Manager, Direct Tax

Merck & Co.; United States; On-site; USD 116,000 - 173,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Vision benefits

Dental benefits

Retirement plan

PTO

Sick leave

Job summary

Bayer in the United States is seeking a Manager, Direct Tax to drive compliance, reporting, and continuous improvement. The role partners with the Direct Tax team, GBS Costa Rica, and cross-functional partners to ensure audit-ready work that leverages automation and AI to reduce risk and improve efficiency.

The candidate should have a solid foundation in US direct tax, experience with tax compliance, and the ability to implement scalable processes across a North America team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Solid understanding of U.S. direct tax principles.
• Experience with tax compliance and/or tax provision processes.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills across functions.
• Practical curiosity about technology, automation, and responsible AI use in tax processes.
• Ability to collaborate with shared-service or cross-border teams and translate technical tax requirements into clear process instructions.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review federal and state income tax returns with accuracy.
• Support state income tax matters including apportionment and audits.
• Assist in tax provision processes and tax software maintenance.
• Identify efficiency opportunities and automate where possible.
• Collaborate with GBS and business partners to ensure timely data delivery.
• Develop standardized processes before automation.
• Support tax audits and inquiries with documentation.
• Contribute to internal controls and compliance with policies.
• Identify and apply automation and AI opportunities to improve workflows.

Skills

Direct tax

Tax compliance

Tax provision

Automation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

SAP

Corptax

OneSource

Job description

At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us. If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice.

Manager, Direct Tax

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking a Manager - Direct Tax who brings strong technical expertise, attention to detail, and a continuous improvement mindset to support high-quality tax compliance and reporting. This role is an opportunity to play a key part in delivering accurate, audit-ready results while continuously improving processes through collaboration, co-creation, standardization, and the responsible use of technology, automation and AI.

The successful candidate will have a solid foundation in direct tax principles and is excellent in applying that knowledge to execute compliance activities, support tax provision processes, and identify opportunities for efficiency and risk reduction. This individual will work closely with the Direct Tax team, business partners, and the Global Business Services (GBS) team in Costa Rica to ensure quality, consistency, and continuous improvement.

We are looking for a team-oriented professional who is curious, accountable, and committed to delivering high-quality results while contributing to a positive and collaborative team environment. The ideal candidate constructively challenges existing ways of working, solves root causes, and helps build scalable capabilities instead of only completing assigned tasks.

The primary responsibilities of this role, Manager, Direct Tax are to:

This position reports to the North America Head of Tax and has close working relationships with the Direct Tax Lead, Tax Accounting Manager, the other functional US Tax Teams and GBS.

• Prepare and review federal and state income tax returns, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable regulations;
• Support state income tax matters, including apportionment, state adjustments, combined/separate filing considerations, notices, and audit inquiries;
• Support the quarterly and annual income tax provision process, including calculation and review of current and deferred taxes and maintenance of tax software;
• Assist in interpreting and applying new or changing tax laws and regulations, and evaluating their impact on the organization;
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and GBS teams to ensure timely and accurate delivery of tax data and compliance and reporting outputs;
• Partner with GBS teams to co-create playbooks, strengthen review routines, improve data quality, and build sustainable direct tax capabilities across the borderless North America Tax team;
• Support tax audits and inquiries by gathering documentation and responding to information requests;
• Deliver audit-ready workpapers and tax calculations with clear documentation, review trails, and minimal rework;
• Identify and implement process improvements, including automation opportunities, to enhance efficiency and reduce risk;
• Standardize processes before automating them, ensuring improvements are sustainable, controlled, and easy to transfer across teams;
• Maintain documentation and support audit-ready processes across all assigned activities;
• Partner with external parties as needed to support compliance, planning, and technical matters;
• Contribute to ensuring strong internal controls and adherence to company policies and procedures;
• Identify and responsibly apply automation and AI opportunities to improve quality, consistency, documentation, and cycle time in direct tax compliance and reporting workflows;

• Work in a DSO-oriented way by taking ownership for outcomes, challenging processes constructively, solving root causes, and strengthening collaboration across Direct Tax, GBS Costa Rica, Accounting, and other business partners.

WHO YOU ARE

Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field;
• Solid understanding of U.S. direct tax principles, including federal and state income tax;
• Experience with tax compliance and/or tax provision processes;
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills;
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment;
• Effective communication and collaboration skills across functions;
• Practical curiosity about technology, automation, and responsible AI use in tax processes;
• Ability to collaborate with shared-service or cross-border teams and translate technical tax requirements into clear process instructions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA or progress toward certification;
• 4-6+ years of relevant tax experience (corporate, public accounting, or consulting);

• Experience with tax software and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Corptax, OneSource);
• Experience working with shared services or global delivery models;
• Exposure to process improvement or automation initiatives;
• Experience with large corporate tax compliance environments, including multi-entity or multi-state filings;
• Experience creating or improving standardized workpapers, process documentation, checklists, or review controls.

Employees can expect to be paid a salary between $115,520 to $173,280. Additional compensation may include a bonus or commission (if relevant). Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, sick leave, etc.. This salary range is merely an estimate and may vary based on an applicant’s location, market data/ranges, an applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors.

This posting will be available for application until at least 8/21/2026.

Bayer is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

Bayer is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its application process for individuals with disabilities and encourages applicants with disabilities to request any needed accommodation(s) using the contact information below.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement: Notice for U.S. Visitors: All information on this site is subject to compliance with local rule and regulations as they may vary from time to time and across different geographies, including, without limitation, U.S. Executive Orders. Bayer is an E-Verify Employer.

Location: United States : Residence Based : Residence Based

Division: Enabling Functions

Reference Code: 878791