International Payee Tax Compliance Specialist

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Financial Administration (FAD) is dedicated to advancing Harvard University’s teaching and research mission by stewarding its resources; providing support, guidance, and consultation; ensuring compliance with university and federal guidelines; mitigating risk; pursuing operational excellence; and promoting the financial health of the University. 

More about FAD:  
Within and across the University, we aim to be exemplary colleagues, trusted partners, valued advisors, and agents of positive change.  
 
Within our own community, we aspire to:  

• Engage with respect, honesty, and integrity   
• Cultivate equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging   
• Welcome innovation, collaboration, and flexibility   
• Enjoy our work, grow professionally, and aim for the extraordinary 

Learn more about Financial Administration (harvard.edu) and our eight reporting units. (https://finance.harvard.edu/) 

Job Description

The International Payee Tax Compliance Specialist (IPTC Specialist) is part of the IPTC team in the Financial Administration Department (FAD) and provides dedicated support to the Faculty of Arts and Science (FAS). 

The International Payee Tax Compliance Specialist I role is well suited for someone who values helping others, working carefully with detailed information, and developing expertise in a specialized area. Using established guidance, this position supports international faculty, staff, students, guests, and suppliers by validating tax residency status and eligibility for tax treaty benefits. The specialist develops and applies knowledge and skills to determine the appropriate tax treatment for standard payment types and collaborates with other FAD units on payment and tax compliance matters. Additional customer service, administrative, and compliance-related duties may be assigned as needed.

This is a one-year term position, with the possibility of extension.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Tax review

• Develop knowledge of Harvard’s processes for determining tax residency classifications and apply payment-related tax rules for international payees.
• Review routine tax residency classifications for international faculty, staff, students, guests, and vendors using established procedures and guidance.
• With training and support, evaluate requests for tax treaty benefits based on the payee’s relationship with Harvard, immigration status, country of residence, and type of income.
• Process routine payment tax reviews in Harvard systems and help identify items that may need follow-up or correction.

Customer service

• Respond to questions from international students, faculty, staff, guests, and vendors with clear, professional, and practical guidance.
• Help payees understand the steps needed to document their U.S. tax status or potential eligibility for tax exemption.
• Provide customer service to FAS units inquiring about the status of their payees, following up on inquiries through timely, successful resolution.  
• Provide support through email, phone, online appointments, and in-person interactions.

Administrative work

• Track open cases, pending payee documentation, and follow-up items to support timely resolution.  
• Prepare, organize, and securely transmit tax-related documents to the IRS or other parties as required.
• Support scheduling, preparation, and follow-up for online or in-person payee appointments.
• Assist with data entry, document uploads, and status updates in Harvard systems.
• Monitor shared inboxes or case queues and route inquiries to the appropriate team member when needed.
• Contribute to other team priorities and duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications are the minimum threshold a candidate must meet in order to be considered for this role. 

For consideration, please include a cover letter.  

• Ability and interest in learning specialized payment-related tax and immigration concepts, with the ability to apply established guidance carefully and consistently in a customer service environment
• Minimum of 1 year of financial, administrative, customer service, compliance, higher education, or other relevant work experience.    

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

The following qualifications are strongly preferred. If you meet some, but not all, you are still encouraged to apply; we value employees with a willingness to learn.

• The ability to learn and use technology; experience with Microsoft Office, Excel, PeopleSoft, or other financial systems is helpful.
• Strong interpersonal skills and interest in working with people from a wide variety of countries and cultures.
• Collaborative working style and ability to build positive relationships with colleagues and customers.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines, and follow-up items.
• Experience in higher education, finance, tax, payroll, immigration, compliance, or customer service is helpful but not required
• Speaking one or more languages besides English is highly preferred. 

Additional Information

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

• Working Conditions:
  This is a hybrid position that is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with on-campus work required up to 3 times per week during the academic year. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process.
• Appointment End Date: 
  This is a fully benefited, full-time Harvard University position that has been funded through 9/30/2027. There is the possibility of renewal, contingent upon your work performance meeting the needs of the department and the continued availability of funding designed to support the position. 
• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education
• Other Information:
  This position has a 90-day orientation and review period.

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 054. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.