Head of Tax, North America
On-siteAuburn Hills, Michigan, United States
Job Summary
Develop and execute the North America tax strategy in alignment with regional business priorities and the global tax framework. Establish a forward-looking tax agenda covering optimization, cash-tax improvement, risk reduction, and operational effectiveness. Proactively identify tax risks and opportunities, develop business cases with estimated financial impact, and lead tax-related projects across Finance, Treasury, Legal, and Operations. Oversee direct and indirect tax compliance across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, ensuring accurate reporting, statutory submissions, and adherence to global policies. Lead the regional strategy for audits, assessments, disputes, and appeals while managing external advisors. Serve as the principal tax leader to the North America CFO, translating complex matters into actionable recommendations for senior executives.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Tax, Finance, Law, or a related field
- 12+ years of progressive tax experience
- at least 5 years in a tax leadership role within a complex multinational organization
- Strong technical knowledge of U.S. federal, state, international and transfer pricing matters
- Experience leading tax compliance, tax reporting, audits, and controversy matters
- Demonstrated experience identifying and implementing tax planning or optimization initiatives
- Experience leading cross-functional projects and advising executive leadership
- Strong business judgment, communication, and influencing skills
- Ability to balance tax optimization, compliance, governance, and commercial objectives
- Legal authorization to work in the U.S.
- Proactive and self-directed
- A strategic tax leader, not solely a technical specialist
- Commercially minded and focused on practical outcomes
- Comfortable challenging existing assumptions and raising issues independently
- Capable of moving from analysis to recommendation and implementation
- Able to communicate complex matters clearly to senior executives
- Effective in a matrix organization with both regional and global stakeholders
- Accountable for results, deadlines, and measurable value creation
Desired Qualifications
- CPA, JD, master's degree in taxation or equivalent professional qualification
- Experience in manufacturing, automotive or another complex industrial environment
- Experience across the United States, Canada, and Mexico
- Experience working within a global matrix organization
- Experience managing internal teams and external-advisor networks
- Experience supporting restructurings, supply-chain changes, legal-entity optimization or other significant business transformations
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