Director of International Tax Strategy

Forte•Lenexa, KS

About The Position

The Director of International Tax Strategy is responsible for designing, governing, and continuously improving FORTÉ’s global tax strategy in support of rapid international growth within a very low tax risk‑tolerance environment. This role serves as the company’s first in‑house international tax leader, providing strategic oversight across income tax, indirect tax, and transfer pricing while ensuring audit‑defensible positions, strong governance, and protection of the Company’s ESOP structure. Serving as the primary international tax advisor to the CFO and executive leadership, the role initially operates as a hands‑on strategic leader with strong influence across Finance, Legal, M&A, and Operations, and will assume increased decision ownership as global tax frameworks mature.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Tax, or a related field required
10–15+ years of progressive tax experience with significant international exposure
Demonstrated expertise in international corporate income tax, indirect tax, and transfer pricing
Clear understanding of and experience with legal entity formation, nexus, and permanent establishment rules and regulations
Experience supporting international acquisitions and post‑deal integration
Experience operating in a low tax risk‑tolerance environment with strong governance expectations
Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex tax issues into practical, business‑focused guidance
Ability to influence senior leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders prior to formal decision authority

Nice To Haves

CPA, JD, LL.M. (Tax), or equivalent professional credential preferred
Combination of Big 4 public accounting experience and in‑house global industry experience preferred
Strong understanding of OECD transfer pricing principles, BEPS initiatives, and global tax reform trends
Ability to operate independently in a first‑in‑role environment

Responsibilities

Global Tax Strategy, Governance, and Risk Management
Own international tax compliance governance, including income tax, withholding tax, and indirect tax compliance across all jurisdictions, leveraging external advisors as appropriate
Establish compliance frameworks, filing calendars, review standards, and controls to ensure timely accurate, and audit defensible filings worldwide
Proactively identify and mitigate tax risks related to global expansion, restructuring, and intercompany activity
Provide executive‑level visibility into material tax risks, exposures, and mitigation strategies
Protect the Company’s ESOP structure through conservative, audit‑defensible tax positions
Indirect Tax Leadership (U.S. and International)
Provide direct leadership and oversight of the U.S. Sales Tax team, ensuring scalable processes, strong internal controls, and audit readiness
Ensure the Sales Tax Manager retains ownership of day‑to‑day U.S. sales tax audits, with strategic oversight and escalation support provided by this role
Extend indirect tax governance globally, including VAT/GST exposure, invoicing models, registration risk, and permanent establishment considerations
Transfer Pricing Strategy and Implementation
Design, implement, and govern a global transfer pricing framework aligned with business operations and OECD principles
Lead transfer pricing strategy across priority corridors, including EU/UK/Nordics and anticipated future acquisition intercompany activity
Coordinate benchmarking studies, documentation, and local filings through external advisors
Partner with Finance and Operations to operationalize transfer pricing through intercompany billing, markup policies, service catalogs, and legal agreements
International Acquisitions and Strategic Growth Support
Support international M&A activity in partnership with the Director of M&A and International Finance
Provide tax structuring input, risk identification, and post‑acquisition integration guidance
Develop repeatable tax integration playbooks to support future acquisitions and global expansion
Enable rapid growth while prioritizing risk mitigation and governance
External Advisor and Stakeholder Management
Manage relationships with external tax advisors across multiple jurisdictions
Coordinate international tax audits, inquiries, and examinations through local advisors
Serve as the primary internal tax subject‑matter expert for international tax matters
Educate finance, operational leaders, and executive leadership on tax developments, risks, and implications