Senior Director, Tax

The Senior Director, Tax provides enterprise-wide leadership of the tax function for Crate & Barrel Holdings and its subsidiaries. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, this leader sets and executes U.S., Canadian, and international tax strategies that support long-term growth, profitability, cash flow, and risk management. As the company's senior tax advisor, the role oversees direct and indirect taxes, global tax planning, compliance, tax accounting, and controversy; develops a high-performing tax organization; and guides leadership on the tax implications of retail, e-commerce, business-to-business (B2B), sourcing, and cross-border initiatives. This is an on-site position (Monday through Thursday) based out of our Northbrook, IL offices with the flexibility to work remotely on Fridays. This role is an People Leader position A day in the life as a Senior Director, Tax… Develop and execute an enterprise tax strategy aligned with growth, international expansion, retail and B2B models, and capital priorities; lead and govern the U.S. and Canadian direct and indirect tax function and coordinate with the foreign parent. Optimize the effective tax rate and cash taxes through transaction structuring, credits and incentives, and accounting methods; anticipate legislative and regulatory change and lead risk-mitigation; monitor worldwide tax risks affecting the company and the parent. Oversee tax forecasting and expense/cash-flow models; communicate material exposures, opportunities, and scenarios to the CFO and executives. Build, develop, and retain a high-performing tax team, and manage external advisors; set priorities, performance measures, budget, and governance standards; translate tax matters into business recommendations on pricing, sourcing, legal structure, investment, and transactions. Income tax: Direct all reporting, planning, and compliance for consolidated federal, state/local, and international taxes, ensuring timely and accurate returns; monitor legislative changes and adjust strategy; implement tax policies, systems, and procedures. Indirect tax: Oversee sales/use, GST/HST, and personal property tax returns, licenses, permits, registrations, and annual reports; establish end-to-end controls over tax determination, collection, remittance, and reporting across stores, e-commerce, and B2B; oversee sales and use tax technology; automation and data-quality improvements. Tax accounting and controls: Direct the quarterly and year-end provision, and document tax positions; ensure accurate income tax reporting under IFRS in the financial statements, general ledger, and budgets, and report the company's and subsidiaries' tax positions to the parent under IAS 12; build systems and controls to integrate new legislation; plan and budget tax accounts; implement cash tax planning strategies. International tax: Manage inbound and outbound matters, compliance, and reporting; ensure contemporaneous transfer pricing documentation for intercompany transactions, loans and dividends; liaise with the foreign parent on OECD Pillar 2 reporting, and with affiliates on Aggregate Group reporting. Direct complex cross-border tax matters. Lead the defense of tax positions in domestic and foreign audits; represent the company before agencies on all tax audits, inquiries, and disputes; document key positions and maintain controls, policies, and governance to limit audit cost and reputational exposure. Modernize the tax function with lean, scalable operations, strong controls, and clear accountabilities; define the tax technology, automation, and data governance roadmap; set measurable standards for compliance, efficiency, audit readiness, and issue resolution. Partner with other departments on the tax and financial implications of tariffs, duties, and sourcing decisions, risk assessment and escalation of material trade-related tax matters. Provide tax strategy for B2B, trade, and other commercial expansion; direct policy and control design for B2B sales and use tax compliance. Work with ESG, Legal and external consultants to ensure EPR compliance; monitor new and proposed regulations and recommend actions; develop systems to gather reporting data and leverage incentives to minimize EPR costs. Advise on major corporate actions (operational initiatives, retail models, expansion, legal entity rationalization, M&A, joint ventures, restructurings) including tax due diligence, structures, and tax attributes provide tax resources for Global Employee Mobility; advise International Development and Accounting on foreign franchise operations. What You'll Bring to the Table Expertise in U.S. federal, multistate, Canadian, and international tax, turning complex legislation into actionable guidance; executive presence, commercial judgment, and strong analytical, accounting, communication, negotiation, and relationship skills. Ability to balance strategy, regulatory obligations, and enterprise projects in a fast-paced, matrixed retail environment; proven record of building, coaching, and holding teams and advisors accountable. Strong understanding of how tax decisions affect customer experience, stores, e-commerce, B2B, supply chain, pricing, systems, and cash flow. We'd Love to Hear From You If You Have 12+ years of progressive tax experience in significant leadership of complex multijurisdictional matters. CPA required; master's in Taxation, JD, or LL.M. in Taxation preferred. Advanced knowledge of federal, state, local, Canadian, and international inbound/outbound tax rules and income tax accounting under ASC 740 &/or IAS 12/IFRS. Deep multistate indirect tax experience; omnichannel retail, consumer products, preferred. Experience establishing tax policies, controls, and governance across complex systems; directing significant IRS, state, and other audits and controversies; advising senior leadership on M&A, international transactions, expansion, and restructuring. Software Experience: OneSource, Sovos, TRTA Checkpoint, Bloomberg, and/or CCH. #J-18808-Ljbffr Crate & Barrel