Vice President: Chief Tax Officer

What you can expect as the Vice President: Chief Tax Officer:

Responsible for Leading the efforts of the tax team. Manage the development of the tax team members and direct and oversee the organization's tax strategies, policies and objectives and oversee the preparation of all required income tax returns and financial statement income tax provisions and disclosures.

• Provide oversight of the preparation of federal, state, and local income tax returns to comply with all government tax laws and regulations.
• Provide oversight of the preparation of all tax-related financial statement reporting.
• Keep abreast of and inform senior management of current and proposed tax laws, rulings, and regulations in order to allow the company to implement necessary changes to ensure timely tax reporting and appropriate tax planning, including product pricing and capital planning.
• Use extensive professional experience and judgment to establish relevant goals and lead direct reports in the accomplishment of those goals.
• Using global thinking, provide and apply new ideas keeping the advancement of company growth and interests at the forefront.
• Provide senior management with ideas and advice for minimizing the company's tax liabilities and/or deferring the timing of tax payments to provide ?time-value? savings to the company.
• Develop, manage, lead, and motivate staff of professionals.
• Work with Sammons Enterprises? (SEI) tax team to collaborate on tax strategies and coordinate tax positions.
• Manage Sammons Financial Group (SFG) member companies? tax audits.
• Serve as a resource to Treasury Operations personnel in establishing tax compliant policies for SFG member companies.
• Identify and implement appropriate methodologies to identify tax issues and reporting requirements related to insurance product designs, complex investment structures and reinsurance arrangements.
• Collaborate with capital planning team to ensure that significant tax implications are given appropriate consideration.
• Represent the Tax department at monthly and quarterly meetings to review financial results.
• Coordinate necessary controls and documentation for tax department compliance with NAIC Model Audit Rule.
• Identify and document potential uncertain tax positions as required under GAAP, statutory and IRS rules. Perform research and/or work with outside advisors/attorneys as deemed necessary to assemble appropriate documentation to support tax positions identified at the desired level of authority consistent with financial statement and/or tax reporting.
• Assist the CFO in responding to tax-related inquiries from regulators, rating agencies, and external auditors.
• Commitment to embrace Sammons Financial Group Companies shared values (Accountability, Connection, Openness, Respect and Integrity).
• As stated within the Company Attendance and Punctuality policy, regular attendance is required and expected in order to meet the business service levels and workflow demands.

What we are looking for: 

• Bachelor's Degree Accounting or related field preferred
• Minimum 10 years' Experience in tax preferred
• Accounting and Life Insurance background with a thorough working knowledge of federal income tax laws and regulations applicable to life insurance companies preferred
• Experience with tax return software such as One Source and Premium Pro preferred
• Strong written and oral communications skills required with the ability to explain complex tax and financial reporting concepts to various constituencies such as senior management, executive committee, regulators, rating agencies, and taxing authorities in an understandable way based upon the audience
• Overall knowledge of life company operations, statutory, GAAP, and tax accounting principles, and working knowledge of statutory annual statements. Familiarity with SSAP101 and ASC 740 guidelines required. Familiarity with SEC reporting would be a plus.
• Solid familiarity with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures
• Ability to introduce tax planning ideas that will contribute to the company's goals. Frequent contacts with company personnel at both SFG member companies and SEI, particularly Actuarial, Investments, Accounting, Legal, and Compliance, advising them on tax matters
• Criminal background check required.
• Due to the financial nature and level of accountability of this position, a credit and criminal background check is required - The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires Sammons Financial Group Companies to notify you that, as a routine part of processing this application for employment, Sammons Financial Group may request a consumer report on you to verify all information contained in this application. Such report may include information about work-related behaviors, performance, character, general reputation, and personal characteristics, in addition to information about your previous employment, education, credit history and criminal records

Reports to: David Attaway

Grade: E03

Licenses and Certifications:

• CPA required