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.