Job Description:Position Summary:Katz, Sapper & Miller (KSM) is seeking an entrepreneurial Tax Director to lead and expand its Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) Tax Diligence practice. This individual will play a pivotal role in building upon the significant growth KSM has achieved within its Financial Due Diligence practice by developing a market-leading tax diligence offering that serves private equity firms, strategic buyers, and other transaction participants.
The TAS Tax Director will collaborate closely with KSM's tax professionals, leveraging the firm's deep expertise in transaction structuring, tax planning, and deal execution. As the leader of the Tax Diligence practice, this individual will be responsible for driving practice growth, delivering exceptional client service, developing team members, and ensuring the timely execution of high-quality engagements that consistently exceed client expectations.
This role carries a significant business development responsibility. The Director will partner with KSM's dedicated TAS business development professional, firm leadership, and referral sources to identify opportunities, cultivate relationships within the deal community, pursue Tax Quality of Earnings (QofE) and tax diligence engagements, and enhance KSM's reputation as a premier transaction advisory provider. The successful candidate will combine strong technical tax expertise with a proven ability to lead teams, build client relationships, and drive sustainable growth within a fast-paced transaction environment.
Responsibilities:- Lead the strategic direction, growth, and overall performance of KSM's Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) Tax Diligence practice
- Develop and execute a practice growth strategy that expands KSM's tax diligence capabilities, market presence, and revenue contribution within the broader TAS platform
- Serve as the lead advisor on tax due diligence engagements for private equity firms, strategic acquirers, family offices, and corporate sellers
- Identify, assess, and communicate tax risks, opportunities, and structuring considerations associated with acquisitions, dispositions, recapitalizations, and business restructurings
- Collaborate with KSM's tax specialists and subject matter experts to deliver comprehensive solutions on complex federal, state, local, and international tax matters
- Review and analyze acquisition agreements, merger agreements, and related transaction documents to identify key tax considerations and negotiate tax-related provisions
- Partner closely with KSM's Financial Due Diligence leadership to identify opportunities, develop integrated service offerings, and enhance the client experience throughout the transaction lifecycle
- Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of tax diligence professionals, creating a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and career growth
- Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management to team members while fostering engagement, retention, and professional development
- Maintain responsibility for engagement quality, risk management, client satisfaction, and overall financial performance, including budgeting, realization, billing, and collections
- Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with private equity firms, investment banks, attorneys, lenders, and strategic buyers to drive new business opportunities
- Partner with the TAS business development professional to originate, pursue, and close tax diligence and Tax Quality of Earnings (QofE) engagements
- Lead proposal development, pitch meetings, thought leadership initiatives, and pursuit strategies to win new engagements and strengthen KSM's position in the deal community
- Represent KSM at industry conferences, networking events, and transaction-focused organizations to enhance visibility, generate referral opportunities, and expand market influence
- Collaborate across KSM service lines to identify cross-selling opportunities and deliver comprehensive transaction-related solutions to clients
- Review, evaluate, and advise clients on tax assumptions, computations, and implications embedded within transaction models, forecasts, and financial projections
- Monitor market trends, transaction activity, and competitive dynamics to identify emerging opportunities and position KSM for continued growth in the transaction advisory marketplace
Requirements/Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, or related field required; Master's degree in Taxation preferred
- CPA required; MST, JD, and/or LLM preferred
- 10+ years of progressive experience in tax advisory services, with significant experience focused on transaction-related tax diligence, structuring, and consulting
- Demonstrated success leading tax due diligence engagements for private equity firms, strategic acquirers, and middle-market companies
- Proven ability to build, lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams within a professional services environment
- Strong understanding of U.S. federal, state and local, and international tax considerations impacting mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and restructurings
- Experience identifying and communicating tax risks, opportunities, and structuring considerations to executive-level clients and transaction stakeholders
- Ability to review and analyze transaction documents, including purchase agreements, merger agreements, and related legal documentation
- Strong business acumen and the ability to translate complex tax matters into actionable insights for clients, investors, and deal professionals
- Demonstrated success developing client relationships and generating new business opportunities within a professional services environment
- Established relationships within the private equity, investment banking, legal, or broader M&A community preferred
- Experience participating in proposals, presentations, and pursuit activities, with a track record of contributing to practice growth and revenue generation
- Comfort leading business development discussions, including engagement scoping, fee negotiations, and communicating KSM's value proposition to prospective clients
- Excellent leadership, project management, verbal communication, and written communication skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to manage multiple engagements and competing priorities in a fast-paced transaction environment
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience leveraging data analytics to support transaction-related analyses
