Project Manager Quality Assurance

Joseph Berman

***** ******** ***** ( Saugus, CA *1350

E-mail: *******@******.***.*** 661-***-****

Summary of Qualifications

Tax Laws and Practices: In-depth understanding and knowledge of Federal,

International, and State tax laws, rules, and regulations. Broad ranging

expertise in managing full function multi-state, multi national fortune 500

tax function in diversified industries. Over 8 years with Big 4 Accounting

firm managing specialized tax practice functions for fortune 500 companies

(GE Capital Corp, GE, Mitsubishi, Praxair, Litton, AirTouch, Prudential,

Bank of America, Johnson Control, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Mobil just to

name a few). Extensive expertise in managing Governmental tax controversy

including, IRS, state, nexus, sales & use tax, property tax audits.

Displaying an in-depth knowledge of State/ Federal/ International tax laws

and regulations, corporate income tax returns. Proficient in identifying

federal tax liabilities/exemptions and performing pre and post examination

reviews relating to compliance with IRC technical requirements.

Demonstrated performance in researching tax issues and implementing

resolution based on organizational objectives. Significant focus on

corporate tax laws, tax examinations, overseas operations, and complex tax

issues regarding inventory, mergers, and restructuring.

Core Competencies:

Large Case Audit Financial effect of Tax Earnings & Profits

Management Transactions Unitary Tax Compliance

Tax compliance FAS 109 /SSAP 10 Transfer Pricing

Management FAS 52 Understanding of IRM

Corporate Communication FIN 48 IRS administrative and

5471/ 5472 Compliance Processing Procedures

Systems: Experienced in translating tax requirements to IT/accounting for

data capture, data collection, process automation and integration. Possess

broad technology expertise. Possess Project Management capabilities with

the ability to break plans down into key activities; include contingency

plans, pilots, and prototypes; track status against timelines and

milestones; maintain an appropriate sense of urgency; and resolve issues on

a timely basis. Manage scope; leverage resources effectively; and track

budget variances and billing matters.

Proven skills in the conversion and integration of tax and accounting

packages. Managed the IT tax function in large tax departments.

Interfaced with IT group. Prepared requirement documents and quality

assurance procedures, documentation and business cases. Familiar with

database software, including SAP, SQL, and ORACLE, and report writers.

Managed Software and database conversions.

Core Competencies:

Data Base Management Tax re-engineering and Database design

Requirements Documentation Database normalization Tax data collection

package design and

implementation

Business case documentation Systems integration Project Management

CORPTax / Fastax / AACTS MS Word, Excel, Access MS Project

Accounting: Utilizing experience in domestic/ international tax management

and reporting in key capacities. Wide-ranging knowledge of domestic and

international accounting principles, theory, and practices. Proven skill

in evaluation of accounting books, records and systems for accurately

reporting tax liabilities. Accomplished in corporate financial

transactions and processes, including identification of accounting

problems, resolution, reporting and generation of financial statements.

Communication: Strong relationship management skills instrumental in all

communication engagements with diverse groups of corporate taxpayers,

corporate accountants, IRS officials, economists, engineers, and financial

product teams. Highly skilled in communicating corporate financial

interactions and negotiations with specialists in accounting, law, tax, and

other related professions. Demonstrate problem-solving and authoritative

decision-making abilities. Proficient in composing well organized and

structured written communications to clearly express complex ideas,

solutions, and financial concepts.

Work Experience

Gap, Inc.

Director Tax Audit (1/08 - 9/10).

Lead the tax examination and controversy process, including project

management, assessment of proposed adjustments, and

negotiation/settlement for federal, state and Canadian examinations. This

included establishing audit protocols, managing the flow of information

to the auditors, reviewing and providing information as to maximize on a

timely basis, establishing and following processes to maximize legal

position, and develop income tax audit defense strategies. Coordinate

with internal and external personnel to develop audit strategies and

vigorously defend tax positions.

Reviewed and responded to assessment notices. Provided tax compliance

with changes to tax return preparation brought about by the audit

requirement.

Maintained and advised on record retention matters as they related to

worldwide tax matters.

Coordinate with internal and external personnel to develop audit

strategies and vigorously defend tax positions.

. Closed multi-cycle federal audit in 18 months with minimal changes

. Closed multi-year Canadian audit that had been languishing for

three years

. Provided guidance in preparing and steering refund claims through

administrative process reducing the processing time for the claims

Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service,

Appeals Officer (5/06 - 1/08)

Responsible for analyzing and evaluating controversies between taxpayers

and the IRS in a manner that is fair to both parties. I evaluated the

evidence collected by the governments agent and the arguments and

analysis provided as it applied to the law supporting the arguments

presented and determined if it supported the conclusion when contrasted

with the argument, and evidence presented by the taxpayer. Acting as the

voice of the government's position as well as the law judge, I conducted

conferences allowing the taxpayer to provide oral arguments and witnesses

relative to their positions. Responsible for providing written analysis,

in the form of an office audit memo, of the legal consequences of the

transaction at issue and evaluating the hazards of litigation.

Revenue Agent, LMSB (5/04 -5/06)

Responsible for planning and executing Federal Tax audits of large and

mid sized corporations. Surveying returns and identifying large, unusual

and questionable items and assuring that resources are available to staff

audit. Presenting legal issues and analysis to the taxpayer and the

taxpayer representative regarding questionable transactions. Assuring

that statutory, regulatory, and administrative requirements are met.

E-Times Corp.,

Director of Tax Planning and Compliance (Contractor) (6/03 - 9/03)

Participated as member of core management team for major e-commerce

global provider of Web hosting, electronic credit card processing, and

Internet support/design. Responsible for conserving corporate capital by

researching and recommending federal, state, local, and foreign tax

strategies, positions, returns, and payments. Key player in the

development, implementation, and audit of tax policies and practices. Re-

structured worldwide organization of related e-businesses to minimize tax

liability and provide tax planning and minimization to high net

principles. Analyzed transactions to ensure compliance with domestic and

international tax requirements while reducing overall tax impact.

. Reduced tax liability by $16 million through the elimination of Branch

profits tax.

. Provided restructuring using Tax Haven parent resulting in the

reduction of effective tax rate to 14%.

Deloitte and Touche TT LLC,

Senior Manager - International Tax, Senior Manager - Tax -Business

Analysis (4/95 - 6/03)

Served as team leader responsible for the project management and

implementation of tax procedural and technical re-engineering of major

clients. Achieved operational objectives by contributing to corporate

strategic plans. Held project manager duties, including preparing and

completing action plans, identifying and resolving issues; determining

and implementing improvements to production, productivity, quality, and

customer-service. Translated tax requirements to IT/accounting for data

capture, data collection, process automation and integration.

Broke project plans down into key activities; include contingency plans,

pilots, and prototypes; track status against timelines and milestones;

maintain an appropriate sense of urgency; and resolve issues on a timely

basis. Manage scope; leverage resources effectively; and track budget

variances and billing matters.

Providing implementation and support for 5471 and 5472 projects.

Oversaw federal/state/local and international tax planning, federal tax

consolidation with responsibilities over the design and implementation of

tax information/warehousing software applications. Supervised 5 to 13

project staff (program staff tax technical staff and database

administrators). Provided training to clients and staff throughout the

US, Europe, and Asia. Conducted thorough reviews of client

tax/accounting processes culminating in recommendation for process

improvement, requirements and business case documents, and implement plan

and budget.

. Appointed as Account/Project Manager for GE, a historically difficult

client. Provided strong tax and project management expertise to

quickly solidify client relationship and result in additional

business.

. Managed numerous projects with GE, PraxAir, Bank of America, Mitsui,

Litton, Mobil, just to mention a few to include design and

implementation of a sophisticated system to handle electronic tax and

financial data integration through the use of SAP (in the UK, Brussels

& France) and ORACLE G/L in the US) and reporting for tax planning,

tax compliance, FAS 109/52 reporting, and compliance for both federal

and state taxes.

. Provided support for Oracle and SQL Server database systems,

. Spearheaded development and launch of various key tax integration

projects, an integrated tax and accounting compliance system for

offices in US, South Africa and UK, representing the first

comprehensive data analysis and collection system to integrate

financial/tax data with reporting and compliance capabilities; and the

first Internet-based, fully integrated data gathering and analysis

system for tax data collection.

. Interfaced with Treasury to have erroneous instructions to Form 5471

changed.

Financial Decision Systems, Inc.,

Director - Tax Research, Development and Compliance (6/91 - 4/95)

Performed as key member of senior management team for provider of

computerized tax and financial software to Fortune 1000 companies.

Assisted in the development of strategic direction and company

objectives. Managed complete tax resources and technical analysis of

potential opportunities. Established and executed parameters for all in-

house quality assurance control systems. Accomplished human resource

objectives by recruiting, hiring, training, scheduling, coaching,

counseling, and disciplining team of 18 employees. Utilized thorough

understanding of corporate business model and requirements to develop

complex tax strategies and solutions. Continually researched and tracked

economic, political, and legislative trends to analyze affects on

business objectives; identified federal, state, local, and foreign

taxation issues. Streamlined and implemented new tax procedures.

Interacted with California Franchise Tax Board and Illinois Department of

Revenue on State income tax consolidation and combined reporting

instructions.

. Designed and managed the creation, implementation, and integration of

programs to include FASB 109, International Tax, International Tax

Pool Tracking, Domestic Tax Allocation, Earnings and Profits, Tax

Audit and Analysis, Integrated State Planner, and Sales Tax

Compliance.

. Conceptualized and implemented internal systems capable of tracking

changes in statutes and regulations, resulting in 50% improvement of

return accuracy; earned first ACT accolades.

. Reset business model course of financial/tax compliance requirements.

. Orchestrated the reengineering of the software development process and

implemented innovative quality assurance/research to increase product

accuracy by 72% in the first year and 43% in the second year.

. Instituted CPE accreditation for all seminars and training programs.

. Negotiated settlement of sales tax dispute resulting in refund of

$200,000. Renegotiated customer contracts eliminating Illinois sales

tax requirements

Security Pacific Corporation,

Vice President and Manager of Tax Audit (8/84 - 8/87)

Vice President and Manager of International Tax/State and Local

Taxes/Quality and Assurance (6/88 - 5/91)

Directed the total large case tax audit function to include management of

a staff of 6, complete budget accountability, and support for all

domestic/foreign subsidiaries. Identified potential tax issues and

formulated/implemented strategies for resolution. Maintained total

control of audit negotiations with IRS Audit Team to include issue sign-

off and agreement. Communicated with auditors at federal and state

level, as well as upper management and subsidiary personnel. Gathered

and analyzed historical and current tax related information.

. Played an integral role in establishing procedures for managing data

requirements and tax packages.

. Modeled federal return in an effort to provide instant analysis of

potential settlements.

. Instituted innovative utilization of regulations to reduce California

interest on audit.

Recruited and promoted to ensure accurate reporting of all CFCs and

calculations of tax in accordance with governing requirements for the

fourth largest bank holding company in the nation. Ensured accurate and

timely federal, state, local, and foreign tax documents by approving

preparation of work papers, positions, schedules, returns, and IRS

filings. Directed a staff of 4 and worked with 200 foreign/domestic

subsidiaries.

Provided support for the US Tax Accounting (FASB 109 and FASB 52) and

determination of after tax profits for the Capital markets Group

(primarily equity and currency instruments. knowledgeable in Cash

Management and Electronic Bank statement and Liquidity forecast.

Responsible for the integration, maintenance, and oversight of all tax

department software and hardware. This includes budgeting, development,

and implementation of the technology plan.

Negotiate and reviewed software and maintenance licenses and agreements.

This included liaison with Fastax and the accounting department for

changes and training.

. Designed tax package that guaranteed proper and consistent compilation

of required data.

. Saved 3.6 million in interest in California assessment based on

delivery of IRS Audit changes

. Lead Member of Due Diligence Team - Tax

ARCO,

Manager of External Tax Audit (8/87 - 6/88)

Held responsibility for all aspects of tax audits for global billion-

dollar energy, gas, and oil leader. Carefully tracked and calculated tax

provisions and related paperwork to reduce potential for tax adjustments.

Established standardized audit procedures. Reported audit results to

upper management and negotiated major Federal and State audit issues.

Hired and trained staff of 5 to increase department morale and

productivity.

. Negotiated inventory issue LIFO/FIFO with IRS - $65million

. Implemented UNICAP allocation and tracking system

. Assisted in resolution strategy for Anaconda combined reporting issue

Ameron, Inc.

Tax Manager (4/79 - 8/84)

Oversaw complete tax compliance functions for a multinational

manufacturer of highly engineered products and materials for the

chemical, industrial, energy, and transportation markets. Managed

department and trained more than 30 associates in tax analysis and

research. Maximized after-tax profits by minimizing tax liabilities.

Developed and implemented procedures, guidelines, systems, and reporting

to federal, state, local, and foreign authorities. Orchestrated the

restructuring efforts of domestic and foreign entities, and major

acquisitions.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Accounting: Long Island University, Brooklyn NY

Master of Business Taxation: University of Southern California, Los

Angeles, CA

Juris Doctor: Concord University School of Law, Los Angeles, CA

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