Senior Associate, State and Local Tax

Responsibilities:

• Analyze large volumes of purchase transactions (AP data, fixed assets, invoices, etc.) to identify potential overpayments
• Perform detailed invoice-level review, including vendor charges, tax calculations, and product/service taxability
• Evaluate common overpayment drivers, including: Misapplied exemptions, Incorrect tax rates, Vendor errors
• Use tax errors and accrual issues
• Develop and document defensible refund positions supported by statutory/regulatory guidance

• Review client financial data (GL, AP, tax returns, contracts) to identify overpayment trends and root causes
• Develop an understanding of client operations (especially manufacturing environments) to identify exemption opportunities beyond surface-level transaction testing
• Identify process gaps that drive recurring overpayments
• Data & Invoice Retrieval
• Work with client systems and third-party invoice imaging / document management platforms to locate, extract, and download supporting invoices and documentation
• Coordinate with client teams to obtain missing documentation and ensure completeness of invoice populations
• Perform targeted invoice pulls to support sample testing, claim packages, and audit-defensible documentation
• Travel up to ~10% to client locations, as needed, to review and retrieve invoices on-site where electronic access is limited

• Prepare detailed refund schedules with invoice-level support and clear technical justification
• Assist in drafting refund claims submitted to state tax authorities or vendors
• Support responses to state inquiries, notices, and follow-up requests
• Track claims through the recovery lifecycle (submission → review → resolution)

• Communicate findings, methodologies, and recommendations to clients in a clear, defensible manner
• Support client meetings by explaining positions, assumptions, and recovery strategy
• Maintain Aprio’s “hands-off” delivery model by minimizing client burden while ensuring data accuracy
• Act as a trusted advisor by proactively identifying risks and opportunities clients may not be aware of

• Identify opportunities to improve client processes and reduce future overpayments
• Contribute to development of internal tools, methodologies, and automation (e.g., invoice extraction, AI tools)
• Assist with business development efforts by supporting opportunity identification and proposal development

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 2–5 years experience in: State and local tax (SALT), OR Audit, data analytics, or transaction-based consulting
• Strong understanding of sales and use tax concepts, including exemptions and taxability
• Experience working with large datasets (Excel, data extracts, or similar tools)
• Prior sales and use tax experience is preferred but not required
• Experience with manufacturing or multi-state operations
• Exposure to indirect tax consulting or refund claims
• CPA, JD, or IPT certification (or in progress)