Sr. Tax Accountant II

Providing for loved ones, planning rewarding retirements, saving enough for whatever lies ahead – our policyholders count on us to be there when it matters most. It’s a big ask, but it’s one that we have the power to deliver when we work together. We collaborate and innovate – pushing one another to transform not just Pacific Life, but the entire industry for the better.

Why? Because it’s the right thing to do. Pacific Life is more than a job, it’s a career with purpose. It’s a career where you have the support, balance, and resources to make a positive impact on the future – including your own.

This hybrid position is available at one of our Pacific Life locations:
Newport Beach, CA or Omaha, NE.

• Disability Claims Calculations & Taxability
  • Perform and review complex pre- and post-disability earnings calculations.
  • Calculate partial earnings for claimants returning to part-time work.
  • Verify claim taxability at the employer/policy level and request annual documentation.
  • Ensure accurate benefit payments and net amounts based on tax status.
• Financial Analysis & Overpayment Management
  • Conduct financial audits within the EIS system to validate benefit calculations, offsets, and payment integrity.
  • Identify and correct underpayments or over payments.
  • Recalculate FICA with holdings when taxability changes occur.
  • Issue corrected W-2s (W-2
    
    Cs) for prior-year adjustments.
  • Oversee the financial recovery process and develop long‑term strategies for fund recovery.
• Payroll Tax Withholding, Remittance & Reporting
  • Validate daily, quarterly, and annual tax with holdings and remittances.
  • Ensure timely and accurate remittance to federal and state tax agencies.
  • Lead year‑end tax reporting for claimants (W-2, 1099) and employers based on tax support agreements and elections.
• Tax Guidance & Customer Support
  • Provide expert guidance on tax-related matters beyond standard claims processing.
  • Support call center staff with tax inquiries and develop annual FAQs for W-2, 1099-LTC, and 1099-INT forms.
  • Respond to tax questions from claimants, employers, and brokers.
  • Manage policy-level taxability corrections and Tier 1 policyholder tax reports.
  • Prepare and distribute FICA consent letters for prior-year over payment refunds.
• Collaboration & Process Improvement
  • Partner with Finance to establish financial controls and robust reporting mechanisms.
  • Collaborate with Training to develop financial training programs to improve accuracy.
  • Identify and implement process improvements to enhance tax compliance and operational efficiency.

• Minimum 8+ years of relevant experience in finance, tax, or compliance roles within the insurance or group benefits industry.
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Deep knowledge of federal and state tax regulations related to disability benefits, sick pay, and group insurance products.
• Experience managing multi-state tax compliance and understanding of state-specific disability and PFML programs.
• Strong analytical and auditing skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial and tax data.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; familiarity with business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Power
  
  BI) and claims systems (e.g., EIS) is a plus.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a customer-service mindset.

• Professional certifications such as CPA, EA, or CEBS.
• Advanced degree in Taxation, Accounting, or Business Administration (MBA).
• Experience with tax reporting platforms such as FINEOS, ADP, or Sovos.
• Proven leadership in process improvement and tax operations within a growing organization.
• Familiarity with IRS revenue rulings and emerging tax requirements for group benefits and PFML.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex tax regulations into clear, actionable guidance for internal and external stakeholders.

$ - $. The base pay range noted represents the company’s good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent…