Senior Tax Accountant

More than 135 years ago, we started with core values that never go out of style: listen, learn and help businesses and individuals reach their goals. These core values shape our culture, and we were recently Great Place to Work Certified because of our outstanding workplace culture and employee experience. As well, our financial strength and stability are key reasons Forbes named us one of the Best 100 Banks in America for the ninth consecutive year.
With more than $16 billion in assets and 135 branch locations throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California, we understand our role in the economy and take that responsibility seriously. In addition to offering a source of capital to personal banking clients and businesses of all sizes, we place a high importance on employee volunteerism and donate millions of dollars each year to community organizations.
As a Senior Tax Accountant, you will perform complex tax preparation, research, and planning. Manage the fixed assets process of the Bank. Resolve tax matters for internal customers and external tax consultants. Provide information to auditors and ensure integrity of the data provided. Responsible for internal and external reporting requirements related to the fixed asset module.
NOTE: This position is hybrid and is on-site one day per week on Wednesdays.

In this role you will have the opportunity to:

• Prepare complex Washington State B&O tax calculations including journal entries and files monthly returns. Prepare monthly tax provision including journal entries. Research variances in accounts and monthly provisions and provide management with explanations. Work with auditors to provide information while ensuring data integrity. Prepare or review various state sales tax returns.
• Prepare or review the monthly tax provision and journal entries. Assist in reconciling actual experienced vs expected effective tax rates. Assist with federal, state, or local audits for income, property, and excise tax.
• Assist with potential mergers and acquisitions by analyzing tax information, calculating key ratios, and identifying areas of tax savings.
• Prepare tax reporting for various city, county and state jurisdictions for personal and real estate property taxes. Work with management to ensure the Bank’s related compliance is complete and accurate.  Review and approve real estate and personal property tax payments on a timely basis.
• Review changes in the tax law and informing management of potential tax strategy changes. Recognize, anticipate, and resolve tax issues; makes recommendations to management.
• Coordinate with branch and other department groups to ensure the assets reported on the annual personal property returns for each taxing authority are properly recorded and annual property tax returns are filed timely.
• Maintain the fixed asset system on a timely and accurate basis, while ensuring attachment to the proper branch and cost center. Responsibilities include: transactional compliance with the Bank’s written policies and procedures; reviewing/updating policies, procedures, and key internal controls; timely and accurate monthly reconciliations, dispositions, acquisitions, transfers, and recording, within, and of, the fixed asset general ledgers; works with Facilities and Operations to ensure all Held-For-Sale assets are recorded in accordance with GAAP and adequate support is maintained, including property valuations; work with Facilities and IT to ensure all projects are boarded timely into the Fixed Asset Planning (CIP module) and are appropriately tracked; determine impairment and prepare analysis of acquired fixed assets to ensure they are properly recorded for GAAP and tax purposes;
• Comply with, and ensuring staff follows, policies, procedures, security requirements and government regulations. Review tax and fixed asset work of less experienced staff. Train, mentor, and provide work direction to staff as necessary.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's Degree: Accounting, Business, Economics, Law, Computer Science or other related field required (an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered) 

Experience

• 4 or more years of federal and state income tax and property tax experience, preferably including experience with the Sage Fixed Asset system required 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Ability to synthesize complex and diverse information, assist with work flows and procedures, and suggest business solutions to management using judgment to support proposed solutions. Requires strategic planning abilities and advanced knowledge of financial analysis.
• Advanced federal, s