Director of Tax

Ankura•Washington, DC

1d•$85,000 - $200,000

About The Position

Ankura is seeking a Director of Tax to lead its global tax function at a private equity-backed professional services firm with a growing domestic and international footprint. The firm’s legal structure includes a partnership with disregarded entities and several corporations, and its tax obligations span US federal, state, and local jurisdictions as well as international jurisdictions. The Director will own the full tax compliance cycle, lead the tax team, oversee external tax advisors, and partner with finance leadership, the firm’s partners, and the PE sponsor. The role requires hands-on ownership and technical depth in partnership and international taxation to review, challenge, and manage complex work prepared by others. The Director will own and improve tax strategy, controls, and processes; direct recurring compliance work; and maintain the tax filing and payment calendars. The role also encompasses income tax and partnership compliance, state, local, and indirect taxes, transfer pricing, tax research and planning, audit and notice management, transaction support, and budgeting and forecasting. This position has direct influence on how partners are served and how the business scales internationally. The role can be hybrid from an Ankura office or potentially remote. The ideal candidate is in the US Eastern time zone, though Central time hours are also accepted.

Requirements

At least 8 years of progressive tax experience, ideally combining Big 4 or large regional firm experience with in-house leadership.
Deep, hands-on knowledge of partnership taxation, including Subchapter K, partnership returns, K-1 reporting, allocations, and partner tax distributions.
Working knowledge of complex partnership computations sufficient to review advisor work, including Sections 704(b), 704(c), 743(b), 755, 751, and 752.
Familiarity with US international tax concepts sufficient to oversee advisor work, including Subpart F, GILTI, BEAT, FDII, and foreign tax credits.
Experience with ASC 740 tax provisions, including current and deferred taxes, uncertain tax positions, and related financial statement disclosures.
Solid grounding in state, local, and indirect taxes, including sales and use tax, personal property tax, and gross receipts taxes.
Experience coordinating multi-jurisdiction compliance across US and international jurisdictions.
Experience managing outsourced or co-sourced tax engagements.
CPA required.
A genuine team player who builds trust quickly and works well across finance and the broader business.
Proactive and self-directed, comfortable taking ownership and improving processes.
Comfortable overseeing and reviewing technical work prepared by others and asking appropriate questions, including when not the preparer.
Clear and engaging communicator who can make complex tax matters understandable to non-tax stakeholders.
Detail-oriented while maintaining a broader perspective, and calm under deadline pressure and change.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a PE-backed, multi-entity, or professional services environment.
An MST, JD, or LLM in taxation.

Responsibilities

Lead the tax function and continuously improve tax strategy, controls, and processes across US and international obligations.
Lead and develop the tax team, setting priorities across monthly, quarterly, and annual compliance cycles.
Own the tax filing and payment calendars, maintain tax payment sheets, and coordinate tax payments across jurisdictions.
Serve as the primary point of accountability for tax matters and translate technical issues into clear guidance for the CFO, partners, and PE sponsor.
Maintain and scale the tax operating model as the firm grows organically and through acquisition.
Prepare and review US federal and state income tax workpapers and international income tax workpapers.
Prepare and review partner listings and standing information supporting the K-1 process, and coordinate federal and state extensions.
Prepare and review tax provision workpapers and return-to-provision schedules.
Prepare and review workpapers supporting US and international financial statement audits.
Coordinate information gathering and preparation of quarterly estimates, sales apportionment schedules, and state gross receipts tax workpapers.
Prepare and review sales and use tax and international indirect tax accruals, including GST and VAT, and supporting workpapers.
Prepare and review other state and local tax workpapers, including personal property, excise, and sales tax.
Prepare business license renewal reports and maintain resale and exemption certificates, tax ID registration listings, and W-9s.
Prepare transfer pricing reports supporting international returns and coordinate official reports and financial analysis with the external tax advisor.
Direct the external tax advisor across federal, state, local, and international compliance, including returns, e-filing, estimated payments, extensions, withholding and composite returns, and K-1s.
Review advisor deliverables for accuracy and consistency with supporting workpapers, challenging and refining the work as appropriate.
Oversee external advisor partnership tax work, including Sections 704(c), 704(b), 743(b), 755, 751, and 752 analyses, and redemption and recapitalization analyses.
Oversee external advisor international tax work, including foreign earnings and profits, Subpart F, GILTI, BEAT, FDII, foreign tax credits, and related federal international forms.
Oversee federal and state depreciation calculations, business personal property renditions and notices of value, sales and use tax filings, and international indirect and income tax returns.
Oversee tax provision assistance, including provision schedules and footnotes, current and deferred taxes, uncertain tax positions, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and valuation allowances.
Oversee transaction support, including asset allocation statements, entity step plans, and diligence on complex matters.
Manage the external tax advisor's scope, deliverables, deadlines, and budget, maintaining a high standard of work.
Conduct tax research across topics and jurisdictions and prepare written summaries of tax consequences.
Address tax notices and coordinate and manage tax audits, including ongoing state audits.
Support partners with requests such as tax certifications and proof of sales tax.
Prepare budgeting and forecasting reports and census reports required by US government agencies in collaboration with the People team.
Communicate regularly and clearly with the team, external tax advisor, and auditors.