Sr. Tax Accountant - Ad Valorem Tax

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Job Profile Summary:

The Senior Tax Accountant, working under limited supervision, carries the valuation and negotiation work for Devon's largest ad valorem jurisdictions. The role is accountable for the value Devon argues and the number Devon forecasts: it holds the technical position on assigned counties and states, deals directly with appraisal districts and Appraisal Review Boards, and is the person who explains to operations and accounting why the ad valorem tax number moved. Judgment rests with the role on valuation methodology, obsolescence and what a value is worth contesting; negotiated assessments are presented to leadership to be bound. This is a specialist valuation and forecasting position.

Job Description:

• Analyzes expense, pricing and production for Texas proved developed producing properties, develops net present value using decline curve modeling, and tests the appraisal district's decline, pricing, operating cost and remaining-life assumptions to build the counter-position.
• Applies economic and functional obsolescence and the three approaches to value for marketing and midstream assets, and defends those positions with appraisal districts.
• Builds the annual ad valorem tax budget and forecast off the valuation model in the first month of the fiscal year, reforecasts as each month's pricing, operating cost and production actuals land, and prepares the information accruals and regulatory initiatives draw on.
• Explains plan-to-actual and period-over-period variance to operations and accounting by driver, including where the appraisal district's forward price deck departs from Devon's trailing twelve-month realizations.
• Holds area of responsibility for assigned counties and states ad valorem taxes and prepares the most complex renditions.
• Implements tax planning techniques that minimize ad valorem tax, using relevant statutes, court decisions and local custom and practice.
• Maintains the integrity of the rendition population across the assigned portfolio, with new wells and facilities added, disposed assets removed and ownership changes recorded.
• Negotiates ad valorem tax assessments independently with state and local taxing authorities and presents cases to leadership for binding assessments.
• Prepares and defends exemption and abatement applications, including pollution control, freeport and negotiated agreements.
• Represents Devon at formal Appraisal Review Board hearings with prepared evidence and testimony.
• Represents Devon in industry groups, government affairs and community outreach on ad valorem matters.

Education:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or any other related discipline is preferred but not required.
• A minimum of 12 academic hours in accounting or finance is required, whether or not a degree is held.
• Candidates without a Bachelor's Degree must have a minimum of 8 years of appraisal experience in an upstream oil and gas ad valorem tax career in place of the degree.

Experience:

• 5+ years of relevant experience, preferably in areas such as accounting, banking, finance, property valuation, or a related field, with exposure to budgeting, forecasting, or financial modeling.
• Experience with ad valorem tax management software, discounted cash flow and reservoir-curve valuation/analysis, and appraisal district negotiation is preferred.
• Upstream oil and gas industry experience within accounting, land, operations, or tax is preferred.

Certifications:

• Certified Member of the Institute - Ad Valorem Tax (CMI-AVT), CPA or CFA (preferred).
• Two ad valorem tax courses totaling 80+ hours through IPT, COST, or combination (preferred).

Competencies: • Active Learning • Business Acumen • Coaching & Development • Digital Literacy • Influence • Innovation • Oral & Written Communication • Problem Solving • Results Oriented • Stakeholder Relationships

Skills: • Account Reconciliations • Ad Valorem Tax Management Software • Appraisal Review Board Advocacy • Assessment Negotiation • Budgeting & Forecasting • Business Process Improvements • Data Analysis & Reporting • Decline Curve Analysis • Discounted Cash Flow Modeling • Documentation Procedures • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) • Obsolescence Analysis • Property Valuation • Tax Accounting • Tax Rendition Compliance • Variance Analysis

Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.

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