Senior Manager, Tax - State & Local (Hybrid)

About the role

You will provide strategic leadership and technical expertise for all state and local tax matters, including income, premium, sales and use, property, withholding, and information reporting tax obligations. You will oversee tax planning, compliance, accounting, audits, and controversy matters while identifying opportunities to improve operational effectiveness, enhance automation, reduce tax expense, and support enterprise growth projects. The role partners with senior leadership and serves as a necessary contributor to mergers and acquisitions, business expansion plans, and other projects. You will report to the Corporate Tax Director. In this hybrid role, you will be expected to work a minimum of 10 days per month from the office. You should reside within approximately 35-50 miles of Madison, WI 53783 or Boston, MA 02110.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and execution of state and local tax strategies to support enterprise objectives while managing tax risk.
• Monitor and assess legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments and communicate implications to business leaders.
• Provide strategic tax guidance related to:
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Corporate restructurings
• New products and distribution models
• Investments and reinsurance transactions
• Strategic business initiatives
• Identify and implement tax savings opportunities, incentives, credits, abatements, and expense efficiency initiatives.
• Conduct research and financial modeling to evaluate the impact of tax law changes and business decisions.
• Represent American Family within industry tax organizations, committees, and professional associations.
• Oversee the preparation, review, and filing of all state and local tax returns and related tax payments.
• Ensure timely, complete, and accurate tax compliance across all applicable jurisdictions.
• Lead efforts to improve tax processes, controls, and governance frameworks.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, standardization, and scalability.
• Leverage technology, automation, analytics, and emerging AI capabilities to modernize tax operations and reduce manual effort.
• Partner with Finance, Accounting, IT, and other business functions on enterprise data and system transformation initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of seven direct reports responsible for state income tax, premium tax, sales and use tax, tax accounting, tax compliance, tax controversy, and related tax operations.
• Foster an environment focused on accountability, engagement, inclusion, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Support succession planning, knowledge transfer, and capability development within the tax organization.
• Encourage participation in industry associations, professional development programs, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Champion American Family's leadership principles and culture.

Requirements

• CPA license preferred.
• 8+ years of tax experience, specifically with state premium and sales and use tax, preferred.
• Prior people management experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience providing customer-driven solutions, support or service.
• Demonstrated experience reflecting agility, flexibility and problem-solving attributes.
• Solid knowledge and understanding of GAAP and/or statutory accounting.
• Demonstrated experience researching technical tax, accounting, or other business issues and developing business plans and strategies.
• Demonstrated experience preparing or reviewing financial or accounting statement information or other required filings such as tax returns and tax payments.
• Demonstrated experience managing tax or other financial audits conducted by external parties.
• Demonstrated experience communicating highly technical or complex information.