Tax Director (Chicago)

Director of Tax

Chicago, IL

Hybrid

A rapidly growing, private-equity-backed technology company with a global customer base is seeking a Director of Tax to lead its tax function across the U.S. and international operations.

The company operates a technology-enabled, subscription-based business with a complex multi-entity structure spanning multiple geographic regions. The organization has an active growth and M&A agenda and is continuing to expand its global footprint.

This is a hands-on leadership role with broad ownership across tax provision, compliance, planning, international tax, indirect tax, and transaction support. The Director will serve as the company's internal tax subject matter expert, manage one direct report, and oversee external advisors across multiple jurisdictions.

The ideal candidate is a technically strong tax professional who enjoys breadth and ownership and is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities

Tax Provision & Financial Reporting

• Own the quarterly and annual ASC 740 income tax provision , including current and deferred taxes, valuation allowances, uncertain tax positions, return-to-provision adjustments, and effective tax rate analysis.
• Prepare tax-related financial statement and lender reporting and serve as the primary tax contact for external auditors.
• Maintain tax account reconciliations, provision-to-return true-ups, and supporting documentation.
• Develop and maintain tax controls, processes, and documentation within the broader finance control environment.

Global Tax Compliance & Controversy

• Oversee the global tax compliance calendar across U.S. federal, state and local, and international jurisdictions.
• Manage external tax advisors, including scoping engagements, reviewing deliverables, managing costs, and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Lead tax audits, notices, inquiries, and interactions with taxing authorities.
• Monitor tax law and regulatory developments and evaluate their impact on the business.

International Tax & Transfer Pricing

• Oversee the company's global transfer pricing framework, including intercompany services, intellectual property, cost-sharing arrangements, documentation, and country-specific requirements.
• Manage intercompany charges, true-ups, and related policies and agreements.
• Advise on international tax structure, cross-border transactions, withholding taxes, treaty positions, entity rationalization, and permanent establishment considerations.
• Oversee U.S. international tax matters, including GILTI, FDII, BEAT, Subpart F, and foreign tax credits.

M&A & Tax Planning

• Serve as the tax lead on M&A transactions, including due diligence, transaction structuring, risk assessment, and integration.
• Partner with Accounting on tax considerations related to acquisitions, including opening deferred taxes and acquired tax attributes.
• Develop and execute tax planning initiatives focused on cash tax optimization, credits and incentives, entity structure, and post-acquisition integration.
• Support senior leadership and investment stakeholders with tax modeling and analysis related to transactions, financing, and business decisions.

Indirect Tax

• Oversee indirect tax matters across the business, including U.S. sales and use tax, VAT/GST, and other applicable digital or transaction-based taxes.
• Evaluate taxability and nexus across multiple jurisdictions for software, technology-enabled services, data, and related offerings.
• Oversee tax technology and systems in partnership with Finance and other cross-functional teams.
• Manage exemption certificates, customer tax inquiries, voluntary disclosures, and remediation of historical exposures.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Manage and develop one direct report while building scalable tax processes and leveraging technology and external resources effectively.
• Partner closely with Accounting, FP&A, Legal, Finance Systems, Revenue Operations, People, and other business leaders.
• Bring tax considerations into strategic and operational decisions early in the process.
• Translate complex tax matters into clear, actionable recommendations for senior leadership.

Qualifications

Required

• CPA and/or advanced tax degree.
• 15+ years of progressive corporate tax experience.
• Meaningful experience within a multinational or globally structured in-house tax environment.
• Strong combination of public accounting and industry experience; Big 4 or large regional firm experience preferred.
• Deep, hands-on ASC 740 expertise, including ownership of the tax provision.
• Experience with transfer pricing and U.S. international tax in a multi-entity environment.
• Experience with indirect tax , including nexus, taxability, and multi-jurisdiction compliance.
• Hands-on M&A tax experience spanning diligence, structuring, and integration.
• Demonstrated ability to manage external tax advisors and co-sourced compliance functions.

Preferred

• Experience in technology, SaaS, fintech, or another subscription-based business.
• Experience in a private equity- or sponsor-backed environment.
• Exposure to lender, Board, or investor reporting.
• Experience with NetSuite, Avalara or similar tax technology, and tax provision software.
• Experience supporting EMEA and/or APAC tax matters.
• Familiarity with SOX or SOX-adjacent internal control environments.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to explain complex tax issues to executive and non-tax stakeholders.
• Highly organized, proactive, and comfortable working in a dynamic environment with competing priorities.

This opportunity is well suited for a hands-on Tax Director or senior tax leader who wants broad ownership rather than a narrowly defined specialty. The role combines technical tax leadership, international tax, indirect tax, M&A, planning, and business partnership within a growing global organization.