Indirect Tax Director

Professional Alternatives; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Professional Alternatives partners with a global investment and trading organization seeking a Director of State & Local Tax (SALT) and Indirect Tax to build and lead the U.S. tax capability for a growing physical energy trading business.

The role focuses on hands-on SALT and indirect tax leadership, working closely with trading teams to deliver practical tax guidance across the trading lifecycle and to establish a scalable tax function as the business expands.

Qualifications

• 8–15 years of directly relevant U.S. SALT and indirect tax experience.
• Experience within energy trading/commodities environments.
• Proven ability to collaborate with energy traders and commercial teams on tax matters.
• Knowledge of multistate sales & use, gross receipts, franchise, property and excise taxes.
• Ability to establish processes and build a tax team as the business grows.

Responsibilities

• Lead U.S. state and local tax advisory and compliance for physical trading operations.
• Evaluate tax implications across the trading lifecycle, including structuring and settlements.
• Partner with traders to assess structures and identify tax exposures.
• Oversee multistate tax filings, registrations, exemptions, and audits.
• Coordinate with external advisors on specialized tax matters and VAT/GST where applicable.
• Develop internal controls and reporting frameworks to support growth.

Skills

US SALT expertise

Indirect tax knowledge

Tax advisory with trading teams

Leadership / team building

Education

Bachelor's in Accounting/Tax/Finance/Law

CPA / JD / LLM preferred

Job description

Director, State & Local Tax (SALT) & Indirect Tax

Location: Houston, TX
Employment Type: Direct Hire | Full-Time
Industry: Energy Trading / Financial Services

About the Opportunity

Professional Alternatives is partnering with a global, technology-driven investment and trading organization seeking an experienced Director of State & Local Tax (SALT) and Indirect Tax to establish and lead its U.S. tax capabilities supporting a growing physical natural gas and power trading business.

This is a newly created position offering the opportunity to build a function from the ground up, serve as a strategic tax advisor to trading teams, and develop a team as the business expands.

The ideal candidate brings extensive hands-on experience with U.S. SALT and indirect taxation specific to physical energy commodities, along with the ability to provide commercially focused guidance across the entire trading lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead U.S. state and local tax advisory and compliance activities for physical natural gas and power trading operations, along with other physical commodities and affiliated business entities.

• Evaluate tax implications throughout the full physical trading lifecycle, including deal structuring, contract review, transportation, transmission, storage, scheduling, delivery, invoicing, and settlement.

• Partner directly with traders and commercial teams to assess transaction structures, identify tax exposures, and provide practical tax guidance.

• Manage multistate tax obligations, including sales and use, gross receipts, property, franchise, excise, and other transaction-based taxes.

• Evaluate nexus, sourcing, apportionment, registration, licensing, and exemption requirements across multiple jurisdictions.

• Oversee tax filings, reconciliations, audits, exemption certificates, and communications with state and local tax authorities.

• Establish tax processes, internal controls, reporting procedures, and compliance frameworks to support growing trading activities.

• Coordinate with external tax advisors on specialized matters and jurisdiction-specific requirements.

• Provide support on international indirect tax matters, including VAT and GST, as applicable.

• Build and manage a small tax team over time while maintaining direct involvement in technical advisory and compliance work.

The position also includes a 90-day notice period and a 15-month non-compete provision, subject to the terms of the employment agreement.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Newly created leadership position with significant visibility and ownership.
• Opportunity to establish and shape the U.S. indirect tax function.
• Direct collaboration with physical natural gas and power trading professionals.
• Exposure to complex, multistate trading transactions and international tax matters.
• Potential to build and lead a team as the organization expands.
• Opportunity for broader international indirect tax and VAT responsibilities over time.

Work Arrangement

This position is based in Houston, TX, where the organization's trading teams are located.

The company follows a structured approach to hybrid work:

Year 1: Five days per week in the office.

Year 2: Up to one day per week working remotely.

Year 3 onward: Up to two days per week working remotely.

Qualifications

Ideally 8–15 years of directly relevant U.S. SALT and indirect tax experience, preferably gained in-house within physical natural gas, power, or commodities trading.

Strong understanding of the tax treatment of physical gas and power transactions across the complete trading lifecycle.

Demonstrated experience working directly with energy traders and commercial teams on transaction-related tax matters.

Comprehensive knowledge of multistate sales and use, gross receipts, franchise, property, and excise taxation.

Experience managing registrations, exemptions, audits, filings, and multistate compliance requirements.

Ability to operate independently, establish new processes, and provide hands‑on technical expertise.

Prior experience supervising or managing tax professionals, with the ability to build a team as the business grows.

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Tax, Finance, Law, or a related discipline.

CPA, JD, or LLM preferred.

Big Four experience is welcome but not required.

International VAT/GST experience is a plus, particularly for candidates interested in broader global indirect tax leadership.