Sales Tax Operations Specialist

Job Title: Sales Tax Operations Specialist Job Description
The Sales Tax Operations Specialist provides dedicated support to internal departments and external customers on sales and use tax matters. In this role, you review, validate, and maintain customer tax exemption certificates in accordance with company policies and jurisdictional requirements, and you update tax-exempt statuses in core systems such as IBM iSeries and Vertex. You combine strong attention to detail with excellent customer service and research skills to ensure accurate tax treatment, timely processing, and clear communication across the organization.
Responsibilities
- Review and analyze resale and exemption certificates for accuracy, credibility, applicability, and completeness, and update the customer account or order accordingly.
- Process tax exemption requests within specified time frames while maintaining high levels of accuracy and compliance.
- Create and update tax-exempt status records in core IBM iSeries systems and Vertex tax software.
- Accurately calculate, document, and authorize tax credits for sales taxes in alignment with internal policies and jurisdictional rules.
- Educate internal departments on proper documentation and procedures required to meet tax-exempt status requirements.
- Maintain effective, responsive, and courteous communication with internal stakeholders and external customers regarding sales and use tax questions.
- Respond to inquiries from external customers about exemption certificates and tax billing issues, providing clear explanations and guidance.
- Resolve tax-related credit disputes prompted by customer non-payment of sales tax due to incomplete or inaccurate exemption certificates.
- Learn and apply in-depth state and local sales and use tax rules and regulations to interpret exemption certificates accurately.
- Demonstrate an understanding of tax exemption requirements for various levels of sales taxes and different customer exemption types.
- Participate in research projects related to exemption certificate requirements and sales and use tax regulations.
- Use multiple systems, including more antiquated platforms, to research, update, and validate tax and customer information.
- Apply problem-solving and research skills to investigate tax issues, identify root causes, and recommend appropriate resolutions.
- Work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment while managing multiple requests and priorities.
- Collaborate with colleagues across finance, accounting, AR/credit, and customer service to ensure consistent tax treatment and a positive customer experience.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors Degree in Business, Finance, or Accounting and at least 1 year of corporate tax, credit, accounts receivable (AR), or customer service experience, OR a High School Diploma and at least 2 years of corporate tax, credit, AR, or customer service experience.
- Experience working with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
- Demonstrated ability to learn new systems, including multiple and more antiquated platforms.
- Strong attention to detail with an organized and methodical approach to work.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain tax concepts clearly to internal and external stakeholders.
- Proven problem-solving and research skills, particularly in reviewing and interpreting tax-related documentation.
- Comfort working in a dynamic, fast-paced business environment with shifting priorities.
- Understanding of accounting, AR/credit, or customer service procedures.
- Foundational experience with sales tax and use tax, including familiarity with searching tax regulations and reviewing exemption certificates.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- RIA or CCH tax research experience.
- Experience with IBM iSeries systems.
- Experience with PeopleSoft.
- Vertex tax software experience.
- Experience in the technology industry.
- Hands-on sales and use tax experience beyond entry-level responsibilities.
- Customer service experience involving tax billing issues or credit disputes.
- Ability to interpret state and local sales and use tax rules and apply them to exemption certificates.
- Comfort working with data, documentation, and tax-related records in a structured, detail-oriented manner.
Work Environment
This role offers the possibility of fully remote work, with a strong preference for candidates in the Chicago area due to required in-office days. The position follows a hybrid schedule with varying required in-office days across three locations: Downtown Chicago, Rosemont, and Vernon Hills, providing flexibility most weeks. The standard work shift is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST. You will work with technologies such as IBM iSeries, Vertex tax software, Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, as well as other enterprise systems like PeopleSoft and tax research tools such as RIA or CCH. The environment is dynamic and fast paced, with a strong focus on collaboration, integrity, and accountability. The culture emphasizes winwin relationships, hard work, continuous improvement, and mutual respect, encouraging coworkers to take ownership, keep commitments, include stakeholders in decisions, and consistently strive for excellence.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of LINCOLNSHIRE, IL.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $22.00 - $25.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully remote position.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 12, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.