Tax Counsel

Verizon is seeking an experienced Tax Counsel to join our tax legal team and provide strategic tax guidance across a broad range of business activities.

• Manage litigation and audit defense: Assist in defending the company in state tax controversy matters, including developing strategies to deal with issues at state tax exams, state tax appeals, state tax tribunal boards, and beyond.
• Provide ASC 740 & FAS 5 support: Collaborate with Verizon's tax accounting team to assess potential ASC 740 (FIN 48) and ASC 450 (FAS 5) exposures and draft memos supporting Verizon's positions.
• Work on new product offerings: Partner with Verizon's business segments in offering new products, content, and services, including digital, cloud-based, or delivery through a market-based facilitator, evaluating taxability in the states where offered.
• Handle state and local tax planning: Support the research and planning team to develop state and local income and non-income tax planning strategies, including apportionment, filing methodologies, sourcing, and nexus planning that impact Verizon's effective tax rate, cash taxes, and above-the-line taxes.
• Handle dispute resolution: Work across all lines of business to resolve customer tax disputes.
• Maintain industry knowledge: Stay up-to-date with changes in state and local tax law, particularly those affecting the telecommunications industry, and apply this knowledge to optimize tax strategies and ensure tax compliance.
• Conduct legal research and analysis: Conduct legal research and analysis on various issues impacting the company and communicate findings in a clear and concise manner to internal clients and upper management.
• Provide client support: Support the in-house tax team in evaluating complex tax issues, including research and analysis related to restructurings and new business initiatives.
• Advising on 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.

• JD degree and six or more years of relevant work experience.
• Admission and good standing in at least one state (if not New Jersey, then eligibility for New Jersey In-House Counsel Limited Licensure).
• Experience in a large law firm and/or in-house dealing with state income and non-income tax matters.
• Knowledge of attorney-client privilege and work product also required.

• Masters in Tax or LL.M. in Taxation.
• Background in accounting.
• Proven ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be a team player with a strong ability to collaborate among 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 an organization.
• Strong income tax and non-income tax research skills.
• Ability to work with and manage outside advisors and counsel.
• Possess a strong work ethic and 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

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.