Tax Director

Topstep•Chicago, IL

1d•$180,000 - $220,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This newly created Tax Director role will be responsible for building and scaling Topstep’s in-house tax function, strengthening tax compliance and controls, managing external advisors, and creating scalable tax processes to support the company’s continued growth. This role will lead and oversee all aspects of the company’s global tax function, including income tax, sales and use tax, VAT/GST, and other indirect taxes across domestic and international jurisdictions. The Tax Director will manage and develop a small tax team (2-4 FTE’s), providing leadership, mentorship, and performance management. The ideal candidate is a strategic and hands-on leader with strong technical expertise, operational rigor, and a proven ability to partner cross-functionally with Finance, Accounting, Legal, Operations, and business leadership teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA and/or MST preferred.
10 + years of progressive tax experience with a combination of public accounting and industry experience preferred.
Strong technical expertise in corporate income tax, sales/use tax, VAT/GST, and international tax matters.
Experience evaluating and implementing tax and compliance technology.
Experience managing multi-jurisdictional and global tax operations.
Strong knowledge of ASC 740 and corporate tax provision processes.
Demonstrated ability to develop tax strategies and improve tax processes within a growing organization.
Prior experience managing and developing tax professionals and leading teams required.
Experience managing external advisors and tax authority audits.
Excellent analytical, communication, and leadership skills.
Ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment.
Hands-on leader capable of building and scaling a tax function.
Collaborative partner with the ability to influence across the organization.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Continuous improvement mindset with focus on automation and process efficiency.

Nice To Haves

CPA and/or MST preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive global tax strategy/roadmap aligned with the company’s growth objectives and operational footprint.
Establish a comprehensive tax compliance calendar.
Advise executive leadership on tax implications related to business initiatives, legal entity structure, international expansion, and strategic transactions.
Identify opportunities to optimize the company’s effective tax rate, cash taxes, and overall tax position while maintaining compliance and managing risk.
Lead tax planning initiatives related to domestic and international operations, transfer pricing, and indirect tax matters.
Build scalable tax processes, controls, and policies to support a growing global organization.
Lead, mentor, and develop a small tax team, fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing environment.
Establish clear goals, priorities, and development plans for team members while promoting continuous improvement and operational excellence.
Identify automation and process improvement opportunities.
Oversee all federal, state, local, and international income tax compliance and reporting requirements.
Manage quarterly and annual tax provision processes in accordance with ASC 740 and applicable accounting standards.
Coordinate preparation and review of corporate income tax returns with external advisors.
Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and assess potential impacts to the business.
Support audits and inquiries from tax authorities.
Lead all aspects of sales and use tax, VAT, GST, and other indirect tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
Ensure proper taxability determinations, registrations, filings, remittances, and exemption documentation processes are maintained.
Partner with operations and technology teams to improve indirect tax processes and automation capabilities.
Monitor nexus exposure and evolving indirect tax regulations globally.
Support and manage international tax matters including transfer pricing, withholding tax, permanent establishment risk, and global entity structure considerations.
Coordinate with external advisors on international compliance and planning initiatives.
Assist with expansion into new markets and jurisdictions from a tax and regulatory perspective.
Own and manage relationships with external tax advisors, consultants, auditors, and service providers.
Review the external advisor model and recommend improvements.
Coordinate and oversee external tax engagements, ensuring quality, timeliness, and cost effectiveness.
Partner closely with Finance, Accounting, Legal, and Operations on tax-related matters.
Provide guidance and training to internal stakeholders regarding tax processes and compliance requirements.