Tax Manager - Indirect

At Ben E. Keith Company, our legacy is strong—and our future is even stronger.

For more than a century, we’ve been leaders in fine food and premium beverage distribution, known for delivering excellence and building lasting partnerships. Today, our Food Division spans multiple states, and our Beverage Division brings top beverage brands to communities across Texas.

But what truly sets us apart is our commitment to people. We invest in our employees, empower growth, and create opportunities to make an impact—because when our people succeed, so do our customers and our business. Since 1906, that’s been our promise.

The Tax Manager is a hands-on, working manager responsible for performing and overseeing key aspects of the Company’s state and local tax functions related to Accounts Payable transactions, with a primary focus on sales and use tax compliance, transaction review, taxability research, audits, and related accounting activities. This position combines direct involvement in day-to-day tax activities with responsibility for providing technical guidance, reviewing work, developing team capabilities, and strengthening tax processes and controls.

The Tax Manager applies strong tax knowledge and independent judgment to analyze transactions, research and resolve complex tax matters, identify potential tax risks and savings opportunities, and provide practical guidance to internal stakeholders. The position remains actively involved in compliance, audits, research, and process improvement while providing day-to-day leadership, training, and support to the Tax team and branches. The Tax Manager also partners with cross-functional teams to improve tax processes, systems, controls, and data quality.

Position Responsibilities:

• Transaction & Risk Review: Perform and oversee reviews of invoices, contracts, purchasing documentation, exception reports, and related data to identify potential tax exposure, overpayments, exemptions, coding issues, and documentation requirements. Research and resolve issues and escalate significant risks as appropriate.
• Taxability Review, Research & Training: Research, analyze, and provide guidance regarding state and local tax treatment of procurement expenditures across a variety of business activities. Develop and maintain practical tax resources, including procedures, taxability matrices, coding guides, checklists, process maps, FAQs, and training materials. Utilize authoritative sources and approved technology, including responsible use of AI-assisted research tools with appropriate validation. Maintain clear documentation of tax decisions and supporting authority.
• Tax Compliance & Accounting: Perform and oversee assigned activities related to the multistate sales and use tax process, including transaction review, accruals, filings, reconciliations, journal entries, reporting, and maintenance of accurate records and supporting documentation. Review work as appropriate to ensure accuracy, completeness, and timely completion.
• Processes, Controls & Documentation: Perform and oversee recurring review processes and lead the development and maintenance of sustainable policies, procedures, workflows, controls, issue tracking, and documentation standards. Identify recurring issues and implement practical solutions designed to improve accuracy, strengthen controls, and support audit readiness.
• Audit Management & Support: Actively participate in and manage assigned state and local tax audits and other tax matters. Research audit issues, prepare and review documentation and information requests, support Company tax positions, track deadlines, communicate with internal and external stakeholders, and escalate significant tax risks as appropriate.
• Tax Technology & Process Improvement: Partner with Accounts Payable, Procurement, IT, Operations, and other teams to improve SAP, Vertex, data quality, coding practices, reporting, and related tax processes. Remain actively involved in identifying process improvements, defining requirements, testing, implementation, documentation, and user training associated with system and process changes.
• Business Partnership & Communication: Serve as a hands-on tax resource to internal stakeholders by providing practical tax and coding guidance and assisting with resolution of tax-related issues. Communicate with vendors regarding tax treatment, invoices, exemption certificates, credits, refunds, and supporting documentation. Coordinate with external advisors, technology providers, auditors, and taxing authorities as appropriate.
• Cross-Training & Continuity: Provide day-to-day technical guidance, coaching, training, and support to Tax team members and internal stakeholders while maintaining direct responsibility for assigned tax activities. Review work as appropriate, establish priorities, promote knowledge sharing, and maintain effective cross-training and backup coverage for critical responsibilities.
• Tax Savings & Recovery Opportunities: Proactively identify, research, and pursue available exemptions, credits, incentives, refunds, and overpayment-recovery opportunities, including applicable manufacturing exemptions. Ensure identified opportunities are appropriately researched, documented, and supported.

Skills/Proficiencies:

• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. Advanced proficiency in Excel preferred, including filters, formulas, lookups, and pivot tables.
• Highly organized, reliable, resourceful, and detail-oriented professional with the ability to analyze information and apply sound judgment.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and research skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, vendors, external advisors, and other business partners.
• SAP or other modern ERP platform experience preferred but not required. Ability to extract information from systems and utilize reports to analyze data.
• Vertex or similar sales tax software experience preferred but not required.
• Demonstrated ability to independently research and interpret state and local tax laws, regulations, and authoritative guidance and apply that knowledge to business transactions.
• Ability to provide technical guidance and exercise independent judgment when evaluating tax positions, risks, and opportunities.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Taxation, or a related field preferred.
• Five or more years of progressive experience in tax, accounting, or a related field, with significant experience in state and local tax (SALT) preferred.
• Experience with multistate sales and use tax compliance, taxability analysis, and tax research required.
• Experience supporting or managing state and local tax audits, including Information Document Requests (IDRs), preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of state and local sales and use tax laws, regulations, and compliance requirements, with the ability to independently research and apply applicable tax guidance.
• Understanding of general accounting principles and business operations.
• Ability to analyze transactions and determine appropriate tax treatment using applicable laws, regulations, and authoritative guidance.
• Experience developing, documenting, and implementing tax procedures, processes, and internal controls.
• Experience identifying and pursuing tax exemptions, credits, refunds, overpayment recoveries, or other tax savings opportunities preferred.
• Experience with SAP, Vertex, or similar ERP and tax technology platforms preferred.
• Experience in the distribution or consumer products industry a plus.
• Relevant combination of education and experience may be considered.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 20 lbs.

We offer employees the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in collaborative, results-driven environments supported by competitive benefits, including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Match + 100% Company-Paid Profit Sharing
• Paid Time Off & Holidays
• Wellness, EAP & Educational Assistance

At Ben E. Keith, we value a diverse and inclusive workforce where different perspectives drive better decisions and innovation. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, considering all qualified applicants, including minorities, females, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.