Tax & Technical Accounting Manager – Chicago Cubs Internships


Website Chicago Cubs

Position Summary:

The Manager – Audit, Tax & Technical Accounting is responsible for managing and/or performing a variety of responsibilities including (i) financial statement audits (5 statement audits (including one under the income tax basis of accounting) and 1 benefit plan audit]), (ii) quarterly tax projections, (iii) the annual income tax return process, (iv) the non-income tax process and (v) ownership of technical accounting research matters. This role is the primary liaison between external audit firms, government auditors & tax preparers and the accounting department. The scope of the role primarily includes the NEH family of Ricketts-owned entities, but may extend to other entities for certain responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Become a subject-matter expert for non-income taxes (e.g., sales & use, cable, lease), including review of monthly, quarterly, and annual tax calculations and return filings. When they arise, serve as the point person for related government audits.
  • Manage multiple annual financial statement audits across several external audit firms, including (i) PBC list coordination, collection, review and submission of requests that are timely and accurate, (ii) coordination and review of engagement and representation letters, and (iii) overall coordination and issuance of the final audited financial statements.
  • Review specified balance sheet account reconciliations for timeliness, completeness, and accuracy.
  • Complete income tax projections on a quarterly basis including coordinating review by the Controller and the external tax preparers. Coordinate tax distributions to investors as needed.
  • Manage, including professional development, one staff accountant.
  • Complete technical accounting research, conclusions and memos for new contracts entered into by the company, and research and document conclusions on other technical accounting matters as they arise.
  • Work with the accounting team to maintain tax records for fixed asset additions and disposals, ultimately calculating tax depreciation for the company’s tax returns.
  • Manage the income tax return process (Federal and SALT) with external tax preparers, including (i) PBC list coordination, collection, review and submission of requests that are timely and accurate, (ii) coordination and review of engagement letters, (iii) completion of the final tax returns (in coordination with external tax preparers) and (iv) submission of all tax return filings and payments.
  • Write/update financial statement footnotes, seeking input from the business unit accounting teams as applicable and ensuring consistency among reports that build upon one another.
  • Lead the accounting research for and implementation of significant new accounting pronouncements, including implementation of the new leasing standard (Topic 842) for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2022.
  • Oversee internal audit of expense reports, including documentation of findings and exceptions.

Required Education & Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
  • Consistent annual performance reviews in the top quartile
  • 1 or more years in a corporate accounting position
  • Demonstrated experience in identifying issues, evaluating which need to be elevated, and effectively communicating issue summaries and recommendations
  • Experience implementing ASC 842 (leases)
  • At least 1 year of technical accounting research responsibilities, and demonstrated proficiency in researching, concluding on, and documenting the company’s application of GAAP accounting pronouncements
  • 3 – 6 years of “Big Four” public accounting experience, including promotion to Senior and/or Manager
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office products
  • Masters Degree in Accounting or MBA
  • Demonstrated organizational, project management, and multi-tasking skills
  • At least 5 years of work experience, with a progression of increasing responsibility
  • Experience writing and/or reviewing footnotes and annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP
  • Experience reviewing or preparing corporate income tax projections/returns
  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Experience using Great Plains, Net Suite, Sage Premier Depreciation and/or Adaptive Insights