Counsel, Tax Planning

When you join Verizon

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What you’ll be doing:

Verizon is seeking an experienced Tax Counsel to join our Tax Planning team. The candidate should have broad knowledge of tax law impacting the telecommunications industry, including federal, state, and international income taxation and non-income (sales, use, gross receipts, property, utility, etc.) taxes. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, business combinations and divestitures and tax controversy matters, as well as experience with capital markets and corporate treasury transactions. The candidate needs to be able to work in a collaborative environment, and to identify and resolve complex tax issues. This position will partner extensively with other teams within the Tax Organization as well as other stakeholder groups within Verizon Finance, Verizon Legal, and the Verizon business units. This position requires a strong business acumen as well as a practical and solutions-oriented mentality, with a desire to help the business achieve its objectives while mitigating tax risks for the company.

Responsibilities will include:

• Providing support for special projects which may include acquisitions, dispositions, financings, and captive insurance.

• Identifying, designing, and implementing tax planning opportunities and/or tax risk mitigation strategies consistent with the tax risk profile of the company.

• Partnering with Verizon’s tax accounting and compliance teams as needed.

• Partnering with the business units to provide tax support for new products and business initiatives while identifying potential tax issues and developing practical solutions that achieve both the desired business outcome and mitigation of tax risks.

• Partnering with tax audit teams to respond to information requests and develop technical arguments in support of Verizon’s positions if challenged by a tax authority.

• Assessing the impact of new US Federal income tax legislation, Treasury Regulations, and IRS guidance, and working with the Income Tax Operations team to determine the cash and ETR impacts.

• Determining the US Federal income tax impacts of restructuring Verizon legal entities; reviewing and commenting on transaction documents to effectuate these transactions.

• Supporting Verizon’s head of transfer pricing as needed, and the state and local tax team as needed.

What we’re looking for...

You’ll need to have:

• J.D. or LL.M. degree and six or more years of experience in a top law firm, public accounting firm, and/or the tax department of a multinational company. 

• Active license in good standing from a state bar in at least one state (if not New Jersey, then eligibility for New Jersey In-House Counsel Limited Licensure).

• Experience with tax research and analysis skills and a willingness to learn different areas of tax law, which may include state, local, and international income taxes as well as non-income taxes.

• Knowledge of ASC 740 (FIN 48) and ASC 450 (FAS 5) to assess potential tax exposures, establish appropriate reserves, and draft memorandum supporting Verizon’s tax positions.

Even better if you have one or more of the following:

• LL.M. in Taxation or Masters in Taxation.

• Experience with international tax concepts (US and non-US), state and local tax concepts, and intercompany transfer pricing.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain relationships within a large dynamic organization.

• Outstanding written and oral communication skills adaptive to, and effective for, different audiences.

• A strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity and a mindset that embraces working through

• complex issues.

• Ability to execute items independently, not just high-level oversight of personnel and/or outside advisors.

• Proven ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and work in a fast-paced environment, including the ability to identify issues, develop creative/practical solutions,and implement them.

• Ability to collaborate among multiple disciplines within the Verizon Tax Organization while also independently exercising sound judgment.

If Verizon and this role sound like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every “even better” qualification listed above

Where you’ll be working

Scheduled Weekly Hours

Equal Employment Opportunity

Verizon is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristics.

Benefits and Compensation

Our benefits are designed to help you move forward in your career, and in areas of your life outside of Verizon. From health and wellness benefit options including: medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, AD&D insurance, identity theft protection, pet insurance and group home & auto insurance. We also offer a matched 401(k) savings plan, up to 8 company paid holidays per year and up to 6 personal days per year, paid parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition assistance, plus other incentives, we’ve got you covered with our award-winning total rewards package. Depending on the role, employees have the opportunity to receive compensation in the form of premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, allowances, etc. Newly hired employees receive up to 15 days of vacation per year, which grows with additional service. For part-timers, your coverage will vary as you may be eligible for some of these benefits depending on your individual circumstances.