Sr. State And Local Tax (SALT) Manager

At Kia, we’re creating award-winning products and redefining what value means in the automotive industry. It takes a special group of individuals to do what we do, and we do it together. Our culture is fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative. Our people thrive on thinking differently and challenging the status quo. We are creating something special here, a culture of learning and opportunity, where you can help Kia achieve big things and most importantly, feel passionate and connected to your work every day.

Kia provides team members with competitive benefits including premium paid medical, dental and vision coverage for you and your dependents, 401(k) plan matching of 100% up to 6% of the salary deferral, and paid time off. Kia also offers company lease and purchase programs, company-wide holiday shutdown, paid volunteer hours, and premium lifestyle amenities at our corporate campus in Irvine, California.

Status

Exempt

Summary

Sr. State and Local Tax (SALT) Manager will be responsible for (1) overseeing complex state and local income tax compliance (including foreign & domestic subsidiaries), (2) overseeing sales & use tax compliance and property tax returns, (4) developing and implementing SALT strategies to minimize tax liability and ensure compliance, including nexus determinations, taxability analyses, (5) researching on state tax legislation, apportionment, revenue sourcing, and other SALT issues, and analyzing tax implications, (6) providing mentoring and career guidance for the tax team members, (7) continuously assessing and making business/process improvement recommendations and collaborate with other business units.  

Major Responsibilities

1st Priority - 30%

State and Local Tax Compliance

• Manage state and local corporate income and franchise tax return preparation and review processes. 
• Manage indirect tax return preparation and review processes, including sales and use tax returns, gross receipts tax returns, and property tax returns. 
• Manage lemon law sales tax refund claim preparation and review processes.
• Support quarterly and annual US corporate tax provisions.
• Support the quarterly estimated tax and extension calculations and ensure timely and accurate payment of state and local taxes. 
• Coordinate with external advisors and tax authorities to address complex tax issues and ensure compliance with state and local tax requirements.
• Manage the state and local tax audits and voluntary disclosure agreements (VDAs), if necessary
• Prepare various tax reporting requested by Kia HQ and Kia NA.

2nd Priority - 20%

State and Local Tax Audits and Notices

• Represent the company in SALT audit matters with government agencies.
• Research, analyze and respond to information requests from government agencies during tax audits.
• Develop tax audit plans and strategies.
• Maintain the tax audit tracker and provide timely updates to management.
• Prepare a summary of the final audit results.
• Implement the process to adhere the audit results.
• Prepare protest letters and attend informal hearings/appeal meetings.
• Manage all state and local tax notices, including preparing documentation, responding to inquiries, and resolving any issues or discrepancies.
• Maintain the notice tracker and resolve them in a timely manner.

 

3rd Priority - 20%

State and Local Tax Planning and Strategy

• Monitor changes in indirect tax legislative and regulatory tax law developments, assess the impact on the company and ensure timely implementation of necessary changes.
• Identify tax planning opportunities to optimize the overall tax profile/cash flows and minimize the tax risks. 
• Conduct research on complex state and local tax issues, interpret applicable laws, and provide recommendations for compliance or tax-saving opportunities.
• Manage tax planning and forecast, including timely communication to Treasury and Kia HQ. 

4th Priority - 15%

Process Improvement and Automation 

• Review operational effectiveness of the tax department and all aspects of the tax process and controls.
• Identify and implement process improvement for various tax workflows.
• Contributes to process improvement through automation and technology implementation.
• Identify opportunities to improve and streamline SALT processes to increase efficiency and reduce compliance risks.
• Work with the finance and IT teams to implement tax technology solutions and ensure accurate data integration for tax reporting.

5th Priority - 15%

Department Leadership

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