Senior Director, Tax

Fairstead ESC LLC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairstead, a leading real estate firm, seeks a Senior Director of Tax to lead our tax function across 28 states and complex multi-entity structures. Reporting to the CFO, you will shape tax strategy, oversee compliance and planning, and guide strategic transactions.

You will drive AI-enabled automation within tax operations, manage external advisors, and ensure alignment with overall growth objectives while mitigating risk.

Qualifications

• Senior tax leadership experience in real estate or REITs.
• Strong expertise in multi-state partnership taxation (704(b)/704(c)).
• Experience managing federal/state audits and complex tax provisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of Fairstead's tax function across 28 states and localities.
• Develop and execute tax strategy with focus on LIHTC, REIT implications, and tax risk management.
• Manage preparation/review of federal and multi-state tax returns and partnerships.
• Champion AI/automation in tax processes to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• Advise on entity structuring and legal entity rationalization for business growth.
• Oversee investor tax reporting (K-1) for funds and JV partners.
• Coordinate with external tax advisors and compliance teams.
• Monitor regulatory developments impacting tax position and strategy.
• Provide strategic tax guidance to CFO/CEO and executive leadership.

Skills

Tax leadership

Real estate tax

Multi-state tax

Audit management

CPA

Education

CPA

JD/LLM/MST preferred

Job description

Fairstead is a purpose-driven real estate firm dedicated to building affordable communities across the country. Headquartered in New York, with offices in Colorado, Florida, and Washington DC, Fairstead owns and manages a portfolio of more than 30,000 apartments, including pipeline, across 28 states. As an integrated owner, operator, and innovator, Fairstead brings development, construction, and property management under one unified platform to deliver high-quality affordable housing that serves our residents at scale.

At Fairstead, we believe affordable housing should be thoughtfully designed, professionally managed, and responsibly operated. We seek to create and preserve housing that serves residents while delivering long-term value to communities, partners, and stakeholders.

Fairstead challenges industry norms through our tech-forward, entrepreneurial approach to affordable housing. In addition to core real estate capabilities, we operate innovative service lines designed to improve resident outcomes, strengthen communities, and drive operational efficiency. We embrace digital transformation, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies, including AI, to build scalable systems that support sustainable growth, grounded in a culture of entrepreneurship, innovation, partnership, dedication, and integrity.

The Senior Director, Tax is a senior role responsible for overseeing all tax functions at Fairstead. Reporting directly to the CFO, this individual will serve as Fairstead's senior-most tax authority, providing strategic direction and hands‑on oversight of federal, state, and local tax matters across a complex multi-entity, multi-jurisdictional organizational structure. This individual will collaborate extensively with legal, accounting, finance, ventures and development teams to support Fairstead's operational and growth objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Lead all aspects of the company's tax function, including federal, state, and local income tax compliance, planning, and reporting across 28 states
• Develop and execute the company's overall tax strategy, with a focus on LIHTC, minimizing effective tax rate (at State and local levels), REITS (as they relate to some of our JV partners), and managing tax risk across a large real estate portfolio and ancillary business lines
• Oversee preparation and review of federal and multi-state partnership, personal, corporate tax returns, including consolidated and combined filings
• Champion the adoption of AI and automation tools within the tax function to streamline compliance workflows, improve data accuracy, and enhance efficiency in tax research, provision, and reporting processes
• Direct tax structuring for property acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, 1031 exchanges, development projects, and capital markets transactions
• Provide technical guidance on partnership taxation, including complex waterfall structures, promote interests, capital account maintenance, and Section 704(b) and 704(c) allocations
• Advise on entity structuring and legal entity rationalization to support business operations, investment activity, and estate or succession planning for ownership
• Manage state and local tax compliance obligations, including income, franchise, transfer, and property tax filings across all operating jurisdictions
• Lead and manage relationships with external tax advisors, accounting firms, and specialized tax counsel
• Monitor federal and state legislative and regulatory developments and assess their impact on the company's tax position and business strategy
• Serve as a key advisor to the CFO, CEO, and executive leadership team on all tax matters, including strategic transactions and capital structure decisions
• Manage federal and state income tax audits, and examinations
• Establish and maintain internal controls, policies, and procedures related to the tax function
• Coordinate investor tax reporting, including K-1 preparation and distribution for fund and joint venture investors

Requirements:

• Minimum of 15 years of tax experience, with significant time spent in real estate, with direct experience in multi‑state partnership tax compliance and planning
• Prior experience as a Head of Tax, VP of Tax, Tax Director, or equivalent senior in‑house tax leadership role at a real estate operating company, private equity real estate firm, or real estate development company
• Deep technical expertise in partnership taxation, including Section 704(b)/704(c), carried interests, and complex multi‑tier partnership structures
• Proficiency in multi‑state income, franchise, and property tax compliance across a large, geographically distributed portfolio
• Experience managing federal and state tax audits by taxing authorities
• CPA required; JD, LLM in Taxation, or MST strongly preferred
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to translate complex tax matters for non‑tax executives and ownership
• Experience at a public accounting firm in a real estate tax practice is highly preferred
• Experience with multi‑state sales and use tax compliance and nexus analysis, including nexus studies and voluntary disclosure agreements

Diversity in backgrounds and experiences is key to Fairstead’s success. Being an equal opportunity employer is a central tenet of our philosophy that shapes who we are and the communities we serve. Our goal is to ensure competitive total compensation that is commensurate with experience, location, and other market benchmarks.

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