Director, Global Tax

Your role:

We are seeking an experienced and strategic tax leader to join our team as the Director of Global Tax reporting directly to the VP Finance. As a key member of our finance leadership team you will be responsible for developing and executing Global Relays international tax strategy ensuring compliance with all tax laws and regulations and providing expert tax guidance to support the companys growth and expansion. With a strong focus on tax planning compliance and risk management you will lead a team of tax professionals and collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to drive business outcomes and mitigate tax risks. The Director of Global Tax is deeply familiar with international taxation matters with direct experience in ultimate Canadian-owned parent businesses with a strong understanding of United States regulations. The Director of Global Tax additionally has familiarity with international taxation principles to effectively manage a growing portfolio of jurisdictions as Global Relay continues to scale. As the leader of the tax team this role will not only oversee and mentor the tax function but also play a key role in promoting tax literacy and awareness across the Finance and Accounting team and the company as a whole ensuring that tax considerations are integrated into business decision-making and that diverse stakeholders have a clear understanding of tax concepts.

Your responsibilities:

Tax Strategy Planning & Execution

• Develop adapt and execute Global Relays international tax strategy ensuring alignment with business objectives international expansion and tax planning
• Own the operationalization of tax processes throughout the business to ensure that processes required to generate direct and indirect tax information are efficient streamlined and current
• Monitor global tax developments to ensure appropriate triaging communication and responses to new tax measures that may impact Global Relay
• Identify and assist with tax planning strategies in conjunction with the VP Finance Chief Financial Officer and external consultants
• Own the global tax compliance calendar to ensure the timely and accurate filing and payment of all taxes
• Oversee the efficient and accurate operationalization of complex tax incentive programs (e.g. Canadian SR&ED and United Kingdom RDEC) in collaboration with internal teams and external advisors ensuring strategic utilization of credits and other tax attributes are captured in tax planning and compliance

Direct Tax Compliance & Reporting

• Oversee corporate income tax compliance across a diverse portfolio of jurisdictions including Canada the United States United Kingdom Sweden Spain Australia and China
• Manage the financial accounting of all tax accounts both for local statutory and consolidated global reporting purposes specifically understanding differences between local and consolidated accounting frameworks
• Coordinate and review transfer pricing documents to ensure that appropriate transfer pricing methods and documentation are maintained and appropriately reflect operations of Global Relays scaling business operations
• Monitor corporate tax thresholds and perform detailed research to determine when corporate tax nexus has been breached working alongside internal teams and external tax advisors and counsel to obtain necessary registrations
• Supervise the Tax teams responses to related audit queries and information requests owning compliance audits by tax authorities and clearly communicating status updates thereof with senior leadership
• Perform ad hoc tax analysis on tax implications of transactions as needed

Indirect Tax

• Oversee sales and other indirect tax (e.g. gross receipts franchise tax) compliance across all international jurisdictions as mentioned in Direct Tax Compliance & Reporting including a growing portfolio of United States sales and use tax jurisdictions across multiple legal entities
• Monitor sales tax nexus thresholds and perform detailed research to determine when sales tax nexus has been breached suggesting steps forward and owning the operationalization of sales or use tax compliance in new jurisdictions
• Collaborate with Tax Managers to ensure the accuracy of sales taxability conclusions for Global Relays nuanced product offering by performing thorough research and exercising strong problem-solving skills when assessing local sales tax legislation against Global Relays facts and circumstances
• Work closely with Global Relays Billing Revenue Operations and Product teams to ensure sales taxability rules are understood and correctly applied in billing systems
• Champion the next phase of our implementation of a sales tax engine including designing and optimizing processes to drive efficiency and accuracy of sales tax collection reporting and remittance
• Supervise the tax teams management of all tax related inquiries (internal and external) and maintain all tax documentation related to the taxability of services such as tax residency exemption certificates and other artifacts
• Manage the process for any relevant customer or vendor communications that may be required due to changes in regulations

Audit & Risk Management

• Lead and manage tax audits inquiries and disputes across all jurisdictions
• Maintain a strong internal control environment around tax processes

Other

• Own the compliance of other matters (e.g. withholding taxes) as required
• Act as the primary internal tax advisor to senior leadership and cross-functional partners
• Partner closely with external tax advisors ensuring high-quality and cost-effective service delivery
• Mentor and develop members of the Tax team as well as other members of the Finance & Accounting team
• Participate in ad hoc tax accounting and finance projects analyses and initiatives when required.

About you:

• A minimum of 10 years in progressive tax experience preferably in a mix of public accounting and industry roles
• Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant or equivalent recognized professional designation
• A Masters in Tax In Depth or other advanced tax education is an asset
• Significant exposure with Canadian and United States corporate tax rules is a must exposure to European and APAC jurisdictions is preferred
• Proven experience in sales and indirect tax compliance in Canada in the United States with other foreign sales/indirect tax scheme familiarity being an asset
• Proven track record of experience in managing and growing a tax function
• Familiarity with SaaS business models and tax implications associated therewith
• Direct experience in transfer pricing methods and their application in a global technology business
• Demonstrated ability to operate at both strategic and tactical levelsmust be comfortable being in the weeds when necessary
• Strong technical grasp of financial reporting concepts for capturing all taxation-related balances and figures within financial statements both at local and consolidated GAAP levels
• Track record in team management including coaching and providing feedback to work prepared
• Familiarity with NetSuite ERP Salesforce CRM Avalaras AvaTax sales tax engine or similar systems is an asset.
• Expert level Excel proficiency with advanced knowledge of Word and PowerPoint.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain complex tax concepts to non-tax stakeholders
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion and to be entrusted with confidential information