Corporate Tax Accountant

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) is a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced optical and HFC networking products — the building blocks that power AI datacenters, CATV broadband, telecom, and fiber access networks around the world. Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, AOI is a vertically integrated company that designs and manufactures everything from semiconductor laser chips to finished optical transceivers, serving tier-one customers across cloud computing, broadband, and telecom. With R&D operations in Atlanta, GA and global manufacturing presence in Taiwan and China, AOI is publicly traded on the Nasdaq (AAOI) and is actively expanding its U.S.-based manufacturing operations in Sugar Land to meet accelerating demand in the AI datacenter market.

Summary

Applied Optoelectronics is seeking a Corporate Tax Accountant to support corporate tax compliance, tax reporting, government inquiries, tax-related reconciliations, government grant compliance and reporting, and process improvement within the Controller’s organization. This is a newly created position designed to reduce dependency on outside advisors, improve internal tax ownership, and support the company’s increasing tax complexity as a public, manufacturing-focused organization.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on corporate tax professional with strong federal and state income tax experience, public accounting or corporate tax experience, and the ability to operate independently in a complex environment. This person will support tax compliance, quarterly and annual tax reporting, R&D tax credits, property tax, sales and use tax, government incentive documentation, tax account reconciliations, and external auditor/advisor coordination.

This role is best suited for someone who is detail-oriented, deadline-driven, comfortable with ambiguity, and capable of building structure where processes are still developing.

Job Responsibilities

• Support federal and state income tax compliance, including preparation, review, documentation, and coordination of tax filings, extensions, estimates, and related workpapers.
• Assist with quarterly and annual tax provision activities, including tax reporting support required for public company financial reporting.
• Prepare tax-related schedules, documentation, and support for Form 10-Q and Form 10-K tax disclosures in coordination with the Director of Financial Reporting.
• Support tax account reconciliations, tax journal entries, deferred tax schedules, accruals, and other tax-related close activities.
• Coordinate with external tax advisors, auditors, and internal stakeholders to gather data, resolve questions, and ensure timely completion of tax deliverables.
• Support R&D tax credit documentation, analysis, and reporting, including coordination with internal technical, finance, and external advisory teams as needed.
• Support tax-related compliance, documentation, and audit readiness for government incentives, grants, credits, subsidies, and local economic development programs.
• Support federal, state, and local tax audits, including gathering documentation, preparing schedules, responding to information requests, and coordinating with internal stakeholders and external advisors.
• Assist with responses to tax notices, government inquiries, audits, adjustments, and compliance requests, with appropriate internal review and approval.
• Support property tax filings, renditions, assessments, and related documentation.
• Support sales and use tax compliance, research, filings, reconciliations, and documentation as applicable.
• Assist with manufacturing-related tax matters, including fixed assets, depreciation, credits, incentives, inventory-related tax support, and other operational tax considerations.
• Maintain and improve tax calendars to ensure awareness of filing deadlines, reporting obligations, documentation requirements, and compliance timelines.
• Develop and maintain tax SOPs, workpaper templates, documentation standards, and process controls.
• Support tax-related internal controls and control documentation in coordination with the Controller and Financial Reporting team.
• Coordinate with international finance teams and external advisors on tax documentation, intercompany activity, foreign subsidiary information requests, and transfer pricing support as needed.
• Research tax issues and summarize findings, risks, deadlines, and recommendations for management review.
• Identify opportunities to improve tax processes, reduce manual effort, improve documentation quality, and strengthen internal tax knowledge.

Qualifications

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, or a related field.
• 4+ years of relevant tax, accounting, or corporate finance experience.
• Experience with federal and state corporate income tax compliance.
• Experience preparing or supporting tax workpapers, reconciliations, schedules, and tax-related journal entries.
• Strong understanding of corporate tax compliance requirements and tax filing deadlines.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to work with large data sets, reconciliations, and multi-source accounting records.
• Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and clarify requirements in a complex operating environment.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, documentation discipline, and deadline management.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with internal accounting teams, external tax advisors, auditors, and management.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain tax matters clearly to non-tax stakeholders.

Preferred

• CPA strongly preferred.
• 5–10 years of relevant tax/accounting experience.
• 2+ years of public accounting experience, preferably with corporate tax clients.
• Experience in a public company environment.
• Experience supporting ASC 740 income tax provision activities.
• Experience supporting SEC reporting, including 10-Q and 10-K tax disclosure support.
• Experience with manufacturing, technology, semiconductor, optical networking, industrial, or other complex operating environments.
• Experience with R&D tax credits, government incentives, grants, subsidies, or economic development programs.
• Experience with property tax, sales and use tax, franchise tax, or multistate tax compliance.
• Experience coordinating with external auditors and tax advisors.
• Familiarity with SOX controls or tax-related internal controls.
• Experience with SAP, RDG, Workiva, tax provision software, or similar systems.
• Exposure to international tax, foreign subsidiaries, intercompany transactions, or transfer pricing documentation.
• Mandarin language ability is a plus but not required.

Location & Work Environment

This position is full-time onsite and based in Sugar Land, Texas. This role is primarily a normal office position with regular interaction across production, inventory, shipping, and related manufacturing functions. AOI’s Sugar Land location includes office, warehouse, and manufacturing environments.

Expected business hours are generally Monday through Friday during standard business hours of 9am – 6pm CT, with flexibility required based on reporting deadlines, audit requests, tax filing requirements, and business priorities.

Why AOI?
In addition to competitive salary, AOI offers:

• Flexible and competitive health benefits, including medical, dental, and vision plans designed to meet individual and family needs
• Employer matching on 401(k) deferrals
• Generous PTO policy, with unused PTO payout at end of the year
• Relocation packages available within the United States.

Applied Optoelectronics, Inc (AOI) is committed to providing equal opportunity in all of our employment practices, including hiring, placement, promotion, training, transfer and compensation, to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, citizenship, religion, sex, veteran status, age, disability, marital status, or any other category protected by State or U.S. Federal law. Moreover, we endeavor to treat our employees fairly.

We do not accept unsolicited proposals from third-party recruiters or agencies. Contacting hiring managers directly may result in disqualification of submissions.