Consultant Tax Planning - Tax Planning - Akron FirstEnergy Headquarters

Job Description

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers' lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

This is an open position with the FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. [SC00]


Position Summary:

The Consultant, Tax Planning is a senior-level individual contributor responsible for leading complex U.S. federal and state income tax planning initiatives within a regulated electric utility environment. This role provides expert technical guidance on the tax implications of strategic business transactions, regulatory proceedings, and emerging legislative or regulatory developments. The individual will design and execute tax planning strategies that optimize the Company's after-tax financial position while aligning with regulatory frameworks and supporting long-term business objectives.

The individual will serve as a trusted strategic partner to senior management, influence decision-making across the tax organization, and occasionally direct the work of internal team members or external advisors. This position requires exceptional technical depth, the ability to independently manage high-impact projects, and the communication skills necessary to interact effectively with business leaders and regulatory stakeholders. The role reports directly to the Director, Tax Planning.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Tax Planning & Advisory

• Research, interpret, and assess the implications of existing and proposed federal and state tax laws, regulations, administrative guidance, and judicial decisions-particularly as they relate to a regulated electric utility.
• Advise on complex tax planning initiatives that support corporate strategy, rate case positions, capital investment planning, and major transactions.
• Evaluate tax impacts of legislative and regulatory developments, including energy-related incentives and industry-specific rules, and provide well-supported recommendations to senior leadership.
• Develop scenario analyses and modeling to support strategic business decisions in collaboration with Finance, Regulatory, and operational teams.
• Identify and implement tax strategies that deliver sustainable financial benefits while maintaining strict adherence to regulatory and compliance expectations.

Regulatory Support

• Partner with Rates, Forecasting, Controllers, and External Affairs to align tax planning strategies with regulatory objectives and ensure tax positions are appropriately reflected in rate filings and regulatory communications.
• Provide technical tax insights on deferred tax balances, normalization requirements, and implications of IRS and state-specific rules for regulated utilities.

Tax Compliance Support

• Lead the defense of complex tax positions, prepare detailed documentation, and manage interactions with federal and state taxing authorities.
• Oversee audits, appeals, and negotiated resolutions of tax controversies, ensuring positions are well-supported and aligned with Company policy.
• Provide guidance on sensitive compliance issues and ensure accuracy and integrity in tax-related filings.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence

• Serve as a subject-matter expert to business units including Controllers, Treasury, Legal, External Affairs, Forecasting, Rates, and operational teams.
• Drive collaboration to ensure tax implications are proactively assessed in business planning, regulatory strategies, and major initiatives.
• Guide and review work performed by internal staff and external consultants as needed to deliver high-quality, timely tax analyses.
• Promote a culture of ethical decision-making, innovation, and continuous improvement within the tax function.
• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business management or related field
• JD, CPA, or master's degree in taxation
• Minimum 10 years combined corporate tax experience in law firms, accounting firms, and/or public company corporate tax department
• Experience writing tax opinions or technical memoranda to document tax positions and/or reserve analysis
• Broad experience in federal income tax, including consolidated returns; reorganizations; tax credits; and accounting methods
• Understanding of state income tax concepts, including apportionment methods
• Tax controversy / audit defense experience
• Ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with all levels of employees and management across the organization
• Experience with electric utility or energy industry tax issues, preferred but not required

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business management or related field
• JD, CPA, or master's degree in taxation
• Minimum 10 years combined corporate tax experience in law firms, accounting firms, and/or public company corporate tax department
• Experience writing tax opinions or technical memoranda to document tax positions and/or reserve analysis
• Broad experience in federal income tax, including consolidated returns; reorganizations; tax credits; and accounting methods
• Understanding of state income tax concepts, including apportionment methods
• Tax controversy / audit defense experience
• Ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with all levels of employees and management across the organization
• Experience with electric utility or energy industry tax issues, preferred but not required

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team