Director, Tax

About the role

Cercano Management LLC (“Cercano”) is a multi-family office based in Bellevue, WA, with offices in Minneapolis, MN, and Singapore. The firm provides investment advisory services, including access to alternative investment funds, and a comprehensive suite of family office services, operating as the family office Chief Investment Officer for a select group of families globally. The Director, Tax is a senior tax professional responsible for supporting the Managing Director, Tax in delivering investment-focused tax leadership across Cercano’s platform. This individual serves as a key technical resource on transaction review, structuring, compliance oversight, and documentation across all investment strategies, independently managing complex tax matters while partnering closely with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Transaction Due Diligence and Structuring

• Support tax review of investment transactions across all strategies, including private equity, private credit, venture capital, and family/foundation structures.
• Implement structuring for US taxable investors, US tax-exempt investors, and foreign investors to mitigate negative tax implications.
• Partner with Legal on review and negotiation of fund and investment documents (e.g., LPAs, LLC agreements, subscription agreements, side letters, credit agreements, and other transaction documents).
• Assist with the preparation and maintenance of written tax analyses, transaction memoranda, and internal guidance documenting tax positions, assumptions, and materiality thresholds.
• Independently identify tax risks, structuring opportunities, elections, and compliance considerations at the transaction stage.

Compliance and Reporting

• Oversee the entire federal, state, and international tax compliance process across all funds including preparation of estimates, review of tax returns, and managing tax distributions.
• Assist with tax planning and forecasting of each client’s taxable income position.
• Communicate relevant tax developments to the Investment team, the Managing Director of Tax, and the company as a whole.
• Assist with the defense of all tax positions taken on tax returns, including establishing strategic and tactical positions on audits, negotiating with IRS personnel and state/local tax authorities, and developing response strategies for requests from federal, foreign, state, and local tax authorities.
• Provide exceptional client service including regular communication on estimated taxable income, timely annual tax reporting information, and updates on relevant tax developments impacting investment entities.

Investment Tax Advisory

• Serve as a trusted tax advisor to the Investment team, proactively communicating tax considerations related to acquisitions, restructurings, dispositions, and liquidity events.
• Monitor and interpret tax law developments and translate them into practical guidance for internal stakeholders.
• Support structuring and review of complex partnership allocations, waterfalls (American and European), and carried interest arrangements.
• Partner with portfolio managers and external advisors to identify tax planning opportunities for families, foundations, and related entities, aligning tax planning with investment strategy and governance objectives.

Leadership and Process Improvement

• Lead significant tax projects and workstreams with a high degree of independence while providing regular updates and recommendations to the Managing Director, Tax.
• Assist in developing and enhancing tax processes, controls, documentation standards, and technology solutions to support scalability and risk management.
• Support the Managing Director, Tax in overseeing relationships with external tax advisors, service providers, and taxing authorities.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Experience, Skill, and/or Ability Required

• Excellent organizational, writing, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to independently evaluate, document, and support tax positions for complex investment transactions for domestic, foreign, and tax-exempt investors.
• Exposure to US and foreign investments and structuring options to minimize tax implications.
• Deep technical knowledge of tax issues related to venture capital, private equity, private credit, and fund of funds investments, including both domestic and international.
• Highly organized and detail oriented with an ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Strong communicator who can simplify complex tax concepts when communicating to individuals outside of the tax team.
• Ability to establish strong and effective working relationships throughout operational groups and with external stakeholders.
• Team player; flexible to learn other responsibilities and adapt to client needs.
• Ability to work with confidential data, maintain discretion, and demonstrate trustworthiness that the data will be secure and private.

Preferred

• Experience with ultra-high net worth family offices and private foundations, including self-dealing, excess business holdings, UBTI, and related excise tax regimes.

Experience, Education, Certifications

• B.A. or B.S. in Accounting, Finance, or equivalent from an accredited institution.
• An advanced degree in taxation or related field preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant industry experience in tax; public accounting experience preferred.
• CPA required.

Pay

Salary range: $178,550 to $239,260 annually, with a target hiring range of $225,000 based on experience, qualifications, and job-related factors. Pay will be based on multiple factors, including location, relevant experience/level, and skillset while balancing internal equity. A discretionary bonus program is in addition to the base compensation range.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health Savings Account with generous annual employer contribution
• Flexible Spending Accounts for health and dependent care
• Vacation and sick time off
• Paid holidays
• Paid parental leave
• 401(k) plan with a generous employer match of 50% of your own contributions up to the standard annual IRS limit
• Company-paid life insurance
• Health and Wellness Benefit
• Reimbursement for approved professional development activities