Sales Tax Operations Specialist

The Sales Tax Operations Specialist provides dedicated support to internal departments and external customers on sales and use tax matters. In this role, you review, validate, and maintain customer tax exemption certificates in accordance with company policies and jurisdictional requirements, and you update tax-exempt statuses in core systems such as IBM iSeries and Vertex. You combine strong attention to detail with excellent customer service and research skills to ensure accurate tax treatment, timely processing, and clear communication across the organization.

• Review and analyze resale and exemption certificates for accuracy, credibility, applicability, and completeness, and update the customer account or order accordingly.
• Process tax exemption requests within specified time frames while maintaining high levels of accuracy and compliance.
• Create and update tax-exempt status records in core IBM iSeries systems and Vertex tax software.
• Accurately calculate, document, and authorize tax credits for sales taxes in alignment with internal policies and jurisdictional rules.
• Educate internal departments on proper documentation and procedures required to meet tax-exempt status requirements.
• Maintain effective, responsive, and courteous communication with internal stakeholders and external customers regarding sales and use tax questions.
• Respond to inquiries from external customers about exemption certificates and tax billing issues, providing clear explanations and guidance.
• Resolve tax-related credit disputes prompted by customer non-payment of sales tax due to incomplete or inaccurate exemption certificates.
• Learn and apply in-depth state and local sales and use tax rules and regulations to interpret exemption certificates accurately.
• Demonstrate an understanding of tax exemption requirements for various levels of sales taxes and different customer exemption types.
• Participate in research projects related to exemption certificate requirements and sales and use tax regulations.
• Use multiple systems, including more antiquated platforms, to research, update, and validate tax and customer information.
• Apply problem-solving and research skills to investigate tax issues, identify root causes, and recommend appropriate resolutions.
• Work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment while managing multiple requests and priorities.
• Collaborate with colleagues across finance, accounting, AR/credit, and customer service to ensure consistent tax treatment and a positive customer experience.

• Bachelors Degree in Business, Finance, or Accounting and at least 1 year of corporate tax, credit, accounts receivable (AR), or customer service experience, OR a High School Diploma and at least 2 years of corporate tax, credit, AR, or customer service experience.
• Experience working with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new systems, including multiple and more antiquated platforms.
• Strong attention to detail with an organized and methodical approach to work.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain tax concepts clearly to internal and external stakeholders.
• Proven problem-solving and research skills, particularly in reviewing and interpreting tax-related documentation.
• Comfort working in a dynamic, fast-paced business environment with shifting priorities.
• Understanding of accounting, AR/credit, or customer service procedures.
• Foundational experience with sales tax and use tax, including familiarity with searching tax regulations and reviewing exemption certificates.

• RIA or CCH tax research experience.
• Experience with IBM iSeries systems.
• Experience with People Soft.
• Vertex tax software experience.
• Experience in the technology industry.
• Hands-on sales and use tax experience beyond entry-level responsibilities.
• Customer service experience involving tax billing issues or credit disputes.
• Ability to interpret state and local sales and use tax rules and apply them to exemption certificates.
• Comfort working with data, documentation, and tax-related records in a structured, detail-oriented manner.

This role offers the possibility of fully remote work, with a strong preference for candidates in the Chicago area due to required in-office days. The position follows a hybrid schedule with varying required in-office days across three locations:
Downtown Chicago, Rosemont, and…