The Vice President, Tax is a strategic leader responsible for directing the organization's global tax function, including tax planning, compliance, reporting, risk management, and tax strategy. They play a critical leadership position in ensuring tax processes, structures, and strategies support the combined organization's growth and financial objectives. They partner closely with executive leadership, finance, legal, operations, and external advisors to optimize the company's tax position while maintaining full compliance with all applicable regulations. They oversee federal, state, local, and international tax matters and provide strategic guidance on acquisitions, business transformations, and complex transactions. They bring deep technical expertise, along with strong business acumen, operational leadership, and the ability to influence key stakeholders across a complex, publicly-traded environment.
Responsibilities
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Lead the organization's enterprise-wide tax strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, financial performance goals, and long-term business priorities.
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Drive the successful integration of Omni Logistics tax operations into the broader Forward Air operating structure, leveraging best practices from both organizations while identifying and implementing opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiency.
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Develop and execute comprehensive tax planning strategies designed to minimize tax liabilities, optimize cash flow, and enhance shareholder value.
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Provide strategic tax guidance related to mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, and other complex business transactions.
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Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant filing of all federal, state, local, and international tax returns.
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Oversee the preparation, review, and accuracy of tax provisions, ASC 740 reporting, tax disclosures, uncertain tax positions, and other financial reporting requirements.
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Monitor legislative, regulatory, and accounting developments affecting taxation and proactively assess impacts to the business.
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Establish and maintain effective tax controls, governance practices, and risk mitigation strategies to ensure compliance and reduce organizational exposure.
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Manage relationships with external auditors, tax advisors, consultants, and governmental tax authorities.
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Partner closely with finance, legal, treasury, accounting, and operational leaders to ensure tax implications are appropriately considered in strategic and operational decisions.
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Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing tax organization, fostering accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
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Oversee departmental budgeting, resource planning, and allocation to support organizational priorities and operational excellence.
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Deliver tax forecasts, modeling, and projections to support financial planning, business decision-making, and executive reporting.
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Represent the company in tax-related audits, examinations, negotiations, and discussions with regulatory agencies and external stakeholders.
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All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.
Qualifications
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Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, or a related field from an accredited college or university required; Master's degree in Taxation, Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration preferred.
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Certification/Licensure: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required; additional advanced tax certifications are a plus.
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Minimum of 10 years of progressive tax experience, including leadership responsibility within a large, complex, multi-entity organization; public company experience preferred.
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Demonstrated expertise in federal, state, local, and international taxation, including tax planning, compliance, reporting, and risk management.
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Experience leading tax strategy and execution in support of mergers, acquisitions, integrations, restructurings, and other strategic business initiatives.
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Strong knowledge of ASC 740, tax accounting principles, and financial reporting requirements.
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Experience with UP-C tax structures and related reporting requirements strongly preferred.
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Proven ability to influence executive leadership, communicate complex tax matters to non-technical audiences, and drive cross-functional decision-making.
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Experience within transportation, logistics, freight, supply chain, or similarly complex industries preferred.
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Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
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Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)
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Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on-site setting (listed in this posting), with travel for related meetings/events.
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