National Tax Leader

Savant•Rockford, IL

1d•$200,000 - $300,000

About The Position

The National Tax Leader will lead the growth, profitability, and overall success of Savant Accounting and Business Advisory’s national tax practice. Reporting to the Head of SABA, this coach-first, player-coach role combines strategic leadership with hands-on client service. The leader will align regional teams, establish consistent service and quality standards, develop Regional Directors, scale the practice, strengthen partnerships across Savant, and maintain a select portfolio of high-value client relationships. The role owns the national tax service methodology, operating procedures, pricing standards, and quality-review framework. It directly leads the Regional Directors and is accountable for the national tax practice’s P&L and performance. The leader will help drive growth, cross-serving between tax and wealth advisory, packaged tax offerings, unified processes, and firm-wide strategic initiatives. The position also supports technology and transformation efforts affecting the tax practice. The role typically requires a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field and an active CPA or EA license. A master’s degree in Taxation or a related field is preferred. Candidates should have substantial senior leadership experience in tax or professional services, including multi-office practice leadership and P&L and revenue-growth accountability. The role requires regional travel as needed, potentially 25–40%, including overnight stays, and schedule flexibility.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university; equivalent combinations of education and work experience may be considered.
Active CPA or EA license.
Proven success leading a multi-office tax and/or professional services practice, with direct accountability for practice P&L and revenue growth.
12 or more years in tax and/or professional services, including substantial senior leadership experience accountable for regional or practice-level results.
Demonstrated multi-office leadership, with leadership experience weighted more heavily than raw tenure.
Ability to lead senior technical professionals and leaders and establish and enforce standards across a distributed practice.
Current senior practitioner credibility and ability to manage high-value client relationships and represent the firm at the most senior level.
Willingness to travel across regions as needed, potentially 25–40%, including overnight stays; schedule flexibility is essential.
Authorization to work for any employer in the United States; visa sponsorship is not available.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Taxation or a related field.
Breadth across tax compliance, planning, and research and consulting, with depth in pass-through/business taxation and high-net-worth individual tax.
Experience in a wealth- or financial-services-integrated environment and familiarity with cross-serving between tax and wealth.
Track record of building and scaling a practice through organic growth and M&A integration.
Proficiency with modern tax and practice-management technology and comfort leading platform transitions.

Responsibilities

Own the national tax service methodology and standard operating procedures, ensuring consistent delivery of tax compliance, planning, research, and consulting across regions.
Set national pricing standards and rate floors and hold Regional Directors accountable for managing to them.
Own the tax quality-review framework and standards, and establish sufficient technical leadership and resources to uphold them.
Directly lead the Regional Directors and align regional tax practices with the firm’s goals, culture, and vision.
Develop, mentor, and hold Regional Directors and high-potential tax leaders accountable; oversee capacity planning, staffing, key hiring, and succession planning.
Own the national tax practice P&L and drive performance against core metrics, particularly Net New Revenue and contribution margin.
Monitor supporting performance indicators, including realization/effective rate, utilization, quality outcomes, and staff development; guide learning and development and practice-wide productivity.
Maintain a focused portfolio of senior, high-value client relationships, emphasizing relationship leadership and business development over hands-on preparation.
Represent the tax practice with priority clients, advisors, and centers of influence; support client retention and address significant service risks.
Enable cross-serving between the tax practice and Wealth Advisors and work with growth leadership and advisors to develop scalable, packaged tax offerings.
Clarify and reinforce the SABA/TST relationship for advisors as it applies to tax.
Contribute to firm-wide strategy and translate strategic goals into national tax initiatives and execution.
Promote unified processes, standards, and culture across tax offices and partner with Operations and firm leaders to standardize best practices.
Support technology and transformation initiatives affecting the tax practice, including practice-management and tax-platform transitions.
Oversee Regional Directors and, through them, the national tax practice, including hiring, work assignments, and recommendations concerning compensation, promotions, transfers, demotions, and terminations.
Build a constructive, accountable, and supportive culture; select, coach, develop, and retain qualified leaders.
Establish clear performance measures, communicate expectations, provide fair and timely feedback, and align team and individual objectives with organizational goals.
Model ethical and legal conduct and uphold Savant’s policies, procedures, and core values.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage with multiple plan options, effective day one.
Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Company-paid life insurance, AD&D, and disability coverage.
401(k) with company match, with Roth and Traditional options.
Team-based incentive opportunities and a recognition program.
Flex Time Off.
Annual Savantiversary day.
Summer Hours, with shorter work weeks during the summer.
Parental leave, personal leave, and other life-event support.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Wellness reimbursements, such as gym memberships.
Flexible Dress for Your Day approach.
Potential additional incentive compensation based on responsibilities and performance.