As a team member in the Finance and Internal Audit department at Nationwide, the opportunities are endless! You can grow and learn in diverse areas across many disciplines such as Advanced Analytics, Investments, Actuarial, Accounting, Risk Management, Critical Business Advisor and so much more. Let Nationwide help create your career journey!
See Yourself at Nationwide
Working at Nationwide is more than just a job — it’s a career. Our associates love working here, and it’s easy to see why.
Want more jobs like this?
Get Accounting and Finance jobs in Columbus, OH delivered to your inbox every week.
We’re a company of caring people who support our members, our communities and each other. You can feel proud about working at Nationwide.
Spotlight on Us!
Our tax department is different than any other place you’ve worked. We have built a team that is driven by results, not deadlines. Our team collaborates to deliver results that regularly surpass our goals, we reward creative ideas, and we stop to have fun to celebrate our individual & team successes.
How did we get here? We invested the blood, sweat, and tears to drive change, innovate, and provide value to the business. This commitment is clear in how we embrace technology and emphasize continuous improvement. Our dedicated tax technology team stays up-to-date on new trends and best practices for automation that makes our work accurate and efficient. This culture ultimately leads to providing us the time to grow and to enjoy the important part of the work-life balance.
In addition to leading and collaborating within Nationwide, we also look to be a leader outside of Nationwide. Our expertise in the insurance tax world is evident from our leadership roles in industry groups where we work together to analyze and influence tax reform, IRS guidance, and new accounting rules. Nationwide can be a home for you to grow your career and become an expert.
Spotlight on You!
These are the prior experiences that make us interested in you:
- Knowledge of income tax compliance/provisions and tax systems (minimum 4 years public accounting or corporate tax experience)
- Can build & maintain strong relationships and collaborate inside & outside Tax
- History of improving processes and making things easier, faster, better
- Ability to concisely prepare and communicate tax topics and technical documents
- P&C or Life insurance tax experience a plus
- Prior automation of tax adjustments/reconciliations a plus
But, we are even more excited and interested in the intangibles that you bring:
- A strong sense of curiosity and wanting to explore new topics
- Flexible mindset with a willingness to embrace change
- Ability to view issues holistically and not just from a tax standpoint
- Can provide bottom-up leadership to drive results and own functional areas
- Talent for organizing information & workflows
The Role
As part of a matrixed structure, this role will touch all aspects of the tax lifecycle including federal & state tax compliance, tax provisions, and premium taxes. Due to our high level of automation, the role will need to be able to take a first review perspective and put more emphasis on analytics than is typical. The role will learn and take ownership of certain functional or technical areas for all entities. Once integrated into our systems and processes, the role will participate on projects that improve our understanding, efficiency, and accuracy.
This role can be filled at either a Tax Sr. Analyst or Specialist level depending on work experience and background.
What are the Next Big Challenges?
As we take our vision for the future and pull it into today, here are some of the challenges you will help tackle:
- Find areas to increase automation to reach goal of spending 2/3 of time on analytics and only 1/3 of time on data gathering and reconciliations
- Identify changes that can accelerate our consolidated return an additional 3 months
- Integrate robotics, process, & analytic tools to streamline state compliance & indirect tax
- Complete additional M-1 “Blueprints”, providing the documentation of the tax technical positions, accounting guidance, and reviewing automation/data quality
An Inside Look – What the Team is Saying
Tax Senior Analyst (2nd year at NW) – “There’s an emphasis on growth & process improvement that not many tax departments get to experience.”
Tax Specialist (3rd year at NW) – “Opportunity to take ownership of major areas at a lower level.”
Tax Manager (6th year at NW) – “The ability to take risks to improve processes and have input in the future of the department.”
Tax Director (7th year at NW) – “Nationwide stands out in two distinct ways, matrixed team structure and continuous improvement focus. This gives staff the opportunities to participate in all areas of corporate income tax, both process and technical.”
Tax VP (26th year at NW) – “There is constant change and complexity at Nationwide and the Tax Department places an emphasis on adding value in addition to just filing tax returns. This combination makes for an exciting and challenging work environment that provides opportunities to learn.”
Job Description Summary
Our team collaborates to deliver results that regularly surpass our goals, we reward creative ideas, adopt technology and emphasize continuous improvement. Do you have a flexible approach, willingness to view issues holistically and have a knack for organizing information and workflows? If so, we want to hear from you!
As a Specialist, you'll play a leading role in all aspects of the tax life cycle (compliance, accounting, audits, planning and projects). We'll count on you to help in the tax planning process; prepare assigned tax returns; coordinate and reviews tax returns, supporting schedules and federal survey input; supervise and assist in compliance programs for federal, state and local taxes for the insurance, subsidiary and affiliated companies.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities:
Reviews or prepares prepare complex federal, state and local income tax calculations, returns and estimates, including consolidations.
Adapts to changing assignments because cross-training is integral to our culture and professional development strategy.
Reviews complex quarterly and annual tax provision calculations. Reviews output from tax software and uses analytics to identify areas of focus. May review or prepare complex statutory deferred tax asset admittance calculations and drives preparation and review of GAAP and statutory financial documents and external auditor support.
Researches and prepares response to IRS and/or state information requests. Researches and evaluates technical position and propose alternatives. Works closely with IRS or state audit Coordinator to assess risk and respond appropriately.
Approaches work and assignments with a broad view and seeks opportunities to improve tax positions and reduce risk. Communicates these ideas clearly and concisely to senior leadership for consideration. Supports planning projects and lean in to new opportunities large and small.
Champions technology and operational improvement culture. Active participant in Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt/ Black Belt projects. Strong capacity to use technology in our fast paced and highly automated environment.
Asks questions, seeks knowledge and demonstrates a desire to learn tax. Acts as a technical resource for business partners. Actively leads department educational opportunities and coaches and mentors Tax Analysts technical development.
May perform other responsibilities as assigned.
Reporting Relationships: Reports to Tax Manager/Director. Responsible for coaching and mentoring of matrixed staff.
Typical Skills and Experiences:
Education: Undergraduate degree with studies in accounting, tax or other related field
License/Certification/Designation: Progress toward CPA certification, master's degree in tax or law degree preferred
Experience: Minimum of four years tax or accounting experience in a corporate or public accounting setting. Insurance or financial services experience preferred.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Federal, state and local tax law. Statutory and/or GAAP accounting. Ability to learn tax systems and apply technology to continually improve and manage risks. Self-starter who is able to prioritize work through team collaboration and with little day-to-day supervision. Inquisitive nature and desire to learn general and insurance tax concepts; asks questions and challenge answers. Self-reviews own work for accuracy. Must possess decision-making skills for problem identification and solution recommendation. Can apply technology and tax rules to complicated calculations with large amounts of data. Excellent communication skills in a diverse and fast paced environment.
Other criteria, including leadership skills, proficiencies and experiences may take precedence.
Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.
Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.
Job Conditions:
Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)
Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Occasional travel. Non-standard or extended hours may be required based on project needs.
ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.