Tax Director

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Tax Director to provide strategic tax planning, consulting, and compliance services while overseeing complex tax engagements for high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporations, and closely held businesses.

The Tax Director will serve as a trusted advisor to clients, providing proactive tax strategies and practical solutions to complex tax matters. This role will work closely with senior leadership and tax professionals while managing client relationships, developing staff, supporting business development, and contributing to the continued growth and success of the tax practice.

Key Responsibilities

Tax Planning & Consulting

• Serve as the primary tax advisor for a portfolio of sophisticated individual and business clients.
• Provide proactive tax planning and consulting throughout the year.
• Develop strategic tax solutions related to business transactions, entity structure, succession planning, and tax-saving opportunities.
• Advise high-net-worth individuals, business owners, partnerships, corporations, trusts, and estates on complex tax matters.
• Monitor changes in federal, state, and local tax legislation and communicate relevant impacts to clients and internal teams.
• Conduct research and develop solutions to complex tax issues.

Tax Compliance & Engagement Management

• Direct the preparation and technical review of complex individual, trust, estate, partnership, S corporation, and C corporation tax returns.
• Lead multiple tax engagements while ensuring quality, timeliness, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Manage engagement staffing, budgets, deadlines, and deliverables.
• Review tax work prepared by Managers, Senior Accountants, and Staff Accountants.
• Ensure engagements are completed efficiently while maintaining high-quality client service and profitability.
• Identify technical issues and provide appropriate guidance and resolution.

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for key client relationships.
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with business owners, executives, and high-net-worth individuals.
• Deliver exceptional client service and provide clear, practical recommendations.
• Communicate complex tax matters in a way that is understandable and actionable for clients.
• Represent clients before the IRS and other taxing authorities, including assisting with examinations, notices, and technical inquiries.

Leadership & Team Development

• Mentor, coach, and develop Managers, Senior Accountants, and Staff Accountants.
• Provide technical guidance and support to engagement teams.
• Establish clear expectations for quality, accountability, and professional development.
• Conduct performance evaluations and contribute to employee development and succession planning.
• Support recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and retention of tax professionals.
• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across tax engagement teams.

Business Development & Practice Growth

• Identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships and services.
• Participate in networking, business development, and community outreach activities.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships that generate new business opportunities.
• Partner with leadership on practice growth and strategic initiatives.
• Assist with proposals, presentations, and client development efforts as needed.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, technology, and overall client service.

Operations & Process Improvement

• Collaborate with leadership on practice management and operational initiatives.
• Contribute to process improvements that enhance efficiency, quality, and client service.
• Support the adoption of technology and automation within tax processes.
• Promote consistent technical and operational standards across the tax practice.
• Manage multiple priorities effectively in a deadline-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Accounting, Taxation, Finance, or a related field.
• Active CPA license required.
• 10+ years of recent public accounting tax experience.
• Significant experience managing complex tax engagements and client relationships.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, mentoring, and developing professional accounting or tax staff.
• Extensive experience with individual, partnership, corporate, trust, and estate taxation.

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional technical knowledge of federal, state, and local taxation.
• Strong understanding of individual, partnership, S corporation, C corporation, trust, and estate taxation.
• Proven leadership and team development capabilities.
• Strong business development and client relationship management skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple engagements and competing deadlines.
• High level of professional judgment, integrity, and attention to detail.
• Strong client-service orientation and ability to develop trusted advisor relationships.
• Ability to communicate complex tax concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Preferred Experience

• Public accounting experience with a strong focus on tax advisory and compliance.
• Experience working with high-net-worth individuals and closely held businesses.
• Experience representing clients before the IRS and other taxing authorities.
• Experience with tax technology and accounting systems such as CCH Axcess Tax, CCH ProSystem fx, or comparable platforms.
• Familiarity with Bloomberg Tax or similar tax research tools.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.