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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for E-Tax Technician

💰 $45,000 - $70,000 Annually

AccountingTaxFinanceInformation Technology

🎯 Role Definition

The E-Tax Technician is a specialized professional who serves as the crucial link between the tax department and information technology. This role is responsible for managing and executing all aspects of the electronic tax filing process, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness. You will be the go-to expert for tax preparation software, troubleshooting technical issues, and maintaining the integrity of tax data systems. The ideal candidate is a meticulous and tech-savvy individual who thrives on optimizing processes, leveraging technology to enhance efficiency, and supporting the tax team in navigating the complexities of modern digital tax compliance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Tax Intern or Co-op
  • Junior Accountant / Staff Accountant
  • Data Entry Specialist (with a focus on finance/tax)

Advancement To:

  • Senior E-Tax Technician / Tax Technology Lead
  • Tax Technology Analyst or Specialist
  • Tax Manager (with a technology focus)

Lateral Moves:

  • Financial Systems Analyst
  • IT Business Analyst (specializing in finance applications)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Manage the end-to-end electronic filing process for a high volume of federal, state, and local tax returns, ensuring timely submission and acceptance by tax authorities.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for troubleshooting and resolving e-filing rejections, diagnostic errors, and software-related issues in collaboration with IT and senior tax staff.
  • Administer and maintain tax preparation and compliance software (e.g., Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE, CCH Axcess, ProSystem fx), including user setup, security, and configuration.
  • Prepare and format complex data sets from various sources (ERP, financial systems) for seamless importation into tax compliance software, ensuring data integrity.
  • Perform detailed review and reconciliation of tax data between the general ledger, sub-ledgers, and the final tax return to ensure completeness and accuracy before filing.
  • Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and process documentation for all e-filing and tax technology workflows.
  • Assist in the implementation, testing, and rollout of new tax software, system upgrades, and process automation tools like Alteryx or Power BI.
  • Generate and customize reports from tax software systems to support tax planning, provision, and audit defense activities.
  • Monitor changes in electronic filing regulations and advise the tax department on necessary process or system adjustments to maintain compliance.
  • Act as the liaison with tax software vendors for technical support, issue escalation, and to stay informed about new features and functionalities.
  • Coordinate the collection, scanning, and digital organization of client tax documents and workpapers in a structured and accessible manner.
  • Manage e-filing credentials and accounts with various tax agencies, ensuring they are secure and up-to-date.
  • Provide training and technical support to tax department staff on the effective use of tax software and digital tax tools.
  • Assist in the quarterly and year-end tax provision process by preparing data and running calculations within the tax software.
  • Support the tax controversy team by gathering and organizing electronically stored information and documentation required for tax audits.
  • Identify opportunities for process improvement and automation within the tax compliance cycle and propose technology-driven solutions.
  • Perform data validation checks to identify inconsistencies or anomalies in financial data before it is used for tax calculations.
  • Maintain a comprehensive log and status tracker for all e-filed returns, payments, and correspondence with tax authorities.
  • Ensure all digital tax processes adhere to the company's internal controls, data privacy policies, and security standards.
  • Collaborate with the IT department to ensure the underlying infrastructure, servers, and networks optimally support the tax technology stack.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory analysis related to tax compliance, provision, and strategic planning.
  • Contribute to the organization's tax technology strategy and digital transformation roadmap by identifying areas for process improvement.
  • Collaborate with business units and tax professionals to translate complex tax requirements into functional specifications for technology solutions.
  • Participate in sprint planning, agile ceremonies, and user acceptance testing for tax technology projects.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert proficiency in at least one major tax compliance software suite, such as Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE, CCH Axcess, GoSystem Tax RS, or ProSystem fx Tax.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUPs, INDEX/MATCH, and experience with Power Query for data manipulation.
  • Strong understanding of federal and state electronic filing requirements, schemas, and procedures for various return types (1120, 1065, 941, etc.).
  • Experience with data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) from ERP systems like SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics into tax software.
  • Familiarity with data analytics and visualization tools such as Alteryx, Power BI, or Tableau for creating tax-related dashboards and reports.
  • Knowledge of basic accounting principles and the relationship between financial statements and tax returns.
  • Experience with document management systems and best practices for organizing digital workpapers (e.g., SharePoint, CCH Document).
  • Ability to diagnose and troubleshoot software, data, and system-related errors effectively.
  • Basic understanding of database concepts and SQL for querying data is highly advantageous.
  • Experience in tax provision software (e.g., ONESOURCE Tax Provision) is a significant plus.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy, essential for handling sensitive financial and tax data.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a knack for diagnosing technical issues and identifying effective solutions.
  • Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and high-pressure situations, particularly during filing season.
  • Clear and concise communication skills, capable of explaining technical concepts to non-technical tax professionals.
  • A proactive and service-oriented mindset with a strong sense of ownership and responsibility.
  • Ability to work both independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively as part of a larger team.
  • High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential tax information.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate's degree or equivalent professional certification (e.g., Enrolled Agent).

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Information Systems
  • Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 2-5 years of experience in a tax compliance, accounting, or technology-focused role within a corporate tax department or public accounting firm.

Preferred:

  • Direct, hands-on experience managing the e-filing process for corporate or partnership tax returns.
  • Proven experience as a system administrator or super-user for a major tax software platform.
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