develop relationships with client executives by proactively communicating throughout the year on engagement status, emerging issues, legislative and regulatory developments, and state tax planning opportunities; help clients understand relevant multi-state trends and emerging issues, identify opportunities to enhance their tax positions, and leverage prior engagement history to improve continuity and client experience.
• Collaborate across service lines to deliver integrated solutions, identify opportunities to connect client needs to GMCO's broader service offerings, and view all interactions — including networks and proposal opportunities — as potential avenues for business growth.
• Lead, mentor, and develop staff and senior associates through on-the-job coaching, internal CPE, engagement and annual performance evaluations, and career development guidance; coordinate scheduling, support recruitment of quality talent, model professionalism and work-life balance, and hold team members accountable to performance and deadlines.
• Demonstrate and uphold core values including integrity, quality, innovation, stewardship, and inclusivity in all aspects of client service and team leadership.

Requirements

What makes you a fit

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• Experience: A minimum of 5+ years of recent public accounting experience in tax, with demonstrated progression in responsibility.
• Specialty: Broad exposure to State and Local Taxes, including demonstrated experience with Direct SALT — state income and franchise tax compliance, workpaper preparation, and technical research — as well as working knowledge of credits and incentives, sales and use tax, and other SALT issues; must be eager to work across a variety of SALT matters.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in ASC 740 state provisions, nexus considerations, unitary filing positions, apportionment methodologies, tax base rules, corporate and pass-through state returns, combined state returns, multi-state tax planning and analysis, tax research, and compliance and consulting across multi-state jurisdictions; strong understanding of accounting method changes and tax depreciation rules as they apply to state tax.
• Leadership: Demonstrated supervisory and engagement leadership experience, including coaching and review of work performed by staff and senior associates.
• License: Active CPA license strongly preferred (or ability to obtain in short order).
• Communication: Exceptional client service and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to develop and maintain outstanding client relationships and translate complex technical matters into clear, actionable insights.
• Software: Highly proficient with Microsoft Office and tax compliance software platforms; adaptable to emerging technologies.
• Project Management: Strong project management skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-performance environment.

Compensation & Benefits

At Geffen Mesher, we value transparency and equity in compensation. The compensation offered for this position will be based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to: years of relevant experience, unique or specialized skill sets, education, licensure, internal equity, and location. The estimated salary range for this position is $108,000-$150,000.

Additional Benefits Include

• 401k with a 3% employer contribution
• Discretionary profit sharing of up to 4.5% annually
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance. We cover 100% of the individual medical premium!
• Generous PTO, plus 12 Paid Holidays, 8 hours of Volunteer Time and Paid Parental Leave
• Hybrid work options and flexible working hours in the summer
• Parking and Transit Reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• On-site gym and locker room
• Incentive plan for sales leads
• Generous Employee Referral Program

Company Overview

Geffen Mesher and Company, PC (GMCO) proudly stands as one of Portland's foremost locally owned accounting firms, with a distinguished history of over 90 years dedicated to serving clients throughout the Northwest. We owe our enduring success to our client-centric ethos and unwavering commitment to our team members. We provide a full suite of professional services, including Accounting, Assurance, Business Consulting, Business Valuation, Data and Analytics, Litigation Support, Family Office, Transaction Services, and full-service Tax planning, spanning several industries.

At GMCO, we believe in fostering strong, lasting partnerships with our clients, and we do the same for our team members. We are a large firm with a small firm feel. Our shareholders are humble, down-to-earth humans who hire and support motivated and resourceful people and provide opportunities to lead successful personal and professional lives. We provide ample growth opportunities whether you are starting as an intern, or you are a seasoned manager.

Geffen Mesher is committed equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities.