Tax Director

About the Role

O’Melveny has an immediate opening for a Tax Director based in any of our California, New York, or Washington, DC office locations. This role serves as the firm's senior in-house tax professional, with responsibility for all aspects of the firm's tax compliance, planning, and strategy. Reporting to the Managing Director for Finance, the Tax Director leads the firm's internal tax function, ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, and international tax laws and regulations. The Tax Director oversees the Tax and Partner Payroll teams and collaborates closely with firm leadership, the broader finance organization, and external advisors to minimize the firm's tax obligations, manage risk, and support the firm's strategic and financial objectives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the firm's overall tax strategy in alignment with the firm's business objectives and partnership structure, including overseeing the preparation and timely filing of all federal, state, local, and international tax returns (e.g., Form 1065, partner K-1 schedules, and related entity filings).
• Manage estimated tax payment calculations and distributions to partners, ensuring accuracy and adherence to applicable deadlines.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting the firm and its partners, evaluate their impact, and recommend appropriate responses or planning strategies.
• Advise firm leadership and the partnership on tax-efficient structures for partner compensation, retirement plans, equity arrangements, lateral acquisitions, and other strategic transactions.
• Oversee transfer pricing, nexus analysis, and multi-state and international tax compliance as applicable to the firm's operations.
• Manage all tax audits, examinations, and disputes with federal, state, and local taxing authorities, coordinating with outside counsel and advisors as necessary.
• Maintain and improve internal tax processes, controls, and systems to ensure accuracy and efficiency across the tax function.
• Prepare or review disclosures for financial reporting purposes and support the finance team with budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow planning as they relate to the firm's tax position.
• Supervise and mentor tax department staff, fostering professional development and maintaining a high-performance team environment.
• Coordinate relationships with external tax advisors, auditors, and consultants, ensuring the firm receives high-quality, cost-effective advisory services.

Requirements

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressive tax experience, with at least five (5) years in a senior tax leadership role.
• Experience in a law firm, professional services firm, or partnership environment is strongly preferred.
• Deep expertise in partnership taxation, multi-state tax compliance, and tax planning for pass-through entities.
• Prior experience managing tax audits and working with taxing authorities.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations, and applicable state and local tax laws, with particular emphasis on Subchapter K (partnership taxation).
• Familiarity with tax compliance and research software, and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex tax issues and communicate them clearly to non-tax professionals and firm leadership.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• A collaborative, service-oriented approach and the ability to build strong working relationships across all levels of the firm.
• Sound professional judgment, integrity, and discretion in handling confidential information.

Educational Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field is required.
• A master's degree in taxation, an LL.M. in taxation, or an MBA with a concentration in tax is strongly preferred.
• An active CPA license is preferred.

Pay

The salary range in California, New York City, and Washington, DC for this role is $250,000 - $370,000. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and location.

Benefits

We offer an excellent salary and benefits package.