Director of Tax

Overview

Summit Utilities – Join our Growing Team. Summit Utilities, Inc. has been recognized as a Fastest Growing Denver Area Private Company in 2019 and 2020, and has earned Best Places to Work distinctions in multiple states across 2019–2023. Summit is a growing natural gas utility providing safe, reliable, and clean burning natural gas service to homes and businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

We aim to bring warmth and energy to everything we do. We are seeking an exciting opportunity for a Director of Tax. The role may be hybrid from one of our offices in Little Rock, Fort Smith, or Fayetteville, Arkansas;
Portland, Maine; or Lawton, Oklahoma, and is also open to remote candidates based in Texas.

Position Summary

This position is responsible for managing all state, local, and federal tax filings. The ideal candidate is an initiative-taking collaborator who partners well with other areas of the business to provide tax support and guidance. The Director of Tax will ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax laws and work with accounting leadership to identify opportunities and areas of risk.

They will also monitor current and impending changes to tax regulations and make appropriate updates to policies and strategies. This role will report to the VP and Controller and will work closely with other groups including FP&A, Treasury, Regulatory, Business Development and our audit/tax CPA firm. The position will work closely with the accounting staff to coordinate and compile all necessary data to prepare accurate and timely tax filings.

• Prepare data and manage the preparation of federal and state income tax filings with outside accounting firms.
• Prepare annual income tax provisions and review with management and audit firm; prepare tax financial statement disclosures in accordance with applicable accounting standards.
• Manage the sales/use, property, franchise, and other tax filing requirements.
• Work with state and local property tax departments during annual assessment reviews.
• Oversee regulatory tax function and assist with state commission rate filings, as they arise.
• Maintain income tax depreciation, deferred tax, and tax provision software, and work closely with software consultants to ensure proper implementation of new modules.
• Support investments in utility assets and renewable natural gas projects by performing tax due diligence, reviewing, and informing tax modeling, and collaborating in discussions with external tax advisors on transaction structuring and compliance.
• Develop and execute monetization strategies for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) tax incentives including production tax credits and investment tax credits by documenting transactions, performing transferability analyses, and ensuring compliance with IRS guidance to optimize credit value and support RNG projects.
• Manage tax accounting within the greater accounting organization; review and approve monthly journal entries and support documentation.
• Find and implement opportunities for process improvements in company tax procedures.
• Develop and implement strategic tax planning for all necessary federal and state taxes.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory tax law developments, communicating the effects of these developments to management and creating strategies in response to new laws.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required.
• Active CPA designation required.
• At least 8 years of tax experience in either a corporate tax department or CPA firm.
• Utility tax industry experience, strongly preferred.
• Interest in renewable natural gas industry, preferred.

• High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and meticulous analytical capability.
• Extensive corporate tax knowledge (ASC 740 and related financial statement disclosures).
• Strong knowledge of tax code, compliance, and procedures for corporations.
• Familiarity with U.S. federal, state, and local reporting requirements.
• Familiarity with utility tax normalization concepts and guidance.
• Familiarity with renewable energy regulation and federal tax credit programs.
• Ability…