Senior Specialist, Tax

Merck; New Jersey; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck, based in New Jersey, seeks an experienced Tax Technology professional to drive U.S. income tax compliance and accounting under ASC 740.

You will lead automation, data analytics, and AI-enabled workflows across finance and tax teams, enhancing processes and controls while partnering with IT and external advisors. The role focuses on transforming tax functions through scalable tech, workflow automation, and AI-driven insights, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in filings, provisions, and

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in U.S. tax compliance, tax accounting, tax technology, or related corporate tax functions.
• Experience with Federal Form 1120 and state/local corporate income tax returns.
• Working knowledge of ASC 740 for U.S. Federal and State tax matters.
• Strong tax research and analytical skills.
• Interest or experience in tax technology, automation, data analytics, or digital transformation.
• Experience translating business requirements into improved workflows or technology solutions.

Responsibilities

• Prepare annual and quarterly U.S. income tax provisions under U.S. GAAP for entities and book/tax adjustments.
• Ensure ASC 740 compliance, defer tax entries, and reconciliations.
• Prepare U.S. consolidated Federal and State returns, including stand-alone and unitary filings.
• Support quarterly estimated tax payments and annual extensions.
• Assist with IRS/state notices, information requests, and audits.
• Support SOX-related activities and strengthen internal controls and procedures.
• Identify manual activities and opportunities to standardize or automate tax processes.
• Develop automated tax workflows using Alteryx, Power Automate, Power Apps, Power BI, Corptax, OneSource.
• Explore AI-enabled solutions for data gathering, reconciliations, and workflow orchestration.
• Apply AI tools like Copilot/ Gemini with proper review, controls, and security.
• Document automated processes, flows, requirements, controls, and SOPs for sustainability.
• Promote continuous improvement by identifying new technologies and use cases.

Skills

Tax technology

Automation

Data analytics

Process improvement

AI-enabled technologies

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Information Systems, Data Analytics, or a related discipline

Tools

Alteryx

Power Automate

Power Apps

Power BI

Corptax Office

OneSource Workpapers

Microsoft Copilot

Google Gemini

Job description

Position Description

This position is responsible for U.S. income tax compliance and tax accounting under ASC 740, with a strong emphasis on technology, process transformation, automation, and the application of AI-enabled solutions within the tax function.

Under the supervision of the Executive Director of Tax, the incumbent will support Federal and State income tax compliance, estimated tax payments, quarterly income tax provisions, tax account reconciliations, and Federal and State audits. In addition, the individual will be expected to identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, automate, and enhance tax processes through technology, data analytics, workflow automation, and agentic AI solutions.

The position will collaborate with Business Unit Finance and Tax teams, Treasury, Legal, IT/Technology teams, and external advisors to improve tax processes, strengthen data flows and controls, and help develop scalable technology solutions supporting tax compliance and reporting.

Your Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare annual and quarterly U.S. provisions for income taxes under U.S. GAAP for assigned legal entities and book/tax adjustments.
• Ensure compliance with ASC 740, including calculation of deferred tax entries related to temporary differences, validation of deferred tax balances, and completion of Federal and State return-to-accrual reconciliations.
• Prepare U.S. consolidated Federal income tax returns and State income and franchise tax returns, including stand-alone and unitary filings, disclosures, attachments, and supporting workpapers.
• Prepare calculations and forms supporting quarterly estimated tax payments and annual extensions.
• Assist in preparing responses to IRS and State income tax notices, Information Document Requests, and audit inquiries.
• Assist the Tax Director with SOX-related activities and help maintain and enhance key internal controls, process documentation, and procedures.
• Evaluate existing tax processes to identify manual activities, process inefficiencies, control gaps, data-quality issues, and opportunities for standardization or automation.
• Develop and support automated tax workflows using technologies such as Alteryx, Microsoft Power Automate, Power Apps, Power BI, Corptax Office, OneSource Workpapers, and related platforms.
• Explore and implement AI-enabled and agentic solutions that can assist with activities such as data gathering, reconciliations, workpaper preparation, tax return review, document analysis, workflow orchestration, issue identification, and management reporting.
• Apply tools such as Microsoft Copilot and/or Google Gemini to develop AI-assisted tax processes while considering appropriate review, controls, data security, and human oversight.
• Document automated processes, including process flows, business requirements, controls, dependencies, and operating procedures, to promote sustainability and effective knowledge transfer.
• Promote continuous improvement within the Tax organization by identifying emerging technologies and practical use cases that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of tax processes.

Position Qualifications

Education Minimum Requirement

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, Information Systems, Data Analytics, or a related discipline.

Required Experience and Skills

• 3+ years of experience in U.S. tax compliance, tax accounting, tax technology, and/or related corporate tax functions.
• Experience preparing Federal Form 1120 and associated State and local corporate income tax returns.
• Working knowledge of ASC 740 as it relates to U.S. Federal and State tax matters.
• Strong tax research and analytical skills
• Demonstrated interest or experience in tax technology, process improvement, automation, data analytics, or digital transformation.
• Experience identifying manual or inefficient processes and translating business requirements into improved workflows or technology solutions.
• Experience with AI-enabled technologies and an understanding of how generative AI and agentic AI solutions can be applied to business and tax processes.
• Experience using AI platforms such as Microsoft Copilot and/or Google Gemini to improve productivity, analysis, or business processes.
• Strong data fluency and experience with automation, analytics, and data-manipulation technologies such as Alteryx, Microsoft Power Automate, Power Apps, and Power BI.
• Ability to understand end-to-end processes, including upstream data sources, calculations and transformations, review controls, downstream outputs, and stakeholder requirements.
• Experience with tax compliance and reporting software such as Corptax and OneSource Tax Provision.
• Strong problem-solving mindset with a willingness to challenge existing processes and develop innovative, scalable solutions.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating across Tax, Finance, Technology Treasury, Legal, and external advisory teams.
• Strong verbal and writte