Tax Accountant (Contract)
Job description
About the role
This role is centered on maintaining rigorous compliance across multiple jurisdictions through diligent execution of tax processes. The hire will own the compilation and filing of sales and use tax returns to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements. Processing and validating resale and exemption certificates will be a core responsibility to maintain current documentation status. The position involves organizing property filing statements and executing property tax payments on established schedules. Preparation of corporate tax documentation, including returns, extensions, and quarterly estimated payments, will be managed by the hire. Completion and submission of withholding tax forms will be executed to meet strict regulatory filing timelines. The hire will gather vendor information and calculate reportable amounts to keep Form 1099 submissions on schedule. Federal and state census and survey forms will be completed as required by authorities when requested. Processing state annual reports and license applications will be performed to preserve active operational status. Accuracy and auditability are expected on every deliverable produced by this role.
Key facts
What you'll do
Sales and use tax returns for multiple jurisdictions are compiled and filed to sustain regulatory compliance.
Resale and exemption certificate records are updated and validated to ensure current documentation status.
Property filing statements are organized, and property tax payments are processed according to established schedules.
Corporate tax documentation is prepared, including returns, extensions, and quarterly estimated payments for ongoing obligations.
Withholding tax forms are completed and submitted to meet regulatory filing timelines.
Vendor information is gathered, and reportable amounts are calculated to keep Form 1099 submissions on schedule.
Federal and state census and survey forms are completed when requested by authorities.
State annual reports and license applications are processed to preserve active operational status.
Meticulous accuracy is maintained to minimize errors in tax activities across all jurisdictions.
Strong quantitative skills support correct calculations and thorough reviews of tax submissions.
SAP familiarity is utilized to enable efficient processing of tax data and documentation.
Multi-jurisdiction rules are interpreted to coordinate filings across different regions effectively.
Analytical thinking is applied to interpret complex tax regulations and ensure correct implementation.
Consistent attention to detail ensures high-quality output and reduces compliance risks for the organization.
Requirements
A Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or a related field or equivalent work experience is required.
2-3 years of tax experience, including sales/use tax and property tax, is required for this position.
An intermediate grasp of tax compliance rules and the ability to research tax issues is necessary.
Meticulous accuracy is maintained to minimize errors in tax activities.
Strong quantitative skills support correct calculations and thorough reviews.
The ability to work within an Equal Employment Opportunity framework is essential.
Effective communication skills are required to interact with internal stakeholders and authorities.
The capacity to manage multiple deadlines in a deadline-driven environment is mandatory.
Willingness to perform all job functions onsite in San Jose, CA is required.
Reliability in maintaining accurate records for auditability is a strict requirement.
Nice to have
SAP familiarity is preferred to enable efficient processing.
Experience with multi-jurisdiction rules helps coordinate filings across different regions.
A solid grounding in accounting principles supports accurate financial reporting and regulatory adherence.
Analytical thinking assists in interpreting complex tax regulations and applying them correctly.
Consistent attention to detail ensures high-quality output and reduces compliance risks.
Practical notes
Work is performed onsite in San Jose, CA under an 18-month contract.
This role functions within an Equal Employment Opportunity framework.
Typical interview steps
Finance interviews usually include technical questions on accounting or modeling, a case study, and behavioral rounds. Candidates may be asked to build a forecast or explain a variance. Spreadsheet skills are tested in most loops. Accuracy and clear explanations matter. Interviewers may give a real dataset and ask for a quick analysis. Showing your work and explaining assumptions matters as much as the final number.
Good to know
Tax professionals often use specialized software to manage compliance, filings, and data validation.
A solid grounding in accounting principles supports accurate financial reporting and regulatory adherence.
Experience with multi-jurisdiction rules helps coordinate filings across different regions.
Analytical thinking assists in interpreting complex tax regulations and applying them correctly.
Consistent attention to detail ensures high-quality output and reduces compliance risks.
Questions to ask
Worth asking in any interview: how the team measures success, who the role works with daily, what the onboarding looks like, and what the company is trying to achieve this year. Asking what past hires did well is a strong final question. Keep the list short and pick the questions that matter most to you.
Career growth
Finance careers move from analyst to senior analyst, manager, and controller or FP&A director levels. Some people earn certifications such as CPA or CFA. Cross-functional work with operations and leadership grows with seniority. Finance careers reward precision early and business partnership later. Learning the operations of the company beyond the numbers accelerates growth.