Associate Director, Tax Operations

Role Overview

• Define and evolve enterprise-wide state sourcing and allocation methodologies for employee wages and equity compensation
• Interpret complex and ambiguous state tax regulations and translate them into scalable operational frameworks
• Establish governance over residency, mobility, reciprocity, and sourcing rules across jurisdictions
• Serve as the final decision-maker and escalation point for complex tax allocation issues
• Oversee automated calculations, data completeness and accuracy
• Ensure all SOX related controls are executed timely and accurately
• Oversee the certification and delivery of state-level taxable wage and equity data prior to payroll execution
• Ensure seamless integration and accuracy of tax data within payroll systems
• Partner with Equity Administration to guide tax treatment of grants, vesting, exercises, and mobility events
• Establish SLAs, controls, and performance metrics for tax data delivery
• Own the end-to-end data lifecycle for state-allocated tax data across systems and reporting functions
• Lead the design and optimization of data flows, reconciliation frameworks, and system integrations
• Partner with IT and HRIS teams to embed tax logic into systems in alignment with SDLC and ITGC standards
• Drive automation and scalability initiatives to support company growth and increased complexity
• Establish and oversee SOX-compliant control frameworks related to tax allocation and payroll tax processes
• Lead tax sign-off processes supporting payroll releases and financial reporting
• Serve as primary liaison for internal and external audits (e.g., EY), including strategy, walkthroughs, and remediation
• Ensure continuous improvement of control effectiveness and audit readiness
• Act as a strategic partner to Payroll, Equity Administration, HR, Finance, Legal, and external advisors
• Influence cross-functional decision-making related to tax, mobility, and compensation design
• Build and deliver training programs to elevate tax knowledge across the organization
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team (if applicable), fostering strong technical and operational capabilities

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Tax, or related field
• 10–15+ years of progressive experience in:
• State and local taxation (SALT)
• Payroll tax and/or equity compensation taxation
• Deep expertise in multi-state wage sourcing, employee mobility, and equity tax rules
• Experience in a publicly traded company, large multinational, or Big 4 environment
• Proven experience designing and operating SOX-compliant controls
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex tax regulations into scalable processes and systems
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing senior stakeholders.

Tech Stack

• SaltStack
• SDLC

Benefits

• Annual performance incentive bonus
• Long-term equity awards
• Comprehensive health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• 401(k) with company match
• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Additional wellness and work-life benefits