Tax Principal – State & Local Tax (Income & Franchise)

Baker Tilly•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

Baker Tilly is seeking an entrepreneurial Tax Principal to provide leadership and grow its State and Local Tax (SALT) Income & Franchise Tax practice across the Northeast while supporting clients nationally. The Principal will shape regional market strategy, build high-performing teams, and drive measurable growth, client service, and talent objectives. The role also serves as a trusted technical advisor on complex multistate tax matters. The position includes senior technical review of complex state returns and material tax positions, leadership of state tax controversy matters, and oversight of sophisticated consulting engagements. Working with SALT and other tax and advisory leaders, the Principal will strengthen Baker Tilly’s market presence and delivery capabilities throughout the Northeast. Baker Tilly’s SALT practice includes approximately 300 professionals across the U.S., providing income and franchise, indirect, property, employment, and controversy services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, or a related field.
CPA or JD.
15+ years of progressively responsible state and local taxation experience, including significant income and franchise tax experience in public accounting, professional services, or a comparable leadership environment.
Deep technical knowledge of multistate corporate and pass-through entity income and franchise taxation, including experience reviewing complex state tax filings and positions.
Substantial experience directing state tax audits, appeals, and controversy resolution, and advising on complex multistate planning and transaction-related matters.
Proven ability to develop market strategy, build teams, set goals, execute growth plans, and lead professionals across multiple offices or locations.
Demonstrated success in business development, executive-level client relationship management, and cross-functional collaboration.
Excellent communication, commercial judgment, negotiation, organizational, and leadership skills, with commitment to technical excellence, professional standards, and client service.
Willingness to travel as client and practice needs require.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
LLM in Taxation or another relevant advanced credential.
Established Northeast professional network and familiarity with significant Northeast state tax regimes.

Responsibilities

Partner with SALT leadership to establish and execute a Northeast market strategy, identifying priority industries, clients, markets, service opportunities, and investments.
Set business development, revenue, client service, talent, and operational goals; translate priorities into actionable plans, monitor progress, and hold teams accountable.
Recruit experienced professionals, develop emerging leaders, align resources across offices, and foster a collaborative, entrepreneurial regional team.
Cultivate relationships with office, industry, and service-line leaders to deliver integrated solutions, expand client relationships, and improve market coverage.
Advance market visibility through strategic relationships, speaking engagements, professional organizations, and thought leadership.
Serve as a senior technical resource for complex state income and franchise tax matters, including nexus, apportionment, sourcing, combined/unitary reporting, state modifications, entity structures, and transactions.
Provide Principal-level quality control and risk review of significant multistate tax returns, workpapers, uncertain tax positions, and material technical conclusions; resolve complex review issues and guide consistent, defensible positions.
Lead state tax controversies, including audit strategy, information requests, protests, administrative appeals, settlement evaluation, and coordination with legal counsel where appropriate.
Direct state tax consulting projects, including planning, restructuring, acquisition and disposition diligence, exposure studies, refund opportunities, voluntary disclosures, and process improvements.
Promote effective engagement methodologies, technical training, documentation, appropriate use of technology, and continuous improvement in quality and delivery.
Develop client relationships by identifying business issues, creating differentiated solutions, leading proposals, and converting opportunities into sustainable engagements.
Advise middle-market and larger businesses with practical recommendations that balance technical positions, risk, commercial objectives, and implementation considerations.
Provide executive oversight of engagements, including scoping, staffing, pricing, client communications, realization, collections, and profitability, while delegating day-to-day execution to qualified engagement leaders.
Coach Principals-in-development, Directors, Managers, and other professionals in technical judgment, client leadership, business development, delegation, and professional growth.
Set expectations, provide candid feedback, recognize high performance, and foster accountability, inclusion, and ethical decision-making.
Collaborate with national SALT leadership on talent planning, resource allocation, technical priorities, and initiatives that strengthen the practice.