Director Operating Tax (Chesapeake)

The Operating Tax Director is responsible for leading the sales and use tax and unclaimed property functions, including planning, compliance, audits, and process improvement. This role ensures the accuracy, efficiency, and regulatory compliance of tax collection, remittance, and reporting. The Director will also play a key role in identifying opportunities to improve systems, challenge business processes and minimize risk while developing and mentoring tax team members.

Key Responsibilities

Sales & Use Tax Strategy and Compliance

• Develop and implement sales/use tax planning strategies that enhance compliance and reduce risk.
• Oversee taxability determination of SKUs to ensure register charges comply with all applicable state and local tax laws.
• Lead all sales/use tax compliance activities , including:
• Preparation and filing of returns
• Timely and accurate tax payments
• General ledger account reconciliations
• Ensure sales/use tax is effectively collected, remitted, and accounted for across all business units.
• Ensure proper documentation and tax treatment for major corporate initiatives and capital projects.

Unclaimed Property

• Lead compliance efforts for unclaimed property, including accurate and timely filing and reconciliation.
• Monitor regulatory changes and ensure appropriate risk mitigation strategies are in place.

Audit Management

• Lead and manage sales/use tax and unclaimed property audits , including:
• Negotiating audit issues with state auditors to minimize assessments.
• Managing multiple audits concurrently.
• Recommending process improvements to improve audit readiness and documentation practices.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Effectively lead, motivate, and professionally develop tax staff.
• Partner with internal departments (e.g., Legal, Finance, Accounting, IT) to improve tax processes and ensure compliance.
• Communicate the companys sales/use tax position and risks to executive leadership.
• Maintain and enhance internal controls in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) requirements.

Qualifications Required

• 7+ years of progressive tax experience, with a focus on indirect tax
• CPA certification
• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Completion of post-bachelors certificate or advanced coursework in taxation

Preferred

• Masters degree in Accounting or Taxation
• Experience with tax compliance software and ERP systems
• Background in Big 4 public accounting
• Familiarity with FAS 109 / ASC 740

Technical Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Access
• Experience with Business Objects or other BI/reporting tools (e.g., Alteryx, Power BI)
• Familiarity with tax automation tools (e.g., Vertex, Avalara, ONESOURCE)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities