Director Tax

About the role

The Director, Tax will lead all aspects of Pizza Hut’s global tax function, including U.S. domestic and international tax operations. This role is responsible for developing and executing tax strategy, compliance, reporting, and planning across a standalone global organization. As Pizza Hut transitions to an independent entity, this role will be critical in establishing and scaling a fit-for-purpose tax operating model, including systems, processes, governance, and third-party support required to operate independently. This position requires strong technical expertise, hands-on leadership, and the ability to build and influence across a lean, globally distributed organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead and build the global tax function for Pizza Hut as a standalone company, including defining the operating model, governance, and external support structure
• Oversee all aspects of tax strategy, compliance, reporting, and planning across U.S. and international jurisdictions
• Design and implement standalone tax processes and controls, including policies previously supported by Yum! infrastructure (e.g., SEC reporting, transfer pricing, tax provisioning, statutory reporting)
• Manage tax matters to support business objectives, including minimizing tax liability, ensuring compliance, and enabling growth initiatives
• Oversee preparation and review of tax provisions, filings, and forecasts, ensuring accuracy and timliness in a standalone environment
• Lead resolution of tax audits and manage relationships with tax authorities globally
• Partner closely with Finance, Treasury, Legal, FP&A, and Controllership to support business decisions, cash management, and compliance requirements
• Establish and manage relationships with external advisors (e.g., Big 4 firms, legal counsel), leveraging third parties strategically to supplement internal capabilities
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes and assess implications for Pizza Hut’s global operations
• Support separation-related activities, including TSA management, contract transitions, entity structuring, and readiness for Day 1 and beyond
• Communicate tax risks, strategies, and implications to senior leadership in a clear and concise manner

Key Focus Areas for Standalone Transition

• Build vs. inherit: Stand up core tax capabilities that may have previously resided within Yum! (e.g., systems, reporting, governance)
• Right-sized operating model: Balance lean internal team structure with effective use of external advisors
• Risk management: Ensure appropriate controls and compliance standards in a newly independent environment
• Global consistency with local execution: Maintain enterprise standards while enabling flexibility across markets
• Scalability: Establish processes that can evolve with future growth and structural changes

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• CPA, JD, LLM, or Master’s in Tax preferred
• 12-15+ years of relevant experience, including a combination of Big 4 / law firm and in-house corporate tax experience
• Strong background in U.S. and international tax, including compliance, planning, and reporting
• Demonstrated experience building or transforming tax functions, processes, or operating models
• Experience working within or alongside multinational organizations, with exposure to cross-border tax considerations
• Proven ability to operate effectively in a lean, fast-paced, and evolving environment
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders