Manager, Tax Accounting & Payroll

OTPGeneral Office
Fergus Falls, MN 56537, USA

Manager, Tax Accounting & Payroll

Fergus Falls, MN

Salary grade 15

Otter Tail Power Company is seeking a strategic and collaborative accounting leader to manage our Tax Accounting and Payroll functions. In this role, you'll lead a talented team responsible for income tax, property tax, sales and use tax, tax forecasting, renewable energy incentives, payroll operations, and related regulatory and financial reporting support.

This position plays an important role in supporting financial planning, regulatory outcomes, accurate and timely payroll, and strategic business decisions while partnering across Accounting, Business Planning, Regulatory, Treasury, Human Resources, Legal, Operations, and Corporate.

This position will report to the Controller.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team responsible for income tax, property tax, sales and use tax, and payroll operations.
• Oversee tax accounting, reporting, compliance, and filing activities, including current and deferred taxes, tax depreciation, tax credits, regulatory balances, and related financial statement disclosures.
• Provide management oversight and direction to the Payroll Supervisor, ensuring payroll is processed and funded accurately and timely for union and nonunion employees and supplemental pension payroll.
• Oversee payroll tax filings and regulatory reporting, compliance with federal and state requirements and collective bargaining agreements, payroll reconciliations, internal controls, and administration of payroll and time-entry systems.
• Collaborate with executives, Corporate, and business partners to develop and implement tax strategies and advise on the tax implications of major investments, financing activities, and strategic initiatives.
• Provide tax leadership for rate cases, regulatory proceedings, tax forecasting, budgeting, and long-range financial planning in partnership with Business Planning, Regulatory, Treasury, and Accounting.
• Evaluate tax legislation, utility tax normalization requirements, and renewable energy incentives for financial, regulatory, and strategic impacts.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, FERC requirements, SOX, internal controls, tax laws and regulations, payroll requirements, and other financial reporting obligations.
• Identify and lead process, system, reporting, and data governance improvements that enhance accuracy, efficiency, and scalability across tax and payroll.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience in corporate taxation, tax accounting, public accounting, auditing, or a related tax function.
• Prior leadership experience with responsibility for supervising, coaching, and developing employees.
• Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local tax laws; current and deferred income tax accounting; and corporate income, property, and sales/use tax accounting, compliance, planning, and reporting.
• Ability to research, analyze, interpret, and communicate complex tax, payroll, accounting, regulatory, and business matters and provide clear recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop talent, build collaborative relationships, lead through change, and foster an accountable and high-performing team culture.

• Five or more years of leadership experience, including supervising, coaching, developing, and managing accounting, tax, or payroll professionals.
• Experience leading or overseeing payroll operations, payroll accounting, payroll tax compliance, payroll funding, reconciliations, wage and deduction reporting, and compliance with applicable federal and state requirements.
• Utility industry experience and…