Geoffrey D. Bauer
Canton,USA
Summary
Taxation professional with comprehensive expertise in tax planning, compliance, and audit management. Proven ability to drive strategic initiatives and deliver impactful results through effective team collaboration. Skilled in optimizing tax processes, implementing regulatory changes, and leveraging analytical acumen to support business goals. Reliable in adapting to evolving tax laws and organizational needs.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
State & Local Tax Manager
Avfuel Corporation
02.2017 - Current
- Company overview: Avfuel Corporation is the leading independent global supplier of aviation fuels, systems and services. Avfuel connects a diverse array of aviation customers; airlines, freight and cargo companies, corporate flight departments, FBO's, crop dusters, military and helicopters represent just some of the customer types.
- Manage all tax types and functions for sister company (Avflight); 28 locations in U.S, Canada and UK. Includes but not limited to: monthly Sales/Use, Excise and VAT tax compliance, review reporting and payment of property tax and PPT returns; manage exemption certificates, research and provide tax law for denied certificates.
- Oversee and manage audits for all tax types for both Avfuel and Avflight. Functions include but not limited to: extracting, reconciling, and providing data to Auditors. Research tax law, meet with Auditor(s) to reduce outstanding balance due, negotiate assessments, and implement internal processes to reduce future exposure.
- Analyze and resolve tax notices and assessments received from jurisdictions with minimal penalty and interest paid.
- Conducted a thorough review of established compliance processes to identify strengths and weaknesses of existing methods, risk exposure and potential penalties. Explained risks and new compliance concepts to managers and executives.
- Achieved significant cost savings by identifying inefficiencies in operational procedures. Worked with IT Team and reduced Sales tax output reports from more than 600 to 45. Trained team members how to utilize new Excel reports and apply to monthly reconciliation workbooks using multiple Excel formulas; increased efficiency by more than ninety percent.
- Maintained regulatory compliance by staying up-to-date on changing tax laws, regulations, and reporting requirements.
- Provided expert guidance on complex indirect tax matters, supporting key business initiatives and decisions.
- Served as a subject matter expert during internal audits, providing valuable insights into areas requiring improvement or adjustments in indirect taxation practices.
- Review tax law to ensure taxability of products and services is accurate across all jurisdictions.
- Oversee business licenses for Avflight (renewal and new acquisitions) and assist Team Members on reporting requirements for Avfuel business licenses.
- Responsible for Annual Reports for all entities which includes approximately 100 reports filed throughout the year.
Sales Tax and Account Receivables Manager
SiteOne Landscape Supply
02.2015 - 02.2017
- Company Overview: SiteOne Landscape Supply is the nation’s largest supplier of wholesale irrigation, outdoor lighting, nursery, landscape supplies, fertilizers, turf protection products, grass seed, turf care equipment, and golf course accessories for green industry professional in the United States and Canada.
- Lead and manage 11 Team members.
- Responsible for complete US and Canadian Sales Tax Monthly Compliance process – includes but not limited to: extracting and formatting sales data, reconciling data to General Ledger, return preparation, filing and corresponding EFT and Check payments.
- Responsible for implementing changes in the Compliance process, which reduced labor by fifty percent.
- Managed Sales and Use tax Audits from beginning to end. Met with Auditor(s) to reduce and negotiate assessments and implemented internal processes to reduce future exposure.
- Contacted State and/or Local jurisdiction when refund opportunities were identified.
- Worked with acquisition Team and IT to ensure new exempt customers are entered/uploaded in the tax software and can make purchases tax-free.
- Entered and updated customer exemption certificates and process tax credits on customer accounts when applicable.
- Analyzed and resolved tax notices and assessments received from jurisdictions with minimal penalty and interest paid.
- Worked with IT to improve tax software and resolve software issues.
- Responsible for multiple month end account reconciliations
- Responsible for maintenance of SUT licenses for all Branches
Senior Tax Analyst
Ford Motor Company
02.2009 - 12.2014
- Company Overview: Contract through Tax Trilogy. Tax Trilogy is a local Company which offers Indirect Tax Compliance and Consulting Services to Companies both in and out-of-state including a Fortune 500 Company.
- Responsible for oversight of the treasury and production functions. Lead and managed 3 Team Members during monthly Sales and Use Tax Compliance; included but not limited to – filing deadlines, corresponding payment dates, current month treasury reconciliation.
- Created and implemented a monthly Bank/Treasury Reconciliation report using Excel and Access. Reconciled a combined 700-800 EFT and check payments per month which totaled over $15 million/month.
- Eliminated all bank fees by implementing Bank Statement reconciliation and frequent monitoring of bank activity.
- Conducted historical bank account reconciliation by reviewing all prior debits/credits and prior year balance sheets. Recovered over $100,000 between overpaid taxes and funds not received.
- Performed multi-year account reconciliations of General Ledger, Tax Returns, and Payments made; in search of over/under payments to multiple jurisdictions – recovered and identified over $6 million in overpayments.
- Implemented ACH Treasury Software to reduce manual data entry for EFT payments.
- Effectively identified and implemented various process improvements and bottom line savings initiatives.
- Successfully provided and assisted delivery of tax compliance services.
- Sales and Use Tax Analyst for Ford Motor Company account (onsite at World Headquarters)
- Researched Unclaimed Property to understand requirements and remitting process. Effectively remitted reports and payments to all required States and saved over $400,000 by determining checks did not have to be re-issued and jurisdictions did not require reporting.
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MITaxation
Institute For Professional in Taxation
Atlanta, GASkills
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Access, Word, and Outlook
- Experienced in Vertex (O Series and Returns), Creative Solutions, PAMS, SalesLogix and ACH Treasury Software
- Familiar with Thomson Reuters, Avalara/TTR
Timeline
State & Local Tax Manager
Avfuel Corporation
02.2017 - Current
Sales Tax and Account Receivables Manager
SiteOne Landscape Supply
02.2015 - 02.2017
Senior Tax Analyst
Ford Motor Company
02.2009 - 12.2014
Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting
Eastern Michigan University
Taxation
Institute For Professional in Taxation
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