Jacy Cowan

Results-oriented, hands-on professional with unique skillset offering more than 20 years of experience and success managing multiple areas of business including: Income Tax, Insurance Premium Tax, Sales and Use Tax (domestic + international), Accounts Payable Reporting & Compliance, Renewable Energy, Fringe Benefit Accounting & Reporting, and Multi-State Audit Management. Self-starter accustomed to working in a dynamic, fast-paced setting but also adapts well to structured environment for more seamless transition. Very well-spoken individual with supervisory experience capable of communicating effectively between multiple departments up to and including senior level management.

Sr. Tax Analyst – Finance (SALT Team) - Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company - Des Moines, IA

(2021-01 - 2026-12)

• Lead premium tax compliance process including preparation and review of estimates, returns, and annual filings
• Serve as guaranty fund asset (GFA) expert and liaison between compliance team and executive leadership team
• Prepare and review Federal income tax provisions and associated tax returns
• Prepare and review Federal and State income tax payments and associated tax returns
• Calculate current GFA offsets and projected GFA deductions for every state and present quarterly detailed analysis to executive leadership team
• Facilitate and lead the transition of premium and municipal tax compliance to TriTech
• Primary point of contact for all premium tax, GFA, municipal, and excise tax questions and audit inquiries
• Serve as tax matter expert in the following tax areas: sales & use, premium, municipal, guaranty funds, excise
• Work closely with reinsurance team to facilitate appropriate accounting of tax credits related to GFA
• Monthly and quarterly close activities including preparation of journal entries, accruals, and related reconciliations
• Prepare and review federal and state tax estimated payments
• Work closely with external partners to ensure accuracy of estimate and return calculations, and facilitate corresponding payments
• Routinely collaborate with Director of Tax and senior Tax department leaders to ensure all compliance is accurate and timely filed/paid
• Work closely with Treasury Department to communicate financial obligations and confirm accounts are appropriately funded
• Prepare Multi-Year Plan Projections for Tax, Sales, Actuarial, Investments, Reinsurance. Present MYP model to senior leadership team
• Ensure that all tax lines are accurately reflected in the Financial Statements
• Prepare and review (tax-related) Annual Notes to Financial Statements and work closely with Financial Reporting team to ensure accuracy of calculations and explanations
• Coordinate and facilitate filing and payment of required annual insurance regulations fees and reports for multiple states and taxing authorities
• Mentor and train Tax staff in all aspects of SALT and all other insurance-related tax and compliance activities. Includes providing guidance and review of estimated payments and returns, journal entries, monthly and quarterly accrual and close activities, year-end calcs and related entries, and monthly & quarterly account reconciliations

Tax Senior - American Enterprise Group - Des Moines, IA

(2014-01 - 2021-12)

• Prepare quarterly income tax provisions for all insurance and non-insurance companies (STAT and GAAP)
• Calculate estimated income tax payments for all companies, including rollforwards and calculation of applicable DTAs
• Prepare federal and state income tax returns for all subsidiaries
• Manage information gathering process for all companies and serve as liaison between AEG and Ernst & Young
• Review all federal and state income tax returns, including consolidated return, before final filing
• Reconcile book-to-tax differences for all companies
• Post tax entries to G/L (after preparing provisions), update B/S and I/S to ensure financials tie out
• Year-end annual audit: responsible for answering all questions related to tax, including tax footnote
• Provide detailed explanation for financial statement variances quarter over quarter for tax lines
• Resolve/manage all tax-related inquiries related to returns (primarily IRS issues)
• Perform tax research as necessary
• Prepare all other miscellaneous tax returns (CAT, excise, ACA filings, property tax, city income tax, withholding tax)
• Prepare annual premium tax returns for every state, for every company (200+ returns annually)
• Responsible for the entire 1099 process, including distribution and accurate reporting for over 40,000 1099s issued to policyholders. Also includes a massive annual reconciliation between AEG internal records and the 3rd party administrator records.

Senior Accountant, Tax - Renewable Energy Group, LLC - Ames, IA

(2012-01 - 2014-12)

• Motor Fuel Tax Compliance and Reporting for 35 states plus Canada; Sales & Use Tax Compliance and Reporting for 20 states plus Canada (GST, HST, PST)
• Provide high-level sales/use tax guidance to multiple departments with respect to state-specific projects and contract structuring to optimize tax savings where appropriate
• Manage Sales & Use Tax and Property Tax incentives packages with City/State: ensure adherence with state requirements and reporting deadlines, work closely with Construction Management team to ensure benchmarks are met and all required documentation has been submitted to the State/City as required
• Supervise and mentor staff to identify reporting discrepancies and teach 'best practices' with respect to industry standards; foster an environment that promotes process improvements and collaborative efforts to achieve a shared goal
• Determine scope and impact of Affordable Care Impact on 720 liability for Federal Tax purposes
• Review accounts payable invoices for sales/use tax and issue exemption certificates or self-assess tax where appropriate; provide on-demand tax advice to plant Business Managers
• Manage Tax Audits (Sales & Use Tax, Motor Fuel Tax, Income Tax)

Manager, Sales/Use Tax & Fringe Benefit Accounting - Meredith Corporation, Inc. - Des Moines, IA

(1999-01 - 2012-12)

• Preparation & electronic filing of Sales/Use tax returns in 45 states plus Canada
• Manage multiple Sales/Use tax audits from introductory level to appeal/settlement level
• Review approximately 3,500 accounts payable/accounts receivable invoices per month for taxability and self-assess sales/use tax where appropriate
• Provide timely and accurate tax guidance and advice to other departments to ensure proper compliance
• Manage fringe benefits reporting process and calculation of taxable income for personal use in the following areas: company cars/car allowance, club dues/memberships, travel on company Learjet, and employee reimbursed/company-paid moving expenses; work closely with Payroll Department to coordinate income tax withholding on imputed income for personal use of fringe benefits
• Clear and effective communication between executives and senior level management regarding imputed income for personal use of certain fringe benefits
• Responsible for monitoring and understanding multi-state and international sales/use tax regulations and determining what effect impending changes may or may not have on current business practices/policies and informing senior management of changes

Corporate Tax Accountant - Boyd Gaming Corporation - Las Vegas, NV

(1996-01 - 1999-12)

Fixed asset maintenance including new additions, retirements, and transfers; reconcile book to tax differences, perform month-end journal entries and reconcile specific general ledger accounts, monitor travel on company Learjet and calculate and remit monthly excise tax, perform on-site audits at multiple company-owned locations within the Las Vegas metropolitan area, assist Tax Director with preparation of Federal Income Tax Return.

Bank Teller / Accounting Assistant - Brenton Bank, Inc. - Indianola, IA

(1991-01 - 1996-12)

Assist customers with deposits, withdrawals, checking & savings accounts, provide backup assistance for loan officers including running credit reports, reconcile various general ledger accounts, maintain balanced cash drawer on daily basis without discrepancies

B.S. - Accounting - Simpson College (1995-12)