Sales Tax Operations Specialist

Job Title: Sales Tax Operations Specialist Job Description
The Sales Tax Operations Specialist provides dedicated support to internal teams and external customers on sales and use tax matters. This role focuses on reviewing and validating customer tax exemption certificates in line with company policies and jurisdictional requirements, and on accurately maintaining tax-exempt status within core financial systems and tax software. The specialist delivers responsive customer service, helps resolve tax-related billing issues, and contributes to process improvements in a fast-paced, service-level-driven environment.
Responsibilities
- Review and analyze resale and tax exemption certificates for accuracy, credibility, applicability, and completeness, and update customer accounts or orders accordingly.
- Process tax exemption requests within defined time frames and service level agreements.
- Create and update tax-exempt status in core IBM iSeries systems and Vertex tax software.
- Accurately calculate, document, and authorize tax credits related to sales and use taxes.
- Maintain effective, responsive, and courteous communication with internal departments and external customers regarding tax exemption and billing matters.
- Educate internal departments on proper documentation requirements to meet tax-exempt status standards across various jurisdictions.
- Respond to questions from external customers about exemption certificates, tax billing issues, and related concerns.
- Resolve tax-related credit disputes prompted by customer non-payment of sales tax due to incomplete or inaccurate exemption certificates.
- Develop an in-depth understanding of state and local sales and use tax rules and regulations to better interpret exemption certificates.
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of tax exemption requirements for multiple levels of sales tax and various customer exemption types.
- Participate in research projects related to exemption certificate requirements, tax rules, and process enhancements.
- Collaborate effectively with demanding sales team members and other stakeholders, managing expectations and providing timely updates.
- Prioritize and manage multiple tasks and requests simultaneously while meeting deadlines and maintaining high accuracy.
- Contribute ideas as an AI-forward thinker to help automate and improve existing sales tax and exemption certificate processes.
- Operate with a strong focus on meeting service level agreements and supporting a dynamic, fast-paced business environment.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors degree in Business, Finance, or Accounting and at least 1 year of corporate tax, credit, accounts receivable, or customer service experience, OR a High School Diploma and at least 2 years of corporate tax, credit, accounts receivable, or customer service experience.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with internal stakeholders and external customers.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.
- Strong problem-solving and research skills, including the ability to interpret tax rules and exemption requirements.
- High level of organization, methodical work habits, and strong attention to detail.
- Comfort working in a dynamic, fast-paced, and sometimes stressful business environment.
- Understanding of accounting, accounts receivable/credit, or customer service procedures.
- Ability to work well under pressure and collaborate effectively with demanding sales team members.
- Demonstrated ability to multi-task, prioritize workload, and manage competing deadlines.
- SLA-focused mindset with a commitment to meeting or exceeding service level expectations.
- Commitment to providing responsive, courteous, and professional customer service.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- RIA or CCH tax research experience.
- Experience with IBM iSeries or PeopleSoft systems.
- Experience with Vertex tax software or similar tax automation tools.
- Sales and use tax experience in a corporate environment.
- Experience in the technology industry or working with technology-related products and services.
- Familiarity with tax software platforms and data-driven processes.
- Interest in leveraging AI and automation to streamline tax and exemption certificate workflows.
- Alignment with a culture that values integrity, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Motivation to strive for excellence, learn from challenges, and contribute to shared success.
Work Environment
This role offers flexibility with openness to fully remote work, with a strong preference for candidates in the Chicago area. The position follows a hybrid model with varying required in-office days across three locations: Downtown Chicago, Rosemont, and Vernon Hills, while still providing hybrid flexibility most weeks. The standard work schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST. The environment is dynamic, fast-paced, and service-level driven, with frequent collaboration across departments and regular interaction with sales teams and customers. You will work extensively with technologies such as IBM iSeries, Vertex tax software, Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel, and may also engage with PeopleSoft and tax research tools like RIA or CCH. The culture emphasizes passion, integrity, empowerment, respect, direct communication, inclusive decision-making, and a focus on continuous improvement and excellence. Dress expectations align with a professional office and hybrid setting, adjusted as appropriate for in-office days and remote work.
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 13, 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.