Director of Tax (Chicago)

Director of Tax

Chicago, IL | Hybrid

A high-growth, PE-backed global technology company is seeking a Director of Tax to own the global tax function end to end — provision and reporting, compliance, planning, transfer pricing, international structure, and indirect tax across a complex multi-entity, multi-jurisdiction environment.

This is a hands-on leadership role, not an oversight seat. You will be the company's in-house tax authority — setting strategy, managing one direct report, directing a network of external advisors, and owning the answer across a SaaS revenue model with complex indirect tax exposure, an active M&A agenda, and private equity ownership.

What You'll Own:

Provision & Reporting

• Own the quarterly and annual income tax provision under ASC 740 including current and deferred taxes, valuation allowances, uncertain tax positions, return-to-provision, and effective tax rate analysis
• Prepare tax disclosures for financial statements and lender reporting; serve as primary point of contact for external auditors on all tax matters
• Build and maintain tax controls and process documentation aligned with the broader finance control environment

Global Compliance & Controversy

• Own the global tax compliance calendar across U.S. federal, state and local, and international jurisdictions
• Manage external advisor relationships — define scope, review deliverables, control fees, and hold providers to deadlines
• Manage tax audits, notices, and inquiries end to end; monitor legislative and regulatory change across all operating jurisdictions

Transfer Pricing & International Structure

• Own the global transfer pricing framework including policy design, annual documentation, local files, and country-by-country reporting
• Advise on international structure and cross-border flows — entity rationalization, cash repatriation, withholding taxes, treaty positions, and PE risk
• Model and manage U.S. international tax positions including GILTI, FDII, BEAT, Subpart F, and foreign tax credits

M&A & Tax Planning

• Serve as tax lead on M&A transactions from diligence through integration — identifying exposures, quantifying risk, and recommending deal structure and purchase agreement protections
• Develop and execute the tax planning agenda including cash tax optimization, R&D credits, legal entity structure, and post-acquisition integration

Indirect Tax & SaaS Nexus

• Own indirect tax globally — U.S. sales and use tax, VAT/GST, and digital services taxes — including registrations, filings, and taxability determinations
• Determine nexus and taxability for a multi-jurisdiction SaaS and data business spanning software, hosted services, data feeds, and professional services
• Own tax engine configuration (Avalara or similar) in partnership with finance systems and revenue operations

What We're Looking For:

• CPA and/or advanced tax degree required
• 15+ years of progressive corporate tax experience including meaningful time in a multinational in-house tax function
• Big 4 or large regional firm foundation preferred
• Deep, hands-on ASC 740 expertise — able to own the provision and defend it to auditors
• Demonstrated ownership of transfer pricing and U.S. international tax in a multi-entity global structure
• Practical experience with indirect tax for software or SaaS
• Hands-on M&A tax experience across diligence, structuring, and integration
• Experience with NetSuite, Avalara or similar tax engine, and tax provision software a plus
• PE or sponsor-backed environment experience a plus

Why This Role Stands Out:

✅ True end-to-end global tax ownership — provision, compliance, planning, TP, indirect, and M&A

✅ High-visibility strategic partner to Legal, FP&A, Accounting, and PE sponsor stakeholders

✅ Active M&A agenda with real transaction tax work

✅ Complex SaaS indirect tax environment with global multi-jurisdiction scope

✅ Hybrid flexibility in Chicago with a lean, high-impact team structure