Head of Tax

Location: Texas or Florida preferred. Nationwide search with relocation assistance. Work model: Primarily in-office. Reports to: Vice President of Financial Planning About The Client Highly ranked among U.S. employers by multiple independent studies, our client is a privately owned, fee-only Registered Investment Adviser. One of the largest RIAs in the country and grown almost exclusively through organic growth with a focus on The Opportunity Our client is building an in-house tax capability from the ground up and is seeking a partner-level leader to design, build, and lead it. This is a rare greenfield opportunity to stand up a new tax practice inside one of the industry's most established and well- capitalized firms, with an explicit mandate for quality and control over cost. In parallel, the client may pursue an acquisition strategy to more quickly build capacity and capability. This role will be accountable for overseeing and integrating newly acquired tax teams and ensuring their focus is efficiently shifted to align with clients’ needs and the firm’s strategic priorities. The near-term goal is to build the highest-quality function possible, not to maximize volume or margin. You will establish and lead a small, elite team delivering high-touch tax compliance for clients, working in tight integration with wealth management, relationship managers, financial planning, and tax planning teams. Over time, you will scale the practice into a national capability through both organic and non-organic growth - including offshore capacity and the integration of acquired teams and talent. What You'll Own Design and stand up the in-house tax compliance function, prioritizing quality, accuracy, and client experience over volume in the first year. Recruit, hire, and lead the founding team, establishing standards, workflows, and culture. Stand up and manage the practice's extended capacity - offshore teams plus acquired firms and talent - integrating each under one standard, culture, and client experience as the practice scales. Partner closely with wealth management, relationship managers, financial planning, and tax planning teams to deliver a seamless, integrated client experience. Evaluate, select, and operationalize the practice's technology stack - from established platforms to emerging AI-enabled tax tools - in partnership with internal technology and risk-review functions. Own the tax compliance process end to end, including navigation of IRS filing and registration requirements. Establish quality-control, review, and risk-management protocols appropriate to a high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth client base. Set pricing for the service at or near cost, consistent with the firm's retention-first philosophy - tax as a reason clients stay and deepen their relationship, not a profit center - and coordinate with marketing to communicate the offering to clients and prospective clients. Develop and execute the multi-year scale plan, including the path to a larger domestic team and offshore support. Serve as the senior tax voice within the firm and a trusted advisor to firm leadership. What Success Looks Like in Year One A staffed and trained founding team in place. Technology selected, approved through internal review, and operational ahead of the 2027 filing season. A defined, repeatable compliance workflow integrated with the wealth and planning teams. A successful first pilot filing season delivered at target quality (likely fewer than 1,000 returns in year 1, growing aggressively in subsequent years). A validated multi-year capacity and scale model to guide 2028 and beyond. What You Bring CPA required, with 15+ years of progressive tax experience, including significant time at partner or practice-leadership level. Proven experience building and/or leading a tax compliance practice or team; greenfield or build experience strongly preferred. Deep individual and fiduciary tax expertise, with experience serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients; familiarity with wealth management or RIA environments highly valued. A strong working understanding of the tax preparation industry and how a prep-and-planning practice operates as a business. Hands-on proficiency with leading tax software, and a point of view on where AI and automation fit in a modern tax practice; CCH Axcess experience strongly preferred. A track record of recruiting, developing, and retaining top tax talent. Comfort operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with a long-term orientation and a strong in-office culture. Growth mindset that leads with an exceptional client experience, while building toward long-term efficiency and scalability. A readiness to roll up your sleeves and actively manage the details of every part of this new tax offering to ensure an outstanding client experience and seamless integration with the rest of the business. Additional Valuable Experience Background in the RIA industry. Experience at a firm with 100,000+ private clients. Experience at a large CPA firm. Experience with AI-powered tax preparation software. Experience with technology-led tax preparation at scale. Compensation & Culture Our client offers a competitive, all-cash compensation package consisting of a base salary plus a substantial performance-based bonus paid semiannually. This role does not include equity or long-term incentive awards; total compensation is delivered through base and bonus, with bonus representing a meaningful share of total pay at Our client has a strong in-office culture and a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment. This is not a remote role. Candidates should be energized by building something new and committed to a long-term relationship with the firm. We value and reward loyalty, flexibility, and will-do. We work for a bigger purpose: bettering the investment universe. We take great pride in our inclusive culture, our learning and development framework customized for every employee, and our Great Place to Work Certification. It's the people that make our purpose possible, and we invest in them by offering exceptional benefits like: 100% paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and your qualifying A 50% 401(k) match, up to the IRS maximum. 20 days of PTO, plus 10 paid holidays. Family support programs including 8-week Paid Primary Caregiver Leave; $10,000 fertility, family-forming, and hormonal health assistance; and back-up child, adult, and elder care. This is an in-office role. Based on your role, tenure, and performance eligibility, you may have the opportunity to participate in our hybrid work-from-home program. #J-18808-Ljbffr