Associate Director/Director, Employment Tax Compliance & Operations

Position Summary

The Associate Director/Director of Employment Tax Compliance & Operations leads strategic initiatives in multi-state taxable income sourcing and allocation for wages and equity compensation at a publicly traded company. This role serves as the enterprise-wide subject matter expert and primary escalation point for state tax allocation methodologies, ensuring scalable, compliant, and audit-ready processes across Payroll, Equity Administration, Finance, and HR systems. Reporting directly to the Chief Accounting Officer, this position is the principal contact for executives and employees regarding complex tax compliance matters.

This leader drives operational excellence, oversees SOX-compliant controls, and partners cross-functionally to design and implement systems and processes that support organizational growth, regulatory complexity, and evolving tax legislation. The successful candidate will shape tax policy interpretation, influence system architecture decisions, and ensure end-to-end integrity of tax data across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership: Multi-State Tax Allocation & Sourcing

• Define and evolve enterprise-wide state sourcing and allocation methodologies for employee wages, equity compensation (RSUs, ESPPs, stock options), and related tax obligations
• Interpret complex and ambiguous state tax regulations and translate them into scalable operational frameworks
• Establish governance over residency, mobility, reciprocity, and sourcing rules across multiple jurisdictions
• Serve as the final decision-maker and escalation point for complex tax allocation issues impacting payroll and equity systems
• Oversee automated calculations, data completeness, and accuracy across all systems and processes

Operational Excellence & System Integration

• Design, implement, and maintain SOX-compliant controls and audit trails for employment tax processes
• Partner with Payroll, Equity Administration, and Finance teams to integrate sourcing logic into enterprise systems
• Build scalable processes that accommodate headcount growth, geographic expansion, and regulatory changes
• Manage documentation, testing, and validation of tax methodologies to support internal and external audits

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

• Monitor state and local tax law changes and assess impact on sourcing and allocation methodologies
• Develop and communicate tax policy guidance to HR, Payroll, and business leaders
• Prepare for and support tax audits, responding to regulatory inquiries with documentation and analysis
• Evaluate risk exposure and recommend mitigation strategies for multi-state tax compliance

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with Finance, HR, Payroll, and Equity Administration to align tax strategy with business objectives
• Train and mentor team members on tax methodologies, regulatory requirements, and process improvements
• Communicate tax strategy and outcomes to senior leadership and the audit committee

💰 Compensation not publicly listed. Market estimate for similar roles: from $200K, varying by experience and location.