Sales & Use Tax Specialist

Hillyard Inc.; Saint Joseph (MO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Hillyard, Inc. is seeking a Sales & Use Tax Specialist to join our Accounting team in St. Joseph, MO. You will own the sales and use tax process, partner with internal teams and a third-party provider, and ensure compliance with changing state and local requirements.

You will manage returns, exemptions, audits, and tax software interactions, while collaborating across Accounting to strengthen processes and reporting accuracy.

Qualifications

• 2–4 years of experience in corporate tax or related accounting.
• Sales and use tax experience preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Knowledge of state and local tax regulations.
• Understanding of tax accounting, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Strong Excel and MS Office skills.
• Ability to manage multiple filings, deadlines, audits and priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Experience with tax software; Vertex a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, review, and reconcile monthly sales and use tax data using Vertex.
• Review and approve state and local sales tax returns prepared by our third-party tax provider.
• Prepare and file tax returns not handled by our outside provider.
• Reconcile sales and use tax-related general ledger accounts.
• Manage sales tax exemption certificates and review documentation for accuracy and validity.
• Monitor supplier transactions for company use tax compliance.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager with Vertex and coordinate tax updates with the ERP system.
• Coordinate and manage sales tax audits, including documentation and communication with auditors.
• Complete tax and licensing applications as needed.
• Monitor unclaimed property requirements and coordinate filings.
• Partner with outside tax firm on state income tax estimates.
• Manage W-9 and tax exemption certificate requests from internal teams, customers, and suppliers.
• Research tax questions, identify potential compliance concerns, and recommend solutions.

Skills

Tax knowledge

Analytical skills

Research skills

Communication skills

Time management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Vertex

ERP systems

MS Excel

Job description

Sales & Use Tax Specialist

Hillyard, Inc. is currently seeking an experienced Sales & Use Tax Specialist to join our Accounting team in St. Joseph, MO. Are you a tax professional who enjoys digging into the details, solving compliance challenges, and becoming the go-to resource for tax-related questions? Do you have experience with sales and use tax and enjoy working across departments, managing deadlines, and partnering with outside tax professionals? If so, this could be a great opportunity to bring your expertise to a stable organization where you'll have ownership of an important area of our business. As our Tax Compliance Specialist, you'll serve as Hillyard's primary resource for sales and use tax compliance, working with internal teams, customers, suppliers, tax authorities, and our third-party tax provider. You'll help ensure accurate reporting, maintain exemption documentation, support audits, and keep Hillyard compliant with changing state and local requirements.

What You'll Do

• Prepare, review, and reconcile monthly sales and use tax data using Vertex.
• Review and approve state and local sales tax returns prepared by our third-party tax provider.
• Prepare and file tax returns not handled by our outside provider.
• Reconcile sales and use tax-related general ledger accounts.
• Manage sales tax exemption certificates and review documentation for accuracy and validity.
• Monitor supplier transactions for company use tax compliance.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager with Vertex and coordinate tax application updates with our ERP system.
• Coordinate and manage sales tax audits, including documentation and communication with auditors.
• Complete tax and licensing applications as needed.
• Monitor unclaimed property requirements and coordinate required filings.
• Partner with our outside tax firm on state income tax estimates.
• Manage W-9 and tax exemption certificate requests from internal teams, customers, and suppliers.
• Research tax questions, identify potential compliance concerns, and recommend appropriate solutions.

What We're Looking For

• 2-4 years of experience in corporate tax, public accounting, or a related accounting role.
• Sales and use tax experience strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Knowledge of state and local tax regulations, particularly sales and use tax.
• Understanding of tax accounting, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Strong analytical, research, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to identify potential compliance risks and recommend solutions.
• Experience with tax software and ERP systems; Vertex experience is a plus.
• Strong Excel and Microsoft Office skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, organization, and follow-through.
• Ability to manage multiple filings, deadlines, audits, and priorities independently.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build productive relationships with internal teams, customers, suppliers, auditors, tax authorities, and outside tax professionals.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is more than a tax return preparation role. You'll have the opportunity to take ownership of Hillyard's sales and use tax compliance processes and become a trusted resource throughout the organization.

• Serve as a key internal resource for sales and use tax matters.
• Manage the relationship with our third-party tax provider.
• Work across Accounting and other areas of the business.
• Take ownership of tax compliance processes from reconciliation through filing.
• Manage and support sales tax audits.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen processes and reduce compliance risk.
• Continue developing your tax expertise within a stable, established organization.

Why Hillyard?

Since 1907, Hillyard has been helping customers create clean, safe, and healthy environments through industry-leading products, equipment, and solutions. As a family-owned organization, we've built our success through strong relationships, dependable service, and people who take ownership of their work. We're looking for a Tax Compliance Specialist who brings that same sense of ownership to our Accounting team and can help us confidently navigate an increasingly complex tax environment.

What's in It for You?

• Monday-Friday schedule
• Competitive salary and bonus program
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off programs
• Industry-leading 401(k) and profit-sharing program
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Professional development opportunities
• Stable, long-term career opportunity
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact across the organization

Bring Your Tax Expertise to Hillyard

If you have experience in sales and use tax, corporate tax, or public accounting and are looking for an opportunity where you can take ownership, solve problems, and become a trusted tax resource, we'd like to hear from you.

Hillyard is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.