What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sales & Use Tax Accountant position at Balfour & Co?
About Balfour & Co.
Balfour & Co. is one of the world’s leading Collegiate and High School commencement services companies, offering innovative, personalized products like class jewelry, yearbooks, regalia, school uniforms and photography. With brands such as Balfour®, GradImages®, ArtCarved®, and more, we’ve been helping students celebrate life’s most meaningful moments since 1913. Balfour has around 4,000 employees and operates in 3 countries.
Job Summary:
Responsible for ensuring the timely and accurate recording, reporting, and remittance of all corporate sales and use taxes across applicable jurisdictions, as well as managing business license renewals for all AAC entities. Serves as a subject matter expert in sales and use tax regulations, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of laws and compliance requirements in all relevant regions. Oversees coordination with external tax advisors to guarantee the precise preparation and filing of federal, state, and local income tax returns. Manages quarterly estimated tax payments and maintains full ownership of the compliance calendar, ensuring all tax-related deadlines and obligations are met across the organization.
Essential Job Functions:
- Oversee all aspects of sales/use tax filings across jurisdictions with Nexus, including setup, reporting, and timely payments
- Maintain a comprehensive master checklist for all sales/use tax filing obligations
- Transition sales/use tax functions from third-party contractor to in-house operations, ensuring automation and efficiency
- Coordinate tax-related filings such as city/state licenses, annual reports, and federal census reports
- Ensure compliance with current tax laws to minimize audit exposure; manage over 400 monthly tax returns
- Conduct special projects assigned by CFO/Controller, delivering timely reports and actionable recommendations
- Prepare and reconcile month-end journal entries and general ledger accounts for tax and accounting areas
- Review tax accounts for discrepancies; research and correct errors as needed
- Reconcile Vertex tax software balances with General Ledger; ensure updates are properly maintained
- Collaborate with auditors and cross-functional teams on tax-related matters
- Assist in preparing property tax returns and managing abandoned property projects
- Coordinate with external tax advisors for accurate and timely filing of federal, state, and local returns
- Manage tax calendar, including estimated payments, extensions, and deadlines
- Review third-party tax work for accuracy before submission, process related payments
- Maintain organized records for audit readiness and monitor tax notices for resolution
Requirements/Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA preferred)
- Proven experience in tax accounting (2-3 years ideal)
- Strong understanding of tax laws and accounting principles
- Proficiency in tax software (preferred)
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- High attention to detail and organizational abilities
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal