Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey empowers our members to achieve their best health. For over 90 years, we have been New Jersey's health solutions leader driving innovations that improve health care quality, affordability, and member experience. Our members are our neighbors, our friends, and our families. It is this understanding that drives us to better serve and care for the 3.5 million people who place their trust in us. We pride ourselves on our best-in-class employees and strive to maintain an innovative and inclusive environment that allows them to thrive. When our employees bring their best and succeed, the Company succeeds.
About the Role
This position ensures compliance with federal, state and local tax laws by providing managerial oversight of the company's federal, state, and local income, premium, franchise, sales and use, property, and other non-income tax compliance processes, including quarterly state nexus determinations. The role is accountable for the accuracy, completeness, and timely filing of all related tax returns through review and coordination with internal staff and external advisors.
This position owns the end-to-end income tax accounting process under statutory and GAAP requirements including oversight and review of monthly, quarterly and annual tax provisions, deferred tax calculations, and related journal entries and reporting. This role oversees compliance with the Model Audit Rule (MAR) and other applicable internal control requirements through review, and execution of assigned tax control activities, coordination with internal audit, and maintenance of control documentation. This position provides oversight of information reporting (including Forms 1099 and related filings), ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and appropriate review prior to submission.
What You'll Do
Owns and oversees the preparation and review of monthly, quarterly, and annual GAAP and statutory income tax provisions, including complex book-to-tax adjustments, insurance entities, interim valuation allowance analyses, and related deferred tax adjustments, ensuring technical accuracy, and consistency prior to Director-level review.
Provides leadership for federal and state tax consolidation processes, including consolidated and unitary adjustments, intercompany eliminations, and attribute tracking.
Reviews tax‑related general ledger account reconciliations prepared by staff, ensuring balances are accurate, appropriately supported, and that reconciling items are timely investigated and resolved.
Leads coordination of state tax audits and directs the preparation of related responses and supporting documentation. Supports the Director, Corporate Tax in the coordination of federal tax audits and oversees internal tax audit responses, reviewing technical positions and documentation prior to submission and escalating significant or risk-sensitive matters as appropriate.
Manages the preparation and review of quarterly and annual GAAP and statutory income tax disclosures, including validation of underlying data, assumptions, and calculations, ensuring completeness and consistency prior to Director-level review.
Owns and oversees the company's federal, state, and local income and non-income tax compliance processes, including complex consolidations and unitary multi-state filings, ensuring timely preparation, review, and filing of all returns, estimated tax payments, and related obligations. Reviews internally prepared returns and external provider deliverables for technical accuracy, completeness, and consistency prior to Director-level review.
Oversees quarterly state nexus determinations for income, sales and use, and premium taxes, including evaluation of filing obligations and review of related accruals and reserve calculations.
Reviews and evaluates technical tax research related to compliance, accounting, and structural matters, including research prepared by tax staff, and determines appropriate tax positions within assigned areas of responsibility. Prepares technical memoranda as needed and supports the Director, Corporate Tax in evaluating the tax implications of significant or strategic transactions.
Oversees the development, refinement, and documentation of tax compliance and accounting procedures to ensure ongoing regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and alignment with the tax function's control framework. Identifies and implements process enhancements to strengthen accuracy, consistency, and risk management.
Supervises tax analysts by assigning and prioritizing work, overseeing review processes, providing technical guidance, and supporting the development of staff through coaching, feedback, and performance management.
Supports the Director, Corporate Tax with complying with the company's internal control framework within the tax function under the Model Audit Rule (MAR) and other applicable internal control requirements, by executing assigned tax controls, reviewing control documentation, and participating in periodic testing of internal controls.
Manages the Company's information reporting function including first-line review of Forms 1099, 1042, 945, and related filings, coordination with internal staff and external vendors, and ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely submission in accordance with applicable federal and state requirements.
What You Bring
Education/Experience
High School Diploma/GED required
Bachelor's degree preferred or relevant experience in lieu of degree.
A minimum of eight (8) to ten (10) years of experience in public accounting or private industry in the tax department.
Relevant experience in Finance, or Business, with a focus on accounting and/or taxation.
Equivalent combination of education and substantial progressive tax experience considered.
Additional Licensing, Certifications, Registrations
Knowledge
Proficient technical knowledge of Federal & State tax laws & regulations.
Proficient knowledge of tax reporting requirements.
Proficient knowledge of GAAP & Statutory Accounting Principles (SAP).
Proficient knowledge of PC's and Windows based software including tax compliance applications.
Prefer knowledge of automated accounting systems.
Skills and Abilities
Strong leadership and decision-making skills within assigned areas of responsibility.
Ability to express thoughts clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
Ability to supervise, mentor, and evaluate staff performance.
Strong organizational skills.
Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex tax matters and communicate findings clearly to leadership.
Strong PC skills
Why Horizon?
At Horizon, you'll do meaningful work that directly improves lives-while being supported by a mission‑driven organization that values expertise, collaboration, and growth. We believe that when our people thrive, our communities do too. If you are passionate about making an impact, we'd love to hear from you!
Salary Range:
$109,600 - $149,625
This compensation range is specific to the job level and takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: education, experience, licensure, certifications, geographic location, and internal equity. This range has been created in good faith based on information known to Horizon at the time of posting. Compensation decisions are dependent on the circumstances of each case. Horizon also provides a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which includes:
Comprehensive health benefits (Medical/Dental/Vision)
Retirement Plans
Generous PTO
Incentive Plans
Wellness Programs
Paid Volunteer Time Off
Tuition Reimbursement
Disclaimer:
Horizon BCBSNJ employees must live in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut or Delaware. This job summary has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by colleagues within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of colleagues assigned to this job.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability and any other protected class as required by federal, state or local law. Horizon will consider reasonable accommodation requests as part of the recruiting and hiring process.