Tax Director

Sorren • Chicago, IL

1d

About The Position

The Tax Director leads the strategic vision and execution of the tax function for complex client portfolios, including high-net-worth individuals, family offices, multi-entity groups, and cross-border businesses. This role involves overseeing and ensuring the quality of complex tax engagements from planning through compliance, with a focus on accuracy and efficiency. The Director serves as a primary advisor on advanced tax strategies such as M&A structuring, succession planning, entity optimization, and long-term tax minimization. They are responsible for developing and leading comprehensive engagement strategies, collaborating with internal specialists and external advisors to deliver integrated solutions. Staying abreast of evolving tax legislation and industry developments, the Director distills complex topics into actionable insights and acts as a technical authority, translating regulatory changes into firmwide guidance, tools, and training. The position also involves overseeing compliance and reporting practices, promoting continuous improvement in tax processes, and managing and developing a high-impact team. Key aspects include cultivating deep client relationships, collaborating across service lines, supporting business development, representing the firm in the marketplace, and championing a culture of continuous learning and professional development. The Director also directs resource planning and allocation for the tax team to ensure optimal productivity and profitability.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in tax preparation
• CPA license or eligible
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field
• Expert-level command of U.S. tax law across federal, state, and local jurisdictions, with the ability to interpret nuanced legislation and guide the firm and clients through complex regulatory environments
• Proven track record in leading sophisticated tax planning engagements for high-net-worth individuals, multi-entity structures, and cross-border operations, including M&A structuring, estate planning, and business succession
• Strategic thinker with strong financial acumen, capable of integrating tax strategy into broader business planning and advising clients at the ownership and executive level
• Mastery of tax compliance and research technology, with a demonstrated ability to assess, implement, and optimize systems that improve accuracy, efficiency, and client insights
• Proven leadership in managing and scaling teams, including mentoring senior managers and future leaders, fostering a culture of accountability, growth, and technical excellence
• Exceptional executive communication skills, including the ability to influence C-suite clients, simplify highly technical content, and lead critical conversations both internally and externally
• Business development acumen, with experience in expanding existing relationships, winning new engagements, and participating in pricing and proposal strategies aligned with firm goals
• Advanced project leadership skills, with the capacity to oversee multiple large-scale engagements simultaneously, allocate resources effectively, and drive profitability
• Forward-thinking and innovative, consistently contributing to internal knowledge leadership, policy development, and process improvements across the tax function
• Respected internal advisor, often consulted by peers and firm leadership on regulatory shifts, high-impact tax risks, and opportunities for service expansion
• Commitment to continual learning and professional development, maintaining expert-level knowledge and setting the tone for excellence through teaching, mentoring, and example
• Full-time commitment and flexibility to work beyond regular hours to meet team deadlines

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic vision and execution of the tax function across complex client portfolios—including high-net-worth individuals, family offices, multi-entity groups, and cross-border businesses
• Oversee and ensure the quality of the most complex tax engagements, from planning through compliance, with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, and alignment with client objectives
• Serve as a primary advisor on advanced tax strategies such as M&A structuring, succession planning, entity optimization, and long-term tax minimization
• Develop and lead comprehensive engagement strategies, working with internal specialists (estate, SALT, international) and external advisors (attorneys, bankers) to deliver integrated solutions
• Stay ahead of evolving tax legislation and industry developments, distilling complex topics into actionable insights for clients and internal stakeholders
• Act as the technical authority on key issues affecting the firm’s clients, translating regulatory change into firmwide guidance, tools, and training
• Oversee compliance and reporting practices to ensure full adherence with federal, state, and local regulations while continuously seeking ways to maximize after-tax profits
• Promote continuous improvement by refining tax processes, strengthening internal controls, and advancing documentation and workflow tools for scalability
• Manage and develop a high-impact team, including senior managers and managers, through coaching, feedback, performance planning, and succession development
• Cultivate deep and enduring client relationships, positioning the firm as a strategic partner in business and financial decision-making
• Collaborate across service lines (assurance, advisory, client accounting) to offer clients holistic value and drive cross-functional opportunities
• Support business development, including client pitch meetings, proposal review, pricing strategy, and expansion of services within key accounts
• Represent Sorren in the marketplace, attending industry events and networking opportunities to enhance the firm’s visibility and thought leadership
• Champion a culture of continuous learning, including leading firm trainings, promoting professional certifications (e.g., CPA, EA, MST), and modeling excellence in all areas of client service and leadership
• Direct resource planning and allocation for the tax team, ensuring optimal productivity, utilization, and engagement profitability
• Perform other duties and displays flexibility to take on a variety of responsibilities assigned by firm leadership
• Meet annual billable hour and other targets to fulfill individual performance and overall firm productivity

Benefits

• Generous paid time off
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus life and disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid holidays, including a firmwide winter break (December 24 – January 1)
• Paid parental leave (available after one year of service)
• Mentorship and career development programs
• CPA exam support to help you succeed on the path to licensure
• Firm-sponsored events and spontaneous team activities
• Celebrations to mark milestones like the end of busy season and the holidays

What This Job Offers

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