Senior State Tax Consultant

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For a detailed look at CNA’s benefits, check out our Candidate Guide.

As the Senior State Tax Consultant, you will be responsible for administering state tax compliance throughout the income and sales and use tax life cycles including the preparation and review of state income tax returns on a separate company and combined basis, participating in taxing authority examination inquiries and the quarterly financial statement state income tax provisions. Responsibilities also include performing tax research, preparing tax analytics, and supporting the governance over the tax information reporting process.


This full-time, internal position will also collaborate within the Tax Division on implementing and owning automated technology solutions for improved operational outcomes. As the Senior State Tax Consultant, you will have opportunities to educate and influence peers, as well as present complex state tax concepts to Tax Division leadership.


This hybrid in-office position is located in Chicago, IL.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Perform a combination of duties in accordance with departmental guidelines:

• Administer the state income tax compliance process including preparing and reviewing insurance and non-insurance state income tax returns utilizing Corptax, organizing and calculating apportionment data, and calculating state income tax modifications.

• Maintain the sales and use tax compliance process including analyzing monthly purchase activity and preparing use tax returns.

• Oversee state tax cash flow, including calculating quarterly estimated income tax payments, annual extension payments and reporting and managing state tax cash flow data and analytics.

• Provide technical and analytic support with state income and sales and use tax audits including timely response to auditor information requests, analyzing audit workpapers and assisting in developing strategic settlement proposals.

• Support income tax accounting and reporting for the quarterly and annual financial statement filings as it relates to state income taxes, including the update of blended state income tax rates.

• Identify and execute efficiency and automated technology improvements to enhance existing state tax processes and manage tax data.

• Partner with colleagues in the governance of the tax information reporting process.

• Research complex state tax issues for planning, compliance and audit purposes and effectively communicate findings to management.

• Consult and partner with other corporate finance divisions and business peers to address state tax issues and meet organizational objectives.

• Monitor recent state tax legislation and judicial decisions and educate others on the applicability to CNA’s business operations.

• Deliver professional and timely services to internal and external customers.

• Develop, coach and mentor other tax professionals.

May perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Strong knowledge of state income taxation concepts including nexus, apportionment and the unitary business principle. Experience with insurance taxation is a plus but not required.

• Experience with preparing sales and use tax returns and managing audits.

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and related pronouncements such as Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740: Income Taxes (ASC 740).

• Strong tax research and written communication skills, including memo writing and position documentation.

• Enhanced critical thinking and decision-making skills, using data to inform decision making.

• Strong technology skills with a focus toward automated solutions and ownership of improved operational outcomes. Corptax software experience is a plus, in addition to Workday general ledger platform experience.

• Exhibit leadership skills for other tax professionals to em