Tax Managing Director, International Tax Services

BDO USA, LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 158,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

BDO USA, LLP is seeking an International Tax Managing Director to grow the practice in Chicago by delivering practical tax advice, building relationships with clients and prospects, and developing a local team. This role demands marketable technical skills, a proven problem-solver mindset, and excellent written and verbal communication.

The role spans tax consulting, specialization, marketing, research, compliance and controversy, with leadership across engagements and collaboration with

Qualifications

• Requires extensive experience in corporate/international tax and legal services.
• Demonstrates ability to advise on complex international tax issues.
• Experience supervising tax professionals on engagements is required.

Responsibilities

• Leads tax consulting, develops and implements international tax ideas for clients.
• Manages compliance and prepares Written Tax Advice (WTA) with National Tax Office input.
• Drives marketing and business development, building relationships with clients and prospects.
• Oversees research, analysis and reporting of international tax matters for assigned clients.
• Mentors and supervises International Tax staff and fosters team development.
• Represents clients on international tax issues with U.S. authorities when needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Problem solving

Team leadership

Client relationships

International tax knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

J.D./LLM/MST/MBT preferred

Tools

MS Office

RIA/BNA/LexisNexis

Job description

Job Summary:

An International Tax Managing Director is responsible for growing the International Tax practice by providing practical tax advice to clients, building relationships with existing clients and prospects to expand the practice, and developing a local team. In this role, the Managing Director will be expected to have marketable technical skills and have a proven track record of being a problem solver and maintaining key client relationships. Written and verbal communications must be excellent.

Job Duties:

• Tax Consulting
  • Develops, recommends and implements practical international tax consulting ideas related to client situations
  • Ensures client service teams comply with firm policy regarding Written Tax Advice (WTA)
  • Identifies and resolves complex taxation issues by applying multiple tax functional specialties
  • Communicates complex technical matters to clients and other appropriate audiences to ensure relevant issues are understood and resolved, as needed
• Tax Specialization
  • Continues to develop an in-depth understanding of the technical and practical issues and opportunities regarding international tax
  • Acts as industry expert in international tax and serves as U.S. resource for tax matters with selected foreign jurisdictions
  • Manages international tax services provided to assigned clients, including assessment of appropriate pricing structure for services
  • Identifies opportunities for tax alerts in areas of specialty and collaborates with National Tax Office on drafting of those alerts
• Marketing and Business Development
  • Exhibits thought leadership in a specialized area within International Tax
  • Recognized as industry group go-to person in International Tax
  • Works with Specialized Tax Services and International Tax Partners, Local Office Managing Partner and local and Regional Business Development Manager to develop and execute an effective marketing plan
  • Builds effective go-to-market strategies with Assurance Partners
• Research
  • Identifies complex situations when research is necessary providing an outline of the issue(s) and the appropriate source of research to be conducted
  • Analyzes researched facts and the sources utilized prior to composing a detailed report of the research findings
  • Prepares Written Tax Advice (WTA) and confers with National Tax Office, as appropriate
• Tax Compliance
  • Manages client engagements and conducts detailed review of international tax aspects of U.S. tax reporting and other client supplied data and identifies complex and advanced issues throughout the engagement
  • Leverages compliance role to identify additional international tax issues and opportunities
• Tax Controversy
  • Represents clients before U.S. tax authorities on international tax aspects of contested issues
• ASC 740-10
  • Applies standards, Firm policies and BDO Tax Quality Manual requirements
  • Reviews international aspects of tax provisions including coordination of BDO colleagues in non-U.S. jurisdictions
  • Other duties as required

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Supervises the day-to-day workload of International Tax Managers, Senior Associates, Associates, and Interns on assigned engagements and reviews work product and ensures their technical development
• Delivers periodic performance feedback and completes performance evaluations for International Tax Managers, Senior Associates and Associates and Interns
• Acts as mentor to International Tax Managers, Senior Associates, Associates, and Interns, as appropriate

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree, required, degree with a focus in Accounting, preferred
• J. D., LLM, and/or MST/MBT, preferred

Experience:

• Ten (10) or more years of prior experience in corporate tax, international taxation, legal professional services or equivalent experience gained through an advanced degree program, required
• Experience in International Tax, required
• Prior experience supervising tax professionals on a project or engagement basis, required

License/Certifications:

• CPA certification, Attorney (admitted to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction), or Internal Revenue Service Enrolled Agent ("EA") or the equivalent of one of these designations), required

Software:

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel and PowerPoint, preferred
• Experience utilizing RIA, BNA, Lexis Nexis and/or Westlaw, preferred

Language:

• N/A

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Self-starter and conscientious
• Executive presence and ability to act as primary contact on assigned engagements
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Superior analytical and legal and tax research skills including building models and analysis of financial and numerical data
• Strong organizational skills, especially ability to meet project deadlines with a focus on details
• Ability to successfully multi-task while working independently or within a group environment
• Ability to work in a deadline-driven environment and handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Capable of effectively managing a team of tax professionals and delegating work assignments as needed
• Capacity to build and maintain strong relationships with internal and client personnel
• Ability to encourage team environment on engagements and contribute to the professional development of assigned personnel
• Ability to successfully interact with professionals at all levels
• Advanced knowledge of sources of relevant information utilized in tax filings as well as the most widely-used filing forms and awareness of other less widely used forms
• Advanced understanding of the technical and practical issues and opportunities regarding one or more areas of taxation and law
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of general calculations and cause / effect for taxable conditions on clients and the potential tax issues

Individual salaries that are offered to a candidate are determined after consideration of numerous factors including but not limited to the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.

National Range: $157,500 - $420,000
Maryland Range: $157,500 - $420,000
NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $157,500 - $420,000
Washington DC Range: $157,500 - $420,000

At BDO, how we show up matters. We build strong relationships by supporting one another, our clients, and our communities with care, curiosity, and a commitment to helping one another grow and succeed. Here, you'll find meaningful work, leaders invested in your success, and opportunities to build a career around what matters most to you.

Our purpose is to be the people our clients count on to grow with confidence and achieve what matters most. Our values guide how we bring that purpose to life each day. Together, they shape how we work with one another, serve our clients, and create meaningful impact.

BDO provides assurance, tax, and advisory services to clients across the U.S. and around the world. No matter your role, you'll be part of a team helping clients navigate complexity and move forward with clarity.

As technology continues to shape how we work, BDO values the ability to apply generative and agentic AI solutions to develop work products, improve workflows and identify potential risks. Across our firm, we emphasize professional judgment in validating AI-generated outputs for accuracy, quality, and compliance.

We are proud to be an ESOP company, offering participants a stake in the firm's success through beneficial ownership and a unique opportunity to enhance their financial well-being. As a qualified retirement plan, the ESOP is a meaningful addition to our comprehensive compensation and Total Rewards benefits* offerings. It also reinforces an ownership mindset that strengthens our connection to one another, our clients, and the future we're building together.

Learn more about our benefits: BDO Total Rewards encompass more than traditional benefits.

*Benefits may be subject to eligibility requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets