Lead Specialist, Tax

Job Title - Lead Specialist, Tax

Description - Lead oversight of US indirect tax across Pearson’s US legal entities, combining multi-state sales and use tax compliance governance, audit management, practical advisory support and technology-enabled improvement. Also known in the market as: Indirect Tax Manager; Sales & Use Tax Manager; Manager, US Indirect Tax; State and Local Tax Manager.

About the Role

Pearson is seeking an experienced US indirect tax professional to lead and oversee sales and use tax activity across multiple legal entities and jurisdictions. This is an autonomous, manager-level individual contributor role within Group Tax.

You will manage outsourced compliance delivery, state and local tax audits, exemption certificates, registrations, business licenses and indirect tax accounting. You will also provide practical advice on product taxability, nexus, customer questions and evolving business models.

The role works closely with Finance, Technology, Legal, Operations and commercial stakeholders. You will help translate tax requirements into effective system and process changes, including Vertex-related requirements, while monitoring VAT/GST exposure for US entities operating internationally.

What You’ll Do

• Oversee accurate and timely sales and use tax returns, reconciliations, filings and payments across multiple entities and jurisdictions.

• Manage outsourced compliance providers and annual personal property tax filings.

• Lead state registrations, de-registrations, nexus, business licensing and exemption certificate programs.

• Provide practical guidance on product taxability, customer queries, new initiatives, sales channels and operating-model changes.

• Manage indirect tax accounting, including reconciliations, accruals, journal entries, financial reporting and supporting documentation.

• Lead state and local tax audits and represent Pearson with tax authorities, auditors, advisers and service providers.

• Partner with Technology on Vertex requirements, tax logic, testing, tax-code maintenance and process optimization.

• Monitor and manage relevant global VAT/GST registrations, filings, reporting and e-invoicing obligations for US entities.

What We’re Looking For

• Deep technical knowledge of multi-state US sales and use tax.

• Experience overseeing high-volume, multi-jurisdiction compliance, ideally in a large corporate environment.

• Strong state and local tax audit experience, including information requests, documentation and audit defense.

• Experience managing outsourced providers, external advisers and finance or shared-service teams.

• Ability to advise non-tax stakeholders clearly on taxability, nexus, exemptions and changing business activity.

• Indirect tax accounting experience, including reconciliations, accruals, journal entries and balance-sheet controls.

• Comfort with ERP-connected tax engines; Vertex experience is highly beneficial.

• Strong stakeholder management across Tax, Finance, Technology, Legal, Operations and commercial teams.

• Highly organized, detail-oriented and able to manage concurrent monthly, quarterly and annual deadlines.

• A self-starting approach and confidence operating independently in a remote environment.

Location & Working Pattern

United States – Remote. 

The role requires sufficient working-hours overlap with the UK-based Manager and global tax colleagues.

Salary / Compensation

Compensation at Pearson is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific location. As required by the California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York State, New York City, Vermont, Washington State, and Washington DC laws, the pay range for this position is as follows:

The minimum full-time salary range is between $110,000 - $120,000.

This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, and information on benefits offered is here.

Applications will be accepted through Tuesday 22nd September. This window may be extended depending on business needs.

Why Join Pearson?

This is an opportunity to shape a newly consolidated remit with national US scope, meaningful autonomy and direct influence across compliance, audits, advisory work, technology and global indirect tax risk.

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