Senior Associate/Manager, Compensation and Benefits (Transaction Tax)

$130,000 - $176,800/Yr

Alvarez & Marsal - New York, NY

Full-time - Mid Level

New York, NY

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Senior Associate/Manager, Compensation and Benefits (Transaction Tax) position at Alvarez & Marsal Tax, LLC involves working within the Compensation and Benefits (CAB) Tax team, which is composed of experienced tax professionals dedicated to providing practical tax advice to corporate and private equity buyers throughout the transaction lifecycle. The CAB team employs an integrated approach, collaborating with A&M professionals who possess deep operational and financial expertise. This collaboration allows the team to quickly identify and understand potential deal breakers, value drivers, and other areas of specific interest to clients. The CAB transaction tax services encompass a variety of tasks, including conducting tax due diligence, structuring transactions in a tax-efficient manner, and evaluating significant tax attributes, credits, and incentives. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and delivering quality tax planning approaches, ensuring that services and work products meet or exceed client expectations. This includes performing compensation and benefits due diligence, reviewing payroll tax treatment, and commenting on compensation and benefits aspects of financial models and purchase agreements. You will also take ownership of assigned workstreams, ensuring timely reviews and constructive feedback from supervisors, while coordinating with various tax team members to deliver high-quality integrated work products. Additionally, you will begin to manage client relationships by effectively communicating and responding to client expectations, gathering relevant data, and tailoring project deliverables accordingly. The CAB Transaction Tax professionals at A&M are characterized by their entrepreneurial spirit and results-oriented mindset. They take a hands-on approach to problem-solving and are adaptable to changes, presenting opportunities rather than following a strict playbook. The team has extensive experience on both the buy and sell sides of transactions across various industries, including healthcare, financial institutions, energy, environmental services, technology, and education. A&M is committed to supporting the growth and development of its employees, providing access to training, development resources, and networking opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Perform tax due diligence, including reviewing target's historic tax profile, planning, tax examinations, acquisitions/dispositions, and filing history to assess potential risks and opportunities.
• Identify opportunities for further tax efficiencies during the due diligence process.
• Structure transactions in a tax-efficient manner, including equity rollovers and deferrals.
• Review and evaluate significant tax attributes, credits, and incentives.
• Review and comment on purchase agreements and disclosure schedules.
• Evaluate potential acquisition structures and model transaction scenarios.
• Identify matters to be addressed post-closing, including integration-related risks and opportunities.
• Develop and deliver quality tax planning approaches by providing timely and responsive services and work products that meet and/or exceed client expectations.
• Perform compensation due diligence, including review of equity agreements, CIC plans, golden parachute calculations, deferred compensation plans, tax returns, financials, and other documentation to evaluate potential tax risks and opportunities.
• Perform benefits due diligence, including review of retirement plans, Section 125 plans, discrimination testing, Forms 5500, and determination letters for compliance with IRS and DOL requirements.
• Review payroll tax treatment and withholding policies and practices, including accurate reporting (W-2, K-1, 1099, etc.), withholding on income tax and FICA on various forms of compensation, and worker classification.
• Review and comment on compensation and benefits aspects of financial models, purchase agreements, and structuring calculations.
• Take ownership of assigned workstreams, ensuring timely review and constructive feedback of deliverables, and proactively responding to changes in workflow.
• Coordinate with federal, state and local, and international tax team members, as well as financial and operational due diligence team members, to deliver high-quality integrated work products.
• Begin developing and managing client relationships by communicating and responding to client expectations, gathering relevant data, and tailoring project deliverables accordingly.

Requirements

• Demonstrated knowledge of compensation and benefits tax concepts, including Sections 83, 409A, 401, 422, 125, and 280G.
• Ability to identify compliance issues with qualified plans.
• Experience with worker classification determinations under IRS and DOL rules.
• Understanding of compensation and benefits issues for various entity structures, including public and private corporations, partnerships, S-Corps, and consolidated groups.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance or related field required.
• Advanced Degree / Certification preferred: CPA, JD, or LLM.
• 3-5 years of compensation and benefits tax due diligence experience.
• Prior experience with Mergers and Acquisitions preferred.
• Strong writing, analytical, research and organizational skills.
• Experience with all Microsoft Office products (with an emphasis on Excel).
• Strong communication skills.
• Strong sense of personal motivation as well as the ability to work with a team.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, time-sensitive environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Advanced Degree / Certification preferred: CPA, JD, or LLM.
• Prior experience with Mergers and Acquisitions preferred.

Benefits

• Healthcare plans
• Flexible spending and savings accounts
• Life, AD&D, and disability coverages
• 401(k) retirement plan with discretionary contributions
• Discretionary bonus program based on individual and firm performance.