Apex Service Partners has been founded as a partnership of multiple leading businesses providing HVAC, plumbing and electrical services. While Apex’s “Partner Services” office was created only in 2019, many of our companies have been successful for decades; collectively, we already have over 10,000 teammates and are expanding very rapidly. While our market share is still single digits, we are the largest organization in “residential home services” and have a stunning (and recession resistant) growth potential.
This very fragmented industry is dominated by small and founder-owned businesses; our strategy is to execute significant organic growth initiatives and M&A – while building out best-in-class professional departments like Finance and Accounting at the Partner Services level (but execute the function locally, where possible). The right candidate will have leadership impact and visibility across the organization and be part of active, strategic conversations with senior executives including our CFO, CLO, President, and senior leadership team (whose support for this newly created role will be excellent).
Job Description – Federal Tax Director
Mission of the Role:
We are currently searching for an experienced tax leader to help build our tax department in support of the company’s substantial growth plans. This is a critical leadership role for the company as we seek to continue our journey of growth, both inorganically and organically, and need a sophisticated tax professional who can support these transactions and recommend tax efficient strategies to mitigate risk and cost. Over time, this role will be responsible for federal, state and local tax planning, compliance and controversy and will focus on helping the company continue to grow in a tax efficient and compliant manner.
Responsibilities:
The Federal Tax Director will be responsible for management of various tax matters, including U.S. tax, tax treaty analysis, domestic tax planning and controversy, and financial reporting on an as needed basis. The Federal Tax Director will develop and implement tax planning initiatives or audit defense strategies to manage tax exposure for the company, improve cash positions, maintain accurate reporting, advise business units and support M&A activity
- Build relationships with key cross-functional stakeholders; ensure regular contact to remain aligned with functional objectives
- Understand the strategic direction of the company and execute functional strategies to support and enhance business results; be a proactive partner who can identify and execute projects to further business objectives
- Company-wide ownership of tax planning and modeling of tax implications with respect to reorganizations, acquisitions, and dispositions. Evaluate and recommend structures/alternatives for proposed transactions (mergers, acquisitions, inter-company transfers, etc.).
- Draft and review technical and non-technical tax research and compliance memos as well as develop tax models
- Support responses to information and document requests from IRS and state auditors.
- Stay abreast of changes in the federal (and material state and local) tax laws to provide advice to leadership team on tax efficient strategies.
- Contribute to high level analysis of material uncertain tax positions, ensuring adequate documentation of planning strategies.
- Review cash tax forecast and projections from long-term plans and recommend tax mitigation strategies.
- Planning and research for issues and transactions that impact US affiliates and the effective tax rate.
- Participate in the proposal of tax advice to upper management regarding IRS audit issues and proposed transactions involving US legal structures and investments.
- Identify, analyze, and respond to complex tax issues
- Lead and develop tax staff through coaching, mentoring, project involvement and education
Experience:
- BS/BBA in Accounting – CPA, Master’s Degree in Taxation or J.D. required
- 10-15 years of US corporate tax experience with a CPA firm (Big 4 preferred), large law firm, in-house tax department of a major corporation, or a combination thereof.
- Strong understanding of GAAP and the importance of internal controls
- Experience with and knowledge of tax planning strategies and complex legal entity structures to preserve tax assets and prevent tax leakage
- Mergers and acquisition experience – specifically on assessing and protecting tax assets and combinations
- 12 – 15 years' experience in advanced tax planning strategies
Personal Characteristics:
- Strong project management skills with the ability to lead and execute complex initiatives.
- Proven ability to manage multiple, competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to effectively communicate with executive leadership and cross-functional teams.
- Clear and demonstrable ability to “simplify the complex”, distilling planning strategies into plain English that can be understood by non-tax professionals
- Demonstrated capability to work productively with tax authorities to drive outcomes in the right way
- Clear history of positive and constructive interaction with auditors to defend positions and drive the right outcome in a collaborative way
- Audit Committee interaction preferred – demonstrated ability to communicate with audit committee / board members on complex tax matters
- Capability to work collaboratively with internal accounting team members to drive proper treatment of tax positions
- Track record of taking over teams that were suboptimally staffed where they drove a turnaround and achieved beyond expectations
- Ability to see through the current situation to stronger outcomes in the future, and the capability to inspire their teams to get there
- Clear capacity to think in complex terms and drive simplicity in a way that brings cross-functional partners along
- Strong learning agility and demonstrated capacity to learn the business environment and adapt strategies accordingly
- Building strength out of challenges – taking over tough situations and creating structure
- Ability to grow into larger senior leadership role as tax department evolves and grows
Other:
Location: Dallas, TX or Tampa, FL
Travel: Roughly 25% to other facilities, conferences, etc
Compensation: Competitive
Other Benefits: medical, dental and vision coverage, competitive PTO, sick days, holidays, and 401k matching
