Senior Manager, Tax (Head of Tax)

Position Summary

This is Harness's first in-house tax hire. Reporting to the VP Corporate Controller, you will own the global tax function from day one — and you will own it operationally.

This is a hands‑on, execution‑heavy role. You will prepare and review tax provisions, manage VAT and sales tax filings, review local and municipal returns, coordinate external advisors, support M&A diligence, and maintain transfer pricing documentation — while simultaneously building the processes and controls that will carry Harness through its IPO.

We are looking for a tax professional who is genuinely energized by doing the work — someone equally comfortable preparing an ASC 740 provision, reviewing a VAT filing, or digging into a county tax obligation as they are advising the CFO on tax strategy. If you are looking for a role where others execute and you direct, this is not the right fit.

The ideal candidate is a high‑performing tax professional with strong Big 4 roots who is ready to step into full ownership of an in‑house function — or a current in‑house tax manager who wants broader scope, more complexity, and the opportunity to build something from scratch.

Tax Provision & Income Tax Compliance

• Prepare and review the consolidated global income tax provision (ASC 740) across all entities
• Own the US federal, state, local, and municipal tax compliance calendar; coordinate with external preparers as needed
• Coordinate international income tax compliance across India, Israel, Argentina, the UK, and the EU; review all externally prepared returns before filing
• Document and assess uncertain tax positions (ASC 740‑10 / FIN 48) with supporting workpapers

Indirect Tax — VAT, Sales Tax & County/Municipal Tax

• Review and manage VAT filings across all international jurisdictions in coordination with local advisors
• Own US sales and use tax compliance — filings, nexus tracking, exemption certificates, and automation opportunities
• Maintain a complete indirect tax compliance calendar; proactively identify exposure and optimization opportunities

Transfer Pricing

• Maintain transfer pricing studies, contemporaneous documentation, and intercompany pricing policies across the global entity structure
• Manage external transfer pricing advisors; review deliverables and flag risks to the Controller
• Monitor inter‑company transactions for consistency with documented policies

M&A Tax Diligence & Integration

• Review tax diligence materials for M&A transactions; identify risks and prepare written findings for the Controller and CFO
• Support post‑acquisition integration including compliance catch‑up, entity rationalization, and intercompany alignment across Harness's 12+ completed acquisitions

External Tax Advisor Coordination

• Serve as the primary liaison for all external tax advisors across all jurisdictions — Big 4, regional firms, and local country advisors
• Direct, coordinate, and critically review all externally prepared work product; manage the advisory budget and hold advisors to timeline and quality standards

Tax Planning & IPO Readiness Support

• Identify domestic and international tax planning opportunities including R&D credits, nexus strategy, and treaty positions
• Support IPO tax workstreams: S‑1 disclosures, ETR modeling, and audit coordination
• Build SOX‑ready tax controls and processes; monitor legislative changes and provide proactive impact analysis

About you

• 7–10 years of tax experience with a strong Big 4 foundation; in‑house corporate tax experience a plus but not required for the right candidate
• Genuinely hands‑on — you have personally prepared or directly reviewed tax provisions, filed or reviewed sales tax returns, managed VAT compliance, and worked through local tax obligations
• Solid technical grounding in ASC 740 income tax accounting; exposure to FIN 48 and uncertain tax positions
• Working knowledge of US federal, state, and local income tax; sales and use tax compliance; and international tax fundamentals
• Exposure to transfer pricing concepts — you do not need to have authored a full TP study, but you understand intercompany pricing principles and documentation requirements
• Experience reviewing tax due diligence materials or supporting M&A transactions from a tax perspective
• Comfortable managing external advisors and reviewing their work critically, not deferring to it
• A genuine builder mentality — motivated by the absence of existing processes, not deterred by it
• Strong communication skills across all levels — comfortable presenting to the CFO and working alongside payroll coordinators in the same week
• CPA required; MST or advanced tax degree a meaningful plus
• SaaS, technology, or high‑growth startup experience strongly preferred
• Familiarity with NetSuite, Anrok, or similar tools a plus

Work Location

Hybrid from our office in San Francisco.

What you will have at Harness

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Flexible work schedule
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible time off and parental leave
• Monthly, quarterly, and annual social and team building events
• Monthly internet reimbursement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.