Manager, Tax Operations & State Allocation (SALT)

Position Summary

The Manager, Tax Operations & State Allocation is responsible for overseeing multi-state taxable income sourcing and allocation for wages and equity compensation in a publicly traded environment. This role serves as the central tax authority for state-to-state allocation methodologies and ensures accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of taxable data to Payroll, Equity Administration, and Finance teams.

The position plays a critical role in operationalizing tax rules, supporting payroll execution, enabling equity tax compliance, and maintaining SOX-compliant controls and documentation.

Key Responsibilities

Multi-State Tax Allocation & Sourcing

• Own and maintain state sourcing and allocation methodologies for:

  Employee wages

  Equity compensation (RSUs, ESPPs, stock options)

• Apply state-specific rules related to residency, work location, reciprocity, and equity income sourcing.

• Ensure accurate allocation of taxable income across states for payroll and equity events.

Payroll & Equity Data Enablement

• Populate and certify state-level taxable wage and equity data prior to payroll runs.

• Partner with Payroll to ensure accurate application of tax data in payroll systems (e.g., Workday, ADP).

• Collaborate with Equity Administration to interpret tax implications of grants, vesting, exercises, and employee mobility.

• Serve as the primary tax contact for payroll-related and equity-related tax questions.

Tax Operations & Data Governance

• Act as the “source of truth” for state-allocated tax data used across Payroll, Equity, and Financial Reporting.

• Develop, document, and maintain data flows and reconciliation processes supporting tax allocation.

• Review and validate inputs from HR, Payroll, and Equity systems.

Controls, Compliance & Audit Support

• Design and maintain SOX-compliant controls over state tax allocation and data certification.

• Prepare and execute formal tax sign-offs supporting payroll releases and post-payroll validations.

• Support internal and external audits (e.g., EY), including walkthroughs, evidence requests, and control testing.

• Ensure alignment with ITGC and SDLC expectations where tax logic is system-enabled.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with Payroll, Equity Administration, HR, Finance, and external advisors.

• Provide guidance and training to internal stakeholders on state sourcing and equity tax matters.

• Support process improvements and scalability as the company grows.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Tax, or related field

• 6–10+ years of experience in:

  State and local taxation (SALT)

  Payroll tax and/or equity compensation taxation

• Strong knowledge of multi-state wage sourcing and equity tax rules

• Experience in a publicly traded company or Big 4 / large multinational environment

• Familiarity with SOX controls and audit requirements

• Ability to translate tax rules into operational processes and system requirements

Preferred

• CPA, MST, or JD

• Experience working with:

  Workday Payroll and/or equity administration platforms

  Employee mobility or global payroll structures

• Prior experience supporting Big 4 audits (EY preferred)

• Strong data analysis and reconciliation skills

Key Competencies

• Deep technical tax expertise with strong operational execution

• Strong ownership mindset and attention to detail

• Excellent cross-functional communication skills

• Ability to operate independently and make defensible tax decisions

• Audit-ready documentation and controls mindset