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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Tax Director

💰 $180,000 - $300,000+

FinanceAccountingTaxLeadership

🎯 Role Definition

The Tax Director serves as the organization's foremost expert on all tax-related matters. This executive role is the strategic linchpin between the finance department and executive leadership, responsible for developing and executing a tax strategy that aligns with the company's overall business objectives. The primary goal is to ensure full compliance with domestic and international tax laws while optimizing the company's tax position, managing risk, and providing critical guidance on major business transactions. This individual leads the entire tax function, mentors a team of tax professionals, and acts as the primary liaison with external auditors and tax authorities.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Tax Manager
  • Tax Counsel
  • Director of Accounting (with a heavy tax focus)

Advancement To:

  • Vice President (VP) of Tax
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  • Vice President (VP) of Finance

Lateral Moves:

  • Corporate Controller
  • Director of Finance
  • Treasury Director

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop, implement, and maintain the company's global tax strategy to align with business objectives and optimize the effective tax rate.
  • Oversee the preparation and review of all federal, state, local, and international income and franchise tax returns to ensure accurate and timely compliance.
  • Lead the global income tax provision process, including the calculation of the effective tax rate, deferred taxes, and uncertain tax positions under ASC 740.
  • Act as the primary point of contact and manage all tax audits and inquiries from the IRS, state, and foreign tax authorities, leading the defense of tax positions.
  • Provide strategic tax guidance and due diligence support for mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and other significant business transactions.
  • Establish and manage the company's transfer pricing policies and documentation to ensure compliance with global regulations and mitigate risk.
  • Monitor and analyze new and proposed tax legislation, regulations, and judicial decisions to determine their impact on the company and recommend appropriate actions.
  • Lead and mentor a team of tax professionals, fostering a culture of high performance, continuous learning, and professional development.
  • Manage relationships and coordinate with external tax advisors, legal counsel, and public accounting firms to ensure high-quality, cost-effective service.
  • Oversee the management of non-income taxes, including sales and use tax, property tax, VAT/GST, and other indirect taxes, ensuring robust compliance processes.
  • Drive the implementation and improvement of tax technology, systems, and automation to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of the tax function.
  • Review and approve complex consolidated tax returns, tax planning calculations, and technical tax memoranda.
  • Lead the company's response to tax controversy, including drafting responses to information requests, negotiating with tax authorities, and managing any potential litigation.
  • Ensure the design and operating effectiveness of internal controls (SOX) over the income tax accounting and compliance processes.
  • Partner with the treasury and finance teams to manage the tax implications of cash management, repatriation strategies, and intercompany financing.
  • Prepare and manage the tax department's annual budget and provide accurate tax forecasts for the company's financial planning and analysis (FP&A) process.
  • Advise senior management and the Board of Directors on complex tax matters and the potential tax consequences of strategic initiatives.
  • Oversee the tax accounting for stock-based compensation (ASC 718) and its impact on the company's effective tax rate.
  • Manage the research and documentation of complex tax issues, clearly articulating the company's position and any associated risks.
  • Develop and deliver training to business partners and finance colleagues on relevant tax topics to enhance organizational tax awareness.
  • Collaborate with the legal department to ensure that legal entity structures are tax-efficient and properly maintained from a tax compliance perspective.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc tax and finance projects requiring deep subject matter expertise.
  • Contribute to the organization's broader financial strategy and long-range planning initiatives.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate operational changes into tax requirements and opportunities.
  • Participate in industry groups and professional organizations to stay current on best practices and network with peers.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep expertise in U.S. corporate income tax law (federal, state, and local).
  • Strong knowledge of international tax principles, including transfer pricing, foreign tax credits, and Subpart F/GILTI.
  • Mastery of income tax accounting under ASC 740, including deferred taxes, valuation allowances, and uncertain tax positions (FIN 48).
  • Proficiency with tax research platforms (e.g., CCH, BNA, Checkpoint) and the ability to draft technical memoranda.
  • Experience with major ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and their tax-related modules.
  • Hands-on experience with tax provision and compliance software such as OneSource, CorpTax, or similar platforms.
  • Proven experience in managing tax audits and controversies with various tax authorities.
  • Solid understanding of M&A tax due diligence, structuring, and integration.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional leadership and team management skills with a passion for mentoring and developing talent.
  • Strategic and commercial mindset, with the ability to translate complex tax concepts into actionable business insights.
  • Outstanding communication and presentation skills, capable of effectively articulating tax issues to executive leadership and non-tax professionals.
  • Strong negotiation and influencing skills, particularly when dealing with auditors and internal stakeholders.
  • Superior analytical and problem-solving abilities with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
  • Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex projects and competing deadlines.
  • High ethical standards, integrity, and professional judgment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master's in Taxation (MST), Juris Doctor (JD), or LL.M. in Taxation.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Accounting
  • Finance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 12-15+ years of progressive tax experience, often including a foundation in public accounting (preferably Big 4) followed by significant experience in a corporate tax department.

Preferred:

  • An active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is strongly preferred and often required for this role.
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