Regional Tax Partner

🎯 Role Definition

The Regional Tax Partner is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic direction, growth, and profitability of the tax practice across a designated geographic region. This individual serves as the firm's ultimate tax authority in the region, blending deep technical expertise with exceptional business development acumen. The role is centered on cultivating C-suite relationships, leading high-stakes client engagements, and mentoring the next generation of tax leaders. As a key member of the firm's partnership, the Regional Tax Partner is a standard-bearer for quality, ethics, and commercial success, driving both client value and firm-wide strategic initiatives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Tax Director / Principal from a Big 4 or large national accounting firm.
Chief Tax Officer or VP of Tax from a large multinational corporation.
Established Tax Partner from a smaller or competing firm with a portable book of business.

Advancement To:

National Managing Partner for the Tax Practice.
Global Head of Tax or other international leadership roles.
Firm-wide Managing Partner or member of the executive board.

Lateral Moves:

Partner in another specialized advisory practice (e.g., M&A Transaction Services, Economic & Valuation Services).
Chief Financial Officer or Chief Strategy Officer role within a major client's organization.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Drive the regional business development strategy, identifying and pursuing high-value client opportunities to consistently grow the practice's revenue and market share.
Serve as the lead relationship partner for a portfolio of the firm's most significant and complex clients, ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of service and strategic insight.
Provide ultimate oversight and sign-off on complex tax advisory projects, including M&A due diligence, international tax structuring, and post-acquisition integration.
Act as the firm’s top regional expert, advising C-suite executives and boards on the tax implications of major business decisions, such as reorganizations, divestitures, and global expansion.
Develop and execute the regional tax practice's strategic plan, aligning it with the firm's overall objectives for growth, talent development, and service innovation.
Lead and mentor a team of partners, directors, and senior managers, fostering a culture of collaboration, technical excellence, and professional growth.
Manage the financial performance of the regional tax practice, including P&L responsibility, budgeting, pricing strategies, and resource management to ensure profitability.
Function as the final point of escalation for resolving complex tax controversies, navigating high-stakes negotiations with the IRS and other tax authorities on behalf of clients.
Champion the firm's brand in the marketplace by acting as a prominent thought leader, speaking at major industry conferences, and publishing insightful articles on emerging tax issues.
Build and maintain a robust network of professional contacts, including bankers, lawyers, and other external advisors, to generate referrals and collaborative opportunities.
Ensure that all client work and internal processes adhere to the highest standards of quality, risk management, and professional ethics, protecting both the client and the firm.
Lead the charge on recruiting, retaining, and developing top-tier tax talent within the region to build a sustainable and high-performing team.
Collaborate seamlessly with partners from Audit, Assurance, and other Advisory service lines to deliver integrated, holistic solutions to shared clients.
Guide clients through the complexities of international tax landscapes, including transfer pricing policies, BEPS 2.0 implications, and foreign tax credit planning.
Personally lead engagement teams on transformative client projects, providing hands-on strategic direction for intricate tax planning and compliance matters.
Evaluate and approve the admission of new partners into the regional tax practice, playing a key role in the firm's succession planning.
Drive the adoption and integration of tax technology, data analytics, and automation to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and the value of services delivered.
Serve on firm-wide committees to contribute to national and global strategy, policy-making, and operational improvements.
Conduct final, high-level reviews of complex corporate, partnership, and international tax returns and provisions before issuance.
Foster a client-centric culture throughout the practice, ensuring that the team is proactive, responsive, and consistently delivering exceptional value.

Secondary Functions

Oversee the development and execution of thought leadership, including white papers, webinars, and articles.
Contribute to the firm's global tax policy and strategic direction committees.
Champion the integration of tax technology and data analytics tools within the practice.
Participate in partner-level firm governance, strategic planning sessions, and operational reviews.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep, authoritative knowledge of federal, state, local, and international tax laws, regulations, and reporting requirements.
Recognized expertise in a highly specialized area such as M&A tax (Section 382, consolidated returns), transfer pricing, tax accounting methods, or state and local tax (SALT).
Proven ability to dissect and review complex financial models and transaction documents to identify critical tax risks and opportunities.
Mastery of accounting for income taxes (ASC 740), including the review of complex tax provisions and uncertain tax positions for large, multinational entities.
Fluency in navigating and leveraging premier tax research platforms (e.g., CCH, BNA, RIA Checkpoint) to defend complex tax positions.
Strong financial literacy and the ability to translate complex business strategies and transactions into their corresponding tax consequences.

Soft Skills

Exceptional business development and rainmaking capabilities with a documented track record of building a significant book of business.
Visionary leadership and team-building skills, with a demonstrated ability to inspire, manage, and develop large, high-performing teams.
Superior executive presence, with polished communication, presentation, and negotiation skills capable of influencing C-suite decision-makers.
A highly strategic and commercial mindset, focused on driving practice growth and identifying new revenue streams.
Elite-level analytical and critical thinking skills for resolving ambiguous, novel, and high-stakes tax and business challenges.
Unwavering integrity and sound judgment, particularly when making difficult decisions under pressure.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.

Preferred Education:

Master of Science in Taxation (MST)
Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation
Juris Doctor (JD)

Relevant Fields of Study:

Accounting
Taxation
Law
Finance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 15+ years of progressive, post-graduate experience within the tax practice of a major public accounting firm or a combination of public accounting and industry experience.

Preferred: A demonstrated history of success at the Senior Manager, Director, or Principal level is essential. Candidates are typically expected to have a portable book of business or a demonstrable, extensive network of C-level contacts and referral sources that can be leveraged for immediate practice growth.