Manager – Tax Process Strategy & Solutions

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Tax Process Strategy & Solutions team is a fast-paced, high-energy, collaborative environment within the Tax Operations organization. It is a dynamic team with professionals of varying backgrounds from tax functional, tax technical, process improvement, and product management who partner with practice leaders to align engagement tools and processes with business needs, leveraging technology to streamline operations and enhance the user experience of RSM tax professionals and clients. The team consults and executes on a wide range of initiatives involving process and tool development and implementation including training development, engagement management, tool design, and implementation. 

JOB SUMMARY

The Tax Process Strategy & Solutions Manager supports process leads and the Tax Practice to understand how one or more product(s) fit into the overall “vision” for one or more business area(s). The goal of this role is to drive long-term scalability and sustainability of the business for a competitive advantage. To execute their area of responsibility, this role collaborates with staff, the tax practice, product teams, IT, other functional areas within the broader RSM firm, and field offices to ensure we achieve the vision cohesively and effectively.

You will play a key role in the build-out and continued improvement and stewardship of our process and technology for US individual and trust/estate taxation.

The ideal candidate will be a self-directed problem solver with an ownership mindset and will have: (a) extensive experience independently preparing and reviewing complex Form 1040 and 1041 tax returns, as well as having handled and advised on diverse issues and complexities (federal, state and foreign) arising from ownership of complex flowthrough (partnership, S-Corporation) operating businesses, real estate entities, fund of funds, hedge funds and private equity; and (b) played a key hand in technology, tax research, process improvement or workpaper standardization initiatives: whether at the practice, region or market level, or within the context of one or more large or complex engagements.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Collaborates with process leads and Tax practice SMEs to understand how products fit into the overall "vision" for one or more business area(s).
• Acts as primary internal functional process owner/SME for how assigned third party or custom developed solutions are used in tax engagement team processes, maintaining expertise on products through their lifecycle, developing an in depth understanding of user experience and needs by partnering with tax professionals.
• Works with process leads, Change Management, and practice leaders to establish usage and product-related targets; assesses performance against these targets.
• Understands the long-term strategy of how the products fit into the overall digital ecosystem and end user process (e.g., assists with process-related deliverables, such as process mapping and business requirements).
• Partners with practice leaders and SMEs to understand, analyze, and prioritize business needs for providing requirements to BAs and product teams for custom developed solutions or for enhancement requests to vendors.
• Responsible for end-user product documentation/content including user guides, knowledge docs, and training materials.
• Leads efforts to improve internal processes, controls, and procedures through documentation, validation, and testing.
• Partners with tax practice subject matter experts in the development and maintenance of tax content within and between applications.
  • Designs and develops workpapers, data mappings, and other tax specific deliverables and content within applications, actively using expertise in accounting, tax, and the tax engagement lifecycle.
  • Elicit, gather and define business needs and prioritize functional business requirements with BAs
  • Conduct tax research on tax technical topics and determine process implications
  • Maintain currency of integrations with other solutions and assists in the pertinent testing
• Coordinates with RSM product team or vendor to understand new features/functionality and works with Change Management, process leads, and business teams to socialize the timing of new capabilities and how they fit into end-to-end process.
• Assists process lead(s) and business analysts with end-to-end process development, data flows, end-user process documentation including user guides, process flows, and training materials
• Represents the "voice of the business" and balances management needs with end-users' requests.
• Acts as a key contact for internal stakeholders and clients on complex tax technology matters, resolving issues with autonomy.
• Partners with Change Management and practice leaders to help lead implementation and ongoing adoption of products.
• Serves as a Performance Advisor to Associates and Senior Associates providing coaching, feedback, and development support.

EDUCATION / CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

·       Bachelor's degree (preference given to accounting, business or technology major)

·       Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chartered Accountant (CA), Enrolled Agent (EA) or JD, or actively pursuing

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 12 to 14 years’ experience having done tax compliance and advisory for high net-worth individuals within mid to large size public account firms (required).
• Must be capable of dealing confidently and professionally at executive level and with customers (required).
• Results driven; high integrity; ability to influence, negotiate and build relationships; superior communications skills; make complex decisions and manage change (required).

·       Effective communication skills for differing audiences and situations (required).

·       Tax compliance or advisory experience with deep expertise in accounting or tax fundamentals (required)

·       Proficient in individual and fiduciary taxation, with an understanding of complex investments (e.g., real estate, fund of funds, hedge funds, private equity) and their implications (required), such as but not limited to the following:

o   Multiple activity streams with differing passive/non-passive and NII determinations

o   Partnership basis and pertinent limitations

o   Passive activity losses (Form 8582) 

o   Trader income and materially participating real estate professional rules 

o   Net investment income tax / Form 8960 

o   Section 199A / QBI deduction 

o   Foreign tax credit / Form 1116 

o   International disclosures: Forms 926, 8621, 8938, 8865

o   Trust accounting / figuring distributable net income

·       Proficient with multi-state taxation and familiar with foreign disclosures (required)

·       Proficient in investment partnership taxation (preferred)

·       Proficient in preparing and reviewing returns with CCH Axcess Tax or Thomson Reuters GoSystem (required)

·       Proficient in using SurePrep to prepare and review returns (preferred)

·       Proficient in conducting tax research and effectively consulting and using various resources (e.g., government authority form instructions, statutes, regulations, and secondary resources and research products) (required)

• Must effectively operate with limited supervision (required)

SUCCESSFUL CHARACTERISTICS / SKILLS

·       Strategic, out-of-the-box thinker and problem-solving experience to assess, analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve issues and think through and identify the implications of issues or proposed actions or designs.

·       Excellent analytical skills, extraordinary attention to detail, and ability to present recommendations.

·       Strong leadership capabilities, experience and passion for talent development, and proven experience leading teams through change and digital transformation.

·       Passion for technology and providing exceptional experiences both internally for our employees and externally for clients and prospects.

·       Strong ownership, bias to action, and know-how to succeed in ambiguity.

At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/india.html.  

RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; colour; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender (including gender identity and/or gender expression); sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the Indian Armed Forces; Indian Armed Forces Veterans, and Indian Armed Forces Personnel status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable provincial employment legislation.  

Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please send us an email at [email protected].