Head of Tax, Americas

The role

Clifford Chance US LLP is seeking a full-time Head of Tax, who will be responsible for leading the tax function across the Americas region, with a particular focus on US tax compliance, partner tax matters, tax risk management and tax governance.

The role will oversee the preparation and delivery of relevant tax filings and tax declarations, manage tax risks and controls, and develop and implement tax policies and procedures in line with local requirements and the firm’s global tax framework.

You will act as the main point of contact for tax matters and queries in the Americas region, working closely with regional leadership, the Central Tax team, finance teams, HR, partner remuneration colleagues and external advisers. You will also manage and develop a team supporting the delivery of the regional tax function.

This is a senior role requiring strong technical tax knowledge, sound judgement, commercial awareness and the ability to work confidently with senior stakeholders across a complex international business. This position is based in our New York office and will report to the Director of Tax and Treasury in the UK.

Key responsibilities

• Leadership and stakeholder management
• Lead the tax function for the Americas region, ensuring tax matters are managed effectively, consistently and in line with the firm’s global tax strategy.
• Act as the key point of contact for local and regional tax matters, providing practical and commercially focused advice to senior stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with regional leadership, Finance, HR, partner compensation colleagues, the global accounting team in Delhi, partners and the Central Tax team.
• Manage, supervise and develop team members, ensuring appropriate review, support and development.
• Provide training and guidance to local Finance and business teams to improve tax awareness and strengthen compliance.
• Tax advisory and policy
• Develop, promote and implement tax policies and procedures across the Americas region, in line with local tax requirements and the firm’s global approach.
• Advise on US tax matters, including corporate tax, partnership tax, state and local tax, partner tax issues, employment taxes, payroll taxes and the tax treatment of employee and partner benefits.
• Support the management of tax matters in Brazil and the wider Americas region, working with local Finance teams and external advisers as required.
• In collaboration with the Global Mobility team, Global Expat Tax team and external advisers, provide tax input on expatriate and secondment arrangements to ensure they are appropriately structured and tax risks are managed.
• Keep up to date with relevant tax developments and assess the impact of legislative, regulatory and administrative changes on the firm.
• Support the business with tax advice on new initiatives, projects and changes to operating models, including new office locations, lateral partners and place of work implications.
• Compliance, reporting and controls
• Oversee the timely and accurate filing of all relevant corporate, partnership, state, local and individual partner tax returns, working with external advisers where appropriate.
• Manage and coordinate the preparation of US resident partner income tax returns.
• Oversee the calculation, reconciliation and release of partner tax reserves to fund partner tax payments.
• Work with advisers to ensure quarterly tax payments for partners are sufficient and made on a timely basis.
• Manage responses to tax audits and enquiries from tax authorities.
• Support the Central Tax team on US transfer pricing matters, including local compliance, documentation and tax authority enquiries.
• Support the Central Tax team in respect of US tax filings for entities based outside the US.
• Work with local Finance teams, the global accounting team and external advisers to monitor and manage relevant tax compliance obligations in Brazil and the wider Americas region.
• Identify and implement improvements to processes, systems and controls to strengthen tax compliance and reduce risk.
• Partner tax and compensation matters
• Act as a key contact for partners and the firm in respect of US tax and partner compensation related queries.
• Oversee US partner tax accounting and related processes.
• Work closely with the Central Partner Remuneration team to ensure partner tax matters are managed accurately and efficiently.
• Support the communication of tax matters to partners in a clear, practical and timely manner.
• Risk management and projects
• Monitor, evaluate and manage regional tax risks, escalating matters appropriately to regional leadership and the Central Tax team.
• Support and lead US, Brazil and wider Americas tax related projects, as well as other regional or global tax initiatives as required.
• Identify opportunities to improve compliance, governance and the overall effectiveness of the tax function.
• Ensure tax risks, controls and processes are appropriately documented and maintained.

Your experience

The successful candidate will have significant US tax experience, ideally gained in a professional services firm, law firm or complex international business. They will have strong technical knowledge of US federal, state and local tax matters, including partnership tax, partner tax issues, multi-state taxation and tax nexus considerations. Experience of both tax compliance and advisory matters is essential, together with the ability to manage tax risk in a complex organisation.

• A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or a related field is required.
• A Master’s degree in taxation is desirable.
• CPA qualification, with a tax specialism, or an equivalent professional qualification and experience, is preferred.

The candidate should be confident analysing complex tax issues, interpreting legislation and providing clear, commercial and pragmatic recommendations to senior stakeholders and non-tax specialists. They should have experience managing external advisers, engaging with tax authorities and reviewing technical advice.

• Strong process, controls, systems and data experience is required, including experience with tax compliance, financial reporting and risk management processes.
• The candidate should be comfortable reviewing work prepared by onshore or offshore teams to ensure it is timely, accurate and aligned with current tax requirements.
• Experience with relevant tax and financial reporting systems, such as OneSource, CCH, SAP or similar, is desirable.

The role requires excellent organisational, analytical and communication skills, strong attention to detail and the ability to summarise key points clearly and succinctly. The candidate must be able to work autonomously, exercise sound judgement, manage competing priorities and work under pressure. They should also be proactive and resourceful in resolving issues, identifying process improvements and enhancing tax governance and controls.

• Experience managing, supervising or coaching a team is required.
• The candidate should also have strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence colleagues and support change across an international business.
• An understanding of international tax issues, including transfer pricing and globally mobile employees, would be beneficial.

The candidate must be able to comply with the Firm’s agile working policy, including working from the office two or three days each calendar week, and must be able to work outside core business hours when required. The candidate must be independently legally authorised to work in the United States.

Pay and benefits

Clifford Chance US LLP offers a comprehensive benefits and compensation package. The salary range for this role is $300,000 - $380,000. Actual salary will be commensurate with the candidate's qualifications and relevant experience.