Managing Director, Tax Operations

BDO USA • Grand Rapids, MI

16h

About The Position

The Managing Director, Tax Operations leads major operational programs and enterprise initiatives across Tax, aligning strategy, governance, and delivery. The role partners with Tax leadership to translate priorities into scalable operating models, cross-functional execution plans, and measurable business outcomes. It advances operational excellence by strengthening governance, improving performance visibility, removing execution barriers, and coordinating with firmwide functions to support transformation, efficiency, and long-term growth across the Tax practice.

The role leads Tax transformation initiatives and operating-model implementation and improvement; establishes governance routines, performance tracking, and execution standards; and serves as an escalation point for complex operational issues. In partnership with Finance and Tax leadership, it monitors budgets, metrics, and performance trends and identifies ways to improve profitability, efficiency, and resource utilization. The Managing Director acts as a strategic advisor to Tax leadership, builds alignment across leaders and functions, and coaches and develops operations leaders and team members as assigned.

The position oversees operational Directors, Managers, Senior Associates, and Associates as assigned, and serves as a Career Advisor as assigned. Other duties may be required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; alternatively, an Associate’s degree, high school diploma, or GED with 15 or more years of experience in an operations role is required.
• 15 or more years of progressive experience in public accounting, professional services, consulting, or a similarly complex matrixed environment.
• Significant experience leading business operations, practice operations, or enterprise transformation initiatives at scale.
• Proven success leading large, cross-functional programs from strategy through implementation, including governance, stakeholder alignment, and change execution.
• Experience advising senior leaders and influencing decisions in a highly collaborative, executive-facing environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations.
• Excellent executive communication skills and ability to influence, align, and build credibility with leaders at all levels.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, evolving environment with competing priorities.
• Ability to adopt new technologies and use digital tools to improve efficiency, support execution, and enhance collaboration.
• Strong project, program, and change management capabilities, including prioritization, risk management, and issue resolution.
• Ability to establish structure, drive accountability, and improve execution across complex initiatives and stakeholder groups.
• Strong business judgment, professionalism, and discretion, including the ability to manage highly sensitive information.
• Ability to lead presentations, facilitate decision-making discussions, and guide stakeholders toward practical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop talent, and work effectively independently and through others.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree with a focus in Accounting or Finance.
• Experience in an operations role, preferably within a public accounting firm, for candidates qualifying through an Associate’s degree, high school diploma, or GED pathway.
• Experience establishing operating rhythms, performance metrics, and management routines to improve execution discipline and business results.
• Demonstrated financial and operational acumen, including experience with budgeting, resource planning, and performance management.
• CPA certification.
• PMP certification.
• Experience using collaboration, reporting, and project management tools to support execution and performance visibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of Tax transformation initiatives and other high-priority operational programs.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, clear ownership, and measurable outcomes.
• Drive accountability and follow-through across complex, cross-functional efforts.
• Lead implementation and continuous improvement of the Tax operating model to support consistency, scalability, and efficient execution.
• Identify and resolve operational friction across processes, systems, and stakeholder coordination.
• Partner with firm functions to align operational priorities, dependencies, and support needs.
• Establish governance routines, performance tracking, and execution standards.
• Serve as an escalation point for complex operational issues and drive timely resolution.
• Promote alignment with quality, compliance, and risk management expectations.
• Partner with Finance and Tax leadership to monitor budgets, operational metrics, and performance trends.
• Identify and advance opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency, and resource utilization.
• Advise Tax leadership using data and insights to inform decisions and execution priorities.
• Build alignment across leaders and functions to advance enterprise and Tax priorities.
• Coach and develop operations leaders and team members as assigned.
• Oversee operational Directors, Managers, Senior Associates, and Associates as assigned.
• Serve as a Career Advisor as assigned.
• Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

• BDO is an ESOP company, offering participants a stake in the firm’s success through beneficial ownership.
• The ESOP is a qualified retirement plan and an addition to the firm’s comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits offerings.
• The firm describes meaningful work, leaders invested in employee success, and opportunities to build a career around what matters to employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive