Associate Director, Tax

Ascension Search Partners; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascension Search Partners is seeking an Associate Director, Tax for a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company in the Bay Area. This role partners with Finance, Accounting, Commercial, Supply Chain, R&D, HR and Legal to align tax strategy with business objectives and ensure strategic influence beyond compliance.

The position offers broad exposure to ASC 740, international tax, transfer pricing, and tax technology, with a leadership role in building scalable tax processes and data infrastructure

Qualifications

• Approximately 8+ years of progressive corporate tax experience.
• Strong ASC 740 foundation, ideally in a public company.
• Big Four or public accounting + industry experience is highly valued.
• Exposure to US international tax, transfer pricing, and tax tech.
• Experience coordinating with external tax advisors.
• Ability to partner across Finance, Accounting, and other functions.
• Strong executive communication and business-language storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for quarterly and annual ASC 740 tax provision project.
• Oversee US federal and state income tax compliance via external providers.
• Support growing US international tax needs as the business expands.
• Strengthen transfer pricing processes with external and internal partners.
• Collaborate cross-functionally on tax considerations for commercial, supply chain, and R&D activities.
• Translate complex tax concepts into clear business guidance.
• Develop scalable tax processes, controls, and data infrastructure.
• Leverage technology and data management to improve tax efficiency.
• Monitor OECD Pillar Two developments and readiness.
• Contribute to strategic tax projects as the organization evolves.

Skills

Communication

Business judgment

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Education

CPA

Advanced tax degree

Job description

Publicly Traded Biopharmaceutical Company | Bay Area

We have been engaged by a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company to recruit an Associate Director, Tax as the organization continues to evolve its commercial operations and global footprint.

This is a particularly compelling opportunity for someone who wants to move beyond a narrowly defined tax role. Reporting to the senior tax leader, the Associate Director will serve as a key second-in-command within a developing tax organization, with broad exposure across ASC 740, U.S. tax compliance, international tax, transfer pricing, tax technology, and strategic business initiatives.

Just as importantly, this person will be a visible tax partner to Finance, Accounting, Commercial, Supply Chain, R&D, HR, Legal, and other stakeholders. The mandate is not simply to manage tax deliverables. It is to understand where the business is going, anticipate the tax implications, and help Tax earn a meaningful seat at the table.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and internal ownership of the quarterly and annual ASC 740 tax provision process, working closely with external advisors and internal Accounting and Finance stakeholders.
• Oversee U.S. federal and state income tax compliance activities performed by external service providers, including review, coordination, and management of key deliverables.
• Support the company's growing U.S. international tax needs as its global operations continue to expand.
• Help operationalize and strengthen the organization's transfer pricing processes, including coordination with external advisors and internal business partners.
• Work cross-functionally to identify tax considerations associated with commercial, supply chain, R&D, employee, contractual, and other business activities.
• Translate complex tax concepts into clear, practical business guidance for colleagues outside of Tax.
• Help develop scalable tax processes, controls, and infrastructure capable of supporting continued organizational growth.
• Identify opportunities to use technology, automation, and improved data management to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the tax function.
• Monitor evolving international tax considerations, including OECD/Pillar Two, and assist with longer‑term readiness.
• Support other strategic tax projects and initiatives as the organization continues to evolve.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will bring a strong technical foundation but will differentiate themselves through communication, curiosity, business judgment, and the ability to operate comfortably in a fluid environment.

We are particularly interested in candidates with:

• Approximately 8+ years of progressive corporate tax experience.
• A strong foundation in ASC 740, ideally within a publicly traded environment.
• Big Four or other major public accounting experience; a combination of public accounting and industry experience would be particularly attractive.
• Exposure to U.S. corporate income tax compliance, international tax, and transfer pricing.
• Experience managing and effectively leveraging external tax advisors.
• The ability to work across functions rather than operating exclusively within Tax.
• Strong executive communication skills and an ability to discuss tax issues in business language rather than "tax speak."
• A proactive mentality and genuine interest in understanding how the business operates.
• Comfort working in a fast-moving environment where priorities and questions can change quickly.
• CPA and/or advanced tax degree preferred.

Why This Opportunity?

What makes this role different is the breadth and runway.

The company is intentionally building its tax capabilities as the business grows, creating an opportunity for the Associate Director to have influence well beyond a typical tax accounting or compliance position. This person will work closely with the senior tax leader, interact directly with key business stakeholders, help shape processes and infrastructure, and be positioned to take on broader responsibilities as the organization develops.

For someone coming from a Big Four Senior Manager or comparable industry tax role who is ready for more ownership, greater business exposure, and an opportunity to help build rather than simply inherit a mature function, this could be an especially interesting next step.

Bay Area candidates are strongly preferred, as developing relationships with Finance and other business partners at headquarters will be an important component of the position.