Director of Tax

About TensorWave Our mission is simple: deliver seamless, secure, reliable, and resilient AI compute at scale. We've built a versatile cloud platform that eliminates infrastructure barriers, empowering builders to focus on innovation instead of fighting their stack. Because breakthrough AI should move at the speed of ideas, not infrastructure. About the Role The Director of Tax is a senior leadership role responsible for the strategic oversight and centralized coordination of the organization’s global tax footprint. This role serves as the primary architect for the company’s tax strategy, ensuring that all tax disciplines—from Income and Sales & Use to Property and R&D Credits—are aligned with the company’s broader financial objectives. As a high-impact leader, the Director of Tax will act as the "single point of contact" for a network of internal and external Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). This role is not just about technical compliance; it is about providing thought leadership, managing complex cross-functional workflows, and ensuring exceptional execution quality across all tax-related activities. What You’ll Do SME Coordination & Strategic Leadership - Centralized Hub: Serve as the lead coordinator for all tax-related Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), ensuring seamless communication and strategy alignment between Income Tax, Sales & Use Tax, Property Tax, Real Estate Tax, and R&D Tax Credit functions. - Tax Strategy Development: Lead the development and execution of the company’s comprehensive tax strategy, focusing on disciplined growth, risk mitigation, and the optimization of the effective tax rate (ETR). - Advisory: Act as the senior internal advisor to the CFO and executive leadership on the tax implications of major corporate initiatives, including M&A, international expansion, and capital structure changes. Transactional & Portfolio Management - Structuring & Execution: In partnership with legal and finance deal teams, oversee the structuring of complex transactions to ensure tax efficiency. - Real Estate & Property Oversight: Coordinate with Real Estate SMEs to manage tax liabilities across the property portfolio, ensuring accurate assessments and timely appeals where necessary. - Incentive Optimization: Lead the identification and realization of R&D Tax Credits and other local/federal tax incentives, managing the end-to-end documentation and filing process. Governance, Risk & Compliance - Framework Management: Establish and maintain a robust tax governance framework that ensures compliance with all regulatory standards (including SOX, GAAP, and local statutory requirements). - Audit Defense: Lead the coordination of all tax audits and inquiries, managing the flow of information between the company, external auditors, and tax authorities. - Continuous Improvement: Drive initiatives focused on process efficiency, leveraging technology and automation to enhance tax reporting and data analytics. Stakeholder & Team Leadership - External Advisor Management: Manage relationships with third-party tax firms and consultants, ensuring high-quality deliverables and cost-effective service. - Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner closely with Accounting, Treasury, Legal, and Operations to integrate tax considerations into daily business decisions. - Team Development: Provide coaching and mentorship to the internal tax team, fostering a culture of high performance and technical excellence.Establish and scale the tax function by developing best practices, enhancing technical capabilities, and fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Who You Are Required Qualifications - Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required; Master’s in Taxation (MST) or JD/LLM preferred. - Experience: 15+ years of progressive tax experience in a large corporate environment or a Top 50 accounting firm, with at least 5 years in a leadership capacity. - Technical Breadth: Demonstrated expertise acros