Job Title:  State Tax Manager

The Team:   Morningstar's Finance team is responsible for planning, forecasting, and analyzing the company's financial results. The tax department works collaboratively with other members of the Finance team to deliver bottom line results as well as provides support to our business groups to assist in making informed decisions.

The Role: In this role, you will assist the head of the tax department and senior tax manager with the supervision and management of Morningstar’s state tax function.  This role reports directly to the tax department senior manager and is based in Chicago.  We anticipate this role to split time between direct and indirect state taxes.

Responsibilities
+ Manage Morningstar’s indirect tax functions (sales/use, value-added, property tax) including coordination with other Morningstar offices, as necessary.
+ Review and approve sales and use tax accruals and payments on a monthly basis.
+ Review contracts for indirect tax consequences. Coordinate with Sales Tax Accountant on research, documentation and timely communication of indirect tax technical questions and tax law changes.  Continue to monitor changes in state and local tax laws that may impact the company. 
+ Conduct internal sales tax audits regularly to ensure proper collection of tax/invoicing.
+ Oversee state income tax compliance including timely review of state income tax returns and gross receipts filings, analysis of apportionment data and state modifications including state depreciation. 
+ Assist with state audits (direct and indirect) including responses to tax notices and information document requests.  Lead coordination efforts with external advisors as needed.
+ Review of ASC450 indirect tax reserves and ASC740-10 income tax reserves including supporting documentation.  
+ Prepare quarterly tax forecasts including modeling of the estimated state effective tax rate.
+ Review of quarterly estimated state and local calculations in accordance with established due dates.
+ Lead the tax department in key automation efforts to achieve process efficiencies and improvements within the tax function. Emphasis on state tax automation around data collection activities including sales tax reporting, state income tax apportionment and state bonus depreciation calculations. 
+ Assist with the evaluation of state tax planning and incentive opportunities.  Research state legislative changes and their applicability to Morningstar’s state profile. 
+ Participate in other projects or duties as assigned

Requirements
+ A bachelor’s degree in accounting is required; tax emphasis preferred.  M.S. in Tax and/or CPA is a plus.   
+ 6-10 years of tax experience with public accounting firm (Big 4 preferred) or corporate tax department (of a publicly traded company).  Two to three years of experience as a people-manager or in a similar supervisor capacity is required. 
+ State tax compliance (direct and indirect) and review experience required.  Experience managing/supervising state audits. 
+ Proficient skills in Microsoft Word and Excel.  Working knowledge of Vertex software is a plus.
+ Ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple deadlines.    
+ Excellent written and verbal communication skills including a comfort level in communicating complex tax concepts (both internally and externally).
+ Any prior experience with automation software is a plus.