Tax Director, State & Local Tax

BDO USA•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

The State & Local Tax Director supports Principals and the broader SALT practice through team development, client relationship management, and business development. In partnership with Principals and Managing Directors, the Director advances practice goals and demonstrates strong project management, technical thought leadership, and client service. The role covers state and local tax research, compliance, consulting, controversy, industry specialization, accounting for income taxes, and business development. It also supervises and develops SALT Senior Managers, Managers, and Staff, and manages assigned engagements to meet operational and client-service goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Accounting or Taxation focus preferred.
Nine or more years of prior SALT experience required.
Prior experience supervising tax professionals on a project or engagement basis required.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Superior analytical and research skills.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet project deadlines.
Ability to multitask and work independently or in a group environment in a deadline-driven setting.
Ability to manage tax professionals effectively and delegate work assignments as needed.
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and client personnel.
Ability to foster teamwork and contribute to the professional development of assigned personnel.
Executive presence and ability to act as the primary contact on assigned engagements.
Ability to interact successfully with professionals at all levels.
Advanced knowledge of applying tax standards to deliver tax services effectively and efficiently.
Advanced knowledge of information sources used in tax filings.
Advanced understanding of the causes and effects of taxable conditions for clients and potential tax issues.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Accounting or Taxation preferred.
Juris Doctorate preferred.
Prior experience preparing and/or reviewing tax provisions preferred.
Prior experience with corporate taxation, consolidations, and partnerships preferred.
CPA certification or other relevant certification preferred.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and Word, preferred.
Exposure to and familiarity with standard tax applications and research tools preferred.

Responsibilities

Research state-specific statutory, regulatory, and judicial guidance; apply it to client facts; determine when additional outreach is needed; and prepare memoranda or matrices documenting tax positions.
Partner with Core Tax and Specialized Tax Services professionals to resolve complex state and local tax matters.
Identify clients’ state and local tax filing obligations, ensure timely and accurate compliance filings, and identify additional workstreams and communicate their pricing and need to stakeholders.
Handle state and local tax agency inquiries, draft responses to revenue agent or auditor questions, monitor tax consulting work plans, and recommend solutions informed by tax and industry knowledge.
Represent clients before state and local taxing authorities on contested tax issues and ensure accurate, timely responses to information requests.
Serve as a SALT subject matter expert in a chosen industry, identify cross-selling opportunities, and act as the SALT relationship professional for designated clients.
Develop tools and process improvements to improve the efficiency of SALT services.
Review state tax provision workpapers and apply industry standards, firm policies, and BDO Tax Quality Manual requirements to ASC 740 and ASC 450 calculations and accruals; recognize, measure, and document income and indirect tax accruals.
Identify or implement solutions that reduce clients’ state and local tax burdens; participate in industry groups; lead marketing campaigns and external SALT initiatives; and collaborate with business development and strategic partners to advance SALT service offerings.
Supervise and review the day-to-day work and utilization of SALT Senior Managers, Managers, and Staff on assigned engagements.
Manage engagements to meet engagement metrics, including timely billing and days sales outstanding below 40 days.
Ensure SALT team members are trained on relevant tax software; evaluate their performance; assist with professional development goals; provide timely feedback; and complete performance evaluations.
Act as a Career Advisor to SALT Senior Managers, Managers, and Staff, as appropriate.
Perform other duties as required.