Tax Manager, State & Local Tax

About Us:

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we're the world's leading premium drinks company. Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate, and innovate to build brands consumers love. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you'll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future.

Join us to build a career worth celebrating.

Which company will you join?

From Arthur Guinness to Johnnie Walker, our business was founded on people of outstanding character, and in 250 years, nothing has changed. We're the world's leading premium alcohol company! Our brands are industry icons including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. Our success is thanks to the strength of our people, in every role. It's why we trust them with our legacy and why we reward them with the career-defining opportunities that they deserve. Our ambition is to build the best performing, most trusted and respected Consumer Products Company in the world. To achieve these, we need the very best people!

At Diageo, our purpose is to celebrate life everywhere, every day. To do that, you will join an organization that is passionate about customers and consumers, and proud of what they do. Diageo teams constantly set high goals and then try hard to exceed them. We are also an incredibly diverse organization, and we value each and every one's talent and personality.

About the role:

The Tax Manager, State and Local Tax (SALT) leads the strategy, oversight, and delivery of Diageo's state and local tax and indirect tax obligations across the U.S. Operating as a trusted advisor to the business, this role ensures strong technical execution, proactive risk management, and forward looking tax planning aligned with Diageo's commercial priorities.

Reporting to the VP Tax - Americas, the Tax Manager provides technical leadership, manages complex tax positions, drives continuous improvement, and oversees external advisors. The role operates with a high level of independence and judgment, influencing decisions across Finance, Commercial, and Supply.

Key Accountabilities:

Compliance Leadership

• Oversee the preparation, review, and timely filing of state and local income, sales and use, and property tax returns, including estimates and extensions, in alignment with statutory requirements and Diageo's internal control framework.
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of supporting data, workpapers, and documentation; establish best practice review procedures.
• Identify and resolve technical issues, exposures, and process gaps, providing clear recommendations to leadership.

• Lead complex research and analysis of SALT technical matters, legislative changes, and emerging regulatory trends.
• Develop clear, actionable insights and communicate implications to senior stakeholders to support informed tax and business decisions.
• Monitor state tax policy developments and advocate for tax positions that protect and advance Diageo's commercial interests.

• Serve as a key advisor on SALT planning, business restructurings, and tax efficient operating models.
• Lead SALT components of M&A due diligence, integration planning, and post transaction execution.
• Identify tax savings or optimization opportunities and partner with business teams to operationalize recommendations.
• Liaise with business operations teams to support indirect tax obligations and manage P&L line items in conjunction with finance teams.

• Manage state and local tax audits, including strategy development, responses to information requests, and coordination with external advisors.
• Ensure all SALT positions are well supported and aligned with Diageo's risk management, governance standards, and internal controls.
• Proactively assess risk areas and implement controls to enhance audit readiness.

• Champion the use of tax technology tools to improve accuracy, data integrity, and compliance efficiency.
• Lead process improvement initiatives and automation efforts to enhance scalability and consistency across the SALT function.

• Foster a high performance culture grounded in accountability and continuous learning.
• Collaborate effectively with Finance, Supply, Legal, and Commercial teams to align tax outcomes with business objectives.
• Represent the SALT function in cross functional projects, contributing strategic tax insights.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required; Master's degree in Taxation or CPA preferred.
• 5-10 years of progressive experience in state and local tax (Big 4 accounting firm and/or multinational corporate experience strongly preferred).
• Deep technical expertise in SALT concepts, including state income/franchise taxes, sales and use tax, property tax and nexus considerations.
• Federal tax experience a plus.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with proven ability to manage complex technical issues.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical matters for non-tax stakeholders and influence decisions.
• Demonstrated success managing audits, leading planning initiatives, and driving process improvements.
• Strong project management abilities with capacity to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Exhibits Diageo leadership behaviors, including strategic thinking, collaboration, ownership, and a continuous improvement mindset.