Sr. Director, Corporate Tax

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.

Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by experienced professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and improving their careers.

We are seeking a seasoned and highly skilled Corporate Tax Senior Director who will lead our Global Tax function, with expertise in global tax strategy, indirect tax and compliance efforts, with a particular focus on online two-sided marketplace operating across 180 countries. This individual will report to the Chief Accounting Officer with regular interactions with the Chief Financial Officer and presentation to the Audit Committee, managing a team of four full time employees and a hybrid workforce.

As the Corporate Tax Senior Director, you will be  the single point of contact for all tax matters for the Upwork cross functional team as well as with our 3rd party tax firms. With assistance from the tax firms, you will partner with leadership and key stakeholders across the broader organization to design, implement, and manage both domestic and international transactional tax in the marketplace space.  Once you are up to speed on how we operate today and how to best align your function to Upwork’s strategies, you will have the opportunity to scale and expand our tax department to support the future of Upwork with a hybrid workforce model.

The responsibilities for this role includes global tax planning and strategy, tax accounting and reporting in accordance with US GAAP for all entities as well as external audits, global tax compliance, and tax information reporting, indirect tax and other tax compliance required on our platform.

To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills to navigate the changes in the organization, strong technical tax knowledge, excellent organizational and analytical skills, and the desire to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Excellent written and verbal communication as well as presentation skills are essential to succeed in this role.

Your Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement tax strategies to minimize the company's tax liabilities while ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

• Manage all aspects of the company's tax compliance, including the preparation and filing of tax returns, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

• Oversee all aspects of indirect tax compliance, including registration, filings, and reporting requirements in multiple jurisdictions.

• Work closely with cross-functional teams, including finance, legal, customer support, marketing, product and engineering to provide tax requirements supporting new initiatives, product launches, and changes in tax laws and regulations, all to be implemented on our platform

• Lead global tax operation and compliance, including coordination of the timely and accurate preparation and filings of the federal and state tax returns as well as income tax provisions by working with 3rd party tax firms 

• Stay informed about changes in tax laws and regulations that may impact the company and provide guidance on how to adapt accordingly

• Manage all tax-related projects, R&D study, and international tax structure planning

• Provide advice to the internal business partners on indirect tax matters which freelancers and/or clients on our platform may face, including a review of the enterprise contract for the tax related matters.

• Responsible for tax accounting and reporting in accordance with applicable US GAAP, including non-income tax related matters under ASC 450

• Responsible for designing tax processes and SOX compliant controls 

• Manage relationships with external tax advisors and authorities, ensuring timely and accurate responses to inquiries and audits.

• Lead and develop a team of tax professionals, providing mentorship, guidance, and support to drive excellence in tax compliance and planning.

What it takes to catch our eye:

• CPA required 

• Extensive tax experience at a multinational company and Big 4 or equivalent

• Experience in online Marketplace, FinTech or SAAS Industry

• In-depth knowledge of tax laws and regulations, with expertise in corporate taxation and international tax issues, as well as indirect tax principles, including sales tax, VAT/GST, and digital service taxes.

• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful tax strategies to optimize tax efficiency and mitigate risks

• Familiarity with third-party indirect tax systems such as Vertex

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to research complex tax issues, develop practical solutions, and communicate at all levels in simple terms

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines with strong sense of ownership and delivering high-quality work under pressure

• Self-starter with builder mindset, great attention to detail, results driven with high level of integrity

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of the organization

• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to tailor presentations for the audience

• Ability to lead and develop high-performing teams, managed a distributed workforce (e.g., multi location and hybrid)

• Demonstrated leadership abilities, with experience managing teams and driving results in a fast-paced, global environment.

The annual base salary range for this position in California and Washington is displayed below. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position in California and Washington, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long-term equity incentive program

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals. While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also support hiring of corporate full-time employees in 19 states in the United States. Please speak with a member of our recruitment team to determine whether you are located in a state in which we are hiring corporate full-time employees.

Our vibrant culture is built on shared values and our mission to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster amazing teams, put our community first, and have a bias toward action. We encourage everyone to bring their whole selves to work and grow together through development opportunities, mentorship, and employee resource groups. Oh yeah, we’ve also got amazing benefits.

Check out our Life at Upwork page to learn more about the employee experience.

Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

The annual base salary range for this position in California and Washington is displayed below. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum salary for this position in California and Washington, and individual base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Additionally, this position is eligible for the annual bonus plan or sales incentive plan and eligibility to participate in our long term equity incentive program.

To learn more about how Upwork processes and protects your personal information as part of the application process, please review our Global Job Applicant Privacy Notice.