Managing Director, Tax Operations

BDO USA, LLP; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO USA, LLP has an opening for a Managing Director, Tax Operations. This role leads major operational programs and enterprise initiatives across Tax, aligning strategy with delivery and governance.

You will partner with Tax leadership to translate priorities into scalable operating models and measurable outcomes, strengthening governance and driving transformation across the practice. The position requires extensive experience in public accounting, senior leadership, and hands-on program

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; or equivalent with fifteen (15) or more years of experience in an operations role in a public accounting firm
• Fifteen (15) or more years of progressive experience in public accounting, professional services, consulting, or a similarly complex matrixed environment

Responsibilities

• Leads execution of Tax transformation initiatives and other high-priority operational programs
• Translates strategic priorities into actionable plans, clear ownership, and measurable outcomes
• Drives accountability and follow-through across complex, cross-functional efforts
• Leads implementation and continuous improvement of the Tax operating model to support consistency, scalability, and efficient execution
• Identifies and resolves operational friction across processes, systems, and stakeholder coordination
• Partners with firm functions to ensure alignment on operational priorities, dependencies, and support needs
• Establishes governance routines, performance tracking, and execution standards to improve visibility and discipline
• Serves as an escalation point for complex operational issues and drive timely resolution
• Promotes alignment with quality, compliance, and risk management expectations
• Partners with Finance and Tax leadership to monitor budgets, operational metrics, and performance trends
• Identifies and advances opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency, and resource utilization
• Acts as a strategic advisor to Tax leadership, using data and insights to inform decisions and execution priorities
• Builds alignment across leaders and functions to advance enterprise and Tax priorities
• Coaches and develops operations leaders and team members as assigned
• Other duties as required
• Oversees operational Directors, Managers, Senior Associates, and Associates as assigned
• Serves as a Career Advisor as assigned

Skills

Strategic leadership

Program management

Stakeholder management

Financial acumen

Governance

Cross-functional collaboration

Public accounting experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

15+ years of operations experience (alt.: 2-yr/assoc + extensive exp)

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Collaboration tools

Reporting tools

Project management tools

Job description

Job Summary:

The Managing Director, Tax Operations leads execution of major operational programs and enterprise initiatives across Tax, ensuring alignment between strategy, governance, and delivery. This role serves as a strategic partner to Tax leadership, translating priorities into scalable operating models, cross-functional execution plans, and measurable business outcomes. The Managing Director drives operational excellence by strengthening governance, improving performance visibility, removing execution barriers, and coordinating closely with firmwide functions to advance transformation, efficiency, and long-term growth across the Tax practice.

Job Duties:

Strategic Execution & Program Leadership

• Leads execution of Tax transformation initiatives and other high-priority operational programs
• Translates strategic priorities into actionable plans, clear ownership, and measurable outcomes
• Drives accountability and follow-through across complex, cross-functional efforts

Operating Model Leadership

• Leads implementation and continuous improvement of the Tax operating model to support consistency, scalability, and efficient execution
• Identifies and resolves operational friction across processes, systems, and stakeholder coordination
• Partners with firm functions to ensure alignment on operational priorities, dependencies, and support needs

Governance & Risk Management

• Establishes governance routines, performance tracking, and execution standards to improve visibility and discipline
• Serves as an escalation point for complex operational issues and drive timely resolution
• Promotes alignment with quality, compliance, and risk management expectations

Financial & Performance Oversight

• Partners with Finance and Tax leadership to monitor budgets, operational metrics, and performance trends
• Identifies and advances opportunities to improve profitability, efficiency, and resource utilization

  Leadership & Influence

  • Acts as a strategic advisor to Tax leadership, using data and insights to inform decisions and execution priorities
  • Builds alignment across leaders and functions to advance enterprise and Tax priorities
  • Coaches and develops operations leaders and team members as assigned
  • Other duties as required

  Supervisory Responsibilities:

  • Oversees operational Directors, Managers, Senior Associates, and Associates as assigned
  • Serves as a Career Advisor as assigned

  Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  Education:

  • Bachelor's degree with a focus in Accounting or Finance required; or Associate's degree, High School Diploma, or GED with fifteen (15) or more years of experience in an operations role required, preferably within a public accounting firm

  Experience:

  • Fifteen (15) or more years of progressive experience in public accounting, professional services, consulting, or a similarly complex matrixed environment, required
  • Significant experience leading business operations, practice operations, or enterprise transformation initiatives at scale, required
  • Proven success leading large, cross-functional programs from strategy through implementation, including governance, stakeholder alignment, and change execution, required
  • Experience advising senior leaders and influencing decisions in a highly collaborative, executive-facing environment, required
  • Experience establishing operating rhythms, performance metrics, and management routines to improve execution discipline and business results, preferred
  • Demonstrated financial and operational acumen, including experience with budgeting, resource planning, and performance management, preferred

  License/Certifications:

  • CPA, preferred
  • PMP, preferred

  Software:

  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, required
  • Experience using collaboration, reporting, and project management tools to support execution and performance visibility, preferred

  Language:

  • N/A

  Other Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

  • Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations
  • Excellent executive communication skills, including the ability to influence, align, and build credibility with leaders at all levels
  • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, and evolving environment with competing priorities
  • Ability to quickly adopt new technologies and leverage digital tools to improve efficiency, support execution, and enhance collaboration
  • Strong project, program, and change management capabilities, including prioritization, risk management, and issue resolution
  • Ability to establish structure, drive accountability, and improve execution across complex initiatives and stakeholder groups
  • Strong business judgment, professionalism, and discretion, with the ability to manage highly sensitive information
  • Ability to lead presentations, facilitate decision-making discussions, and guide stakeholders toward practical solutions
  • Demonstrated ability to lead teams, develop talent, and work effectively both independently and through others