Vice President of Tax Strategy
4 days ago
New City
We’ve been retained to identify a VP, Tax Strategy opportunity based in NYC. This role offers the opportunity to lead the tax function for a high-growth, purpose-driven CPG with a national manufacturing footprint and strong brand presence. The role will oversee tax strategy, planning, and compliance for a complex LLC structure with multiple tax partners. This role will evaluate the tax implications of M&A, recapitalizations, and reorganizations, partnering with external advisors to model after-tax outcomes, partnership waterfalls, basis step-ups, and tax attributes. Responsibilities include evaluating partnership structures, maintaining 704(b) capital accounts, analyzing 704(c) allocations, and assessing partner-level tax consequences such as withholding, state filings, residency, and foreign partner ECI/FDAP exposure. The role also includes analyzing distributions, disguised sale exposure, and debt allocation mechanics. This leader will build and develop the tax function, collaborate closely with finance, legal, and operations, and help position the organization for continued growth and long-term structural readiness. An ideal leader will have 10+ years of tax experience and a public accounting background. Manufacturing industry experience is required, along with deep expertise in Subchapter K, tiered partnership structures, capital accounts, debt allocation under §752, and complex partnership equity arrangements. Transactional experience and success in fast-paced, growth-oriented environments are beneficial. The Vice President, Tax Strategy will be based in New York City and report directly to the Chief Accounting Officer. This executive will be responsible for building, leading, and enhancing their tax function in alignment with the company’s rapid growth and evolving business model, including serving as the internal owner of partnership, transactions, and investor-level tax economics across the enterprise. With two direct reports today, the VP will oversee all aspects of tax strategy, planning, and compliance for a complex LLC structure, including managing relationships with multiple tax partners and external advisors, including serving as the internal owner of partnership, transaction, and investor-level tax economics across the enterprise. The role requires balancing hands-on execution with high-level strategic oversight, ensuring the company’s tax framework is optimized for current operations while positioning for future public company readiness. As a key member of the accounting leadership team, the Vice President, Tax Strategy will partner closely with finance, legal, and operations to support strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, plant investments, equity structuring, and bonus depreciation strategies, with particular responsibility for evaluating after-tax outcomes, partnership waterfalls, basis step-ups, debt allocations, and disguised sale exposure in mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, and restructurings. The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, demonstrate strong technical expertise, and have the agility to pivot quickly across multiple priorities. This is an opportunity to lead a high-impact function that plays a pivotal role in their continued expansion, while also shaping the infrastructure and controls needed for the next phase of the company’s growth. Key Responsibilities Some of the key responsibilities and attributes of the VP of Tax Strategy include: • Leading and evaluating tax implications of mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, and restructurings, including modeling after-tax outcomes, partnership waterfalls, basis step-ups, and tax attribute utilization., • Overseeing Subchapter K compliance and economics, including 704(b) capital accounts, 704(c) allocations, partner tax attributes, and distribution mechanics., • Evaluating partner-level tax impacts, including withholding, state nexus, foreign partner ECI/FDAP exposure, and debt allocation effects., • Analyzing disguised sale exposure, contribution and distribution sequencing, and debt allocation impacts for all transactions., • Overseeing tax strategy for them with multiple tax partners and complex structures., • Leading the tax team and strategically expanding it to meet the evolving needs of the business., • Developing and executing a forward-looking tax strategy that evolves with the company’s continued growth and changing business needs., • Managing tax distributions and collaborating with internal and external advisors, including Andersen Tax, KPMG, and others., • Driving bonus depreciation strategies to maximize cash flow and tax efficiency., • Leading equity structuring for acquisitions and pre-IPO planning to ensure optimal tax outcomes., • Aligning tax strategy with corporate goals through close collaboration with legal experts and cross-functional leadership., • Preparing the department for potential public company readiness by implementing best practices, enhanced controls, and SOX-compliant processes., • Partnering with finance, legal, and operations to support strategic initiatives, acquisitions, and capital investments in manufacturing plants., • Integrating payroll under the tax function and addressing ongoing payroll process improvements., • Leveraging SAP and Sage systems for tax depreciation, with continued migration to SAP Cloud for enhanced automation and reporting. Candidate Profile While no individual will embody every quality, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal qualities: Education and Certification/License Credentials • A bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. (Required), • CPA, LLM, JD or Master of Tax (Required) Functional Competencies – Skills, Knowledge & Experience • Minimum of twelve (12) years of progressive tax experience, including significant experience in manufacturing or CPG environments., • Deep expertise in partnership taxation (Subchapter K), including capital accounts, basis tracking, tiered partnerships, profits interests, preferred returns, and debt allocation under §752., • Strong command of disguised sale rules, step transaction doctrine, and contribution/distribution sequencing., • Public accounting background required; public accounting experience strongly preferred., • Expertise in designing and implementing optimal tax structures for LLC-owned entities with multiple ownership classes., • Proven ability to maximize manufacturing incentives, including IDA fees, tax abatements, and TIF funding., • Strong background in federal, state, local, and international tax compliance and planning., • Experience managing complex international tax matters, including expatriate assignments, cross-border transactions, and global tax compliance., • Deep understanding of transfer pricing, including documentation, policy design, and audit defense., • Demonstrated success executing pre-IPO tax planning, equity structuring, and readiness initiatives for potential public company transition., • Skilled in tax provision preparation and review under ASC 740, including SOX-compliant controls in a public company context., • Knowledge of tax considerations in mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including due diligence and integration planning., • Track record of building, leading, and scaling high-performing tax teams., • Proficiency in leveraging ERP systems (SAP) and tax software (Sage) for process automation, reporting, and analytics., • Agile and adaptable, with the ability to navigate shifting priorities and deliver results in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment. Leadership & Management / Behavioral Competencies • Strategic thinker with the ability to translate complex tax concepts into actionable business strategies., • Confident communicator, capable of engaging effectively with the C-suite, board members, and national partners at Big 4 firms., • Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and build strong partnerships with finance, legal, operations, and external advisors., • Hands-on leadership style with the ability to dive into technical details while maintaining a strategic, big-picture view., • Proven track record of holding teams accountable to high performance standards while fostering collaboration and innovation., • Skilled at leading through change, with the agility to pivot quickly in response to evolving business priorities and external tax developments., • Committed to developing talent, providing mentorship, and building a tax team with a strong culture of performance, accountability, and professional growth., • Comfortable operating in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment where speed, adaptability, and resourcefulness are essential., • Driven, results-oriented, and aligned with their values of respect, inclusion, and making a positive impact on the community. Our client offers a highly competitive compensation package, commensurate with skill level, experience, and location, including a base salary in the range of $300,000 to $320,000+ rang, 40% bonus range, and equity.