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Verizon is seeking an experienced state and local Tax Counsel to join our tax legal team to partner with our state tax controversy teams and lead our state tax litigation practice. The candidate should have solid knowledge of all areas of state and local tax laws impacting the telecommunications industry, including income and non-income (sales, use, gross receipts, property, utility, etc.) taxes as well as a strong knowledge of regulatory fees.  The candidate should also have extensive state tax controversy experience, including advocacy experience at state/local exam, administrative appeals, tax court, appellate court and supreme court.  The candidate will manage two other state tax lawyers.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Audit Defense: Assist the state income and transaction tax audit teams in managing and defending the company in tax audits; including developing strategies to deal with exam, reviewing draft IDR responses, accompanying audit staff in meetings with state tax authorities and representing Verizon before tax authorities, including the MTC.  
• State Tax Litigation: Driving Verizon’s state tax litigation strategy including at appeals, tax court, appellate and supreme courts.  Selecting and working closely with outside counsel in designing our strategy, drafting and reviewing petitions, motions and briefs.  Preparing witnesses for depositions and facilitating settlement opportunities with state tax authorities and attorney general’s office.  Where appropriate, participating in court proceedings, oral arguments and at trial.  
• ASC 740 & FAS 5 Support: collaborate with Verizon’s tax accounting team to assess potential ASC 740 (FIN 48) and ASC 450 (FAS 5) state and local exposures and draft memo’s supporting Verizon’s positions.
• Dispute Resolution: Work across business segments to resolve customer tax disputes
• Industry Knowledge: Stay up-to-date with changes in state and local tax law, including those affecting the telecommunications industry, and apply this knowledge to optimize tax strategies and ensure tax compliance.  
• Legislative Advocacy: Partner with Verizon’s state tax legislative affairs team to drive Verizon’s tax legislative advocacy, including lobbying strategies, drafting comment letters, meeting with Government officials and lawmakers, participating in meetings with outside coalitions and drafting changes to proposed state tax legislation.  
• Business Support:  Support the business segments in evaluating state tax issues related to new products, services and other offerings.
• Mergers and Acquisitions: Provide expert tax advice on mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring, ensuring compliance with state and local tax regulations, performing due diligence to assess and quantify tax risks, and working with internal teams to resolve and mitigate such risks.
• State Tax Planning: Support the research and planning team to develop state and local tax planning strategies that impact Verizon’s effective income tax rate, cash income taxes and above the line taxes, including ensuring that all tax planning initiatives are well-grounded in tax law, properly implemented and have appropriate documentation to withstand audit scrutiny.  Draft memo’s outlining the facts, applicable tax law and potential risks.  

This position within the tax legal group requires:

• J.D. with strong academic performance.
• Masters in Tax or LL.M. in Taxation is a plus.
• Admission and good standing in at least one state (if not New Jersey, then eligibility for New Jersey In-House Counsel Limited Licensure).
• At least 12 years of experience in a large law firm and/or in-house dealing with state tax controversy and litigation.  Knowledge of attorney-client privilege and work product also required.
• Proven ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and work in a fast-paced environment. 
• Must be a team player with a strong ability to collaborate across multiple disciplines within the Verizon Tax Organization, while also independently exercising sound judgment.
• Outstanding writing, editing and oral communication skills, adaptive to and effective for different audiences.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain relationships within a matrix organization.
• Strong income tax and non-income tax technical and tax research skills.
• Ability to work with and manage outside counsel.
• Possess a strong work ethic and a desire to work through complex issues.
• Strong people leadership skills with the ability to develop personnel both technically and as future leaders.

In this hybrid role, you'll have a defined work location that includes work from home and a minimum eight assigned office days per month that will be set by your manager.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Equal Employment Opportunity 

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer - and celebrate our employees’ differences, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, and Veteran status. At Verizon, we know that diversity makes us stronger. We are committed to a collaborative, inclusive environment that encourages authenticity and fosters a sense of belonging. We strive for everyone to feel valued, connected, and empowered to reach their potential and contribute their best. Check out our diversity and inclusion page to learn more.