What does a Head of Tax do?

As businesses across the US face increasing scrutiny, evolving tax laws and growing pressure to manage risk, the role of the Head of Tax has become more important than ever.

Once viewed primarily as a tax compliance function, tax leadership is now a driver of business success. Today’s Heads of Tax influence everything from corporate tax strategy and tax planning to financial reporting, international expansion and stakeholder engagement.

For tax professionals considering their next career move, or employers looking to understand the value a senior tax leader can bring, it’s worth taking a closer look at what a Head of Tax actually does.

The role of a Head of Tax

A Head of Tax is responsible for overseeing an organization’s tax strategy, compliance, reporting and risk management. They sit at the intersection of finance, legal and commercial operations, ensuring the business meets its tax obligations while supporting wider business objectives.

The exact scope of the role varies depending on the size and complexity of the company. In a mid-sized business, a Head of Tax may lead a small team while remaining closely involved in day-to-day tax matters.

Within a multinational corporation, they may manage large teams across multiple jurisdictions and oversee a broad range of tax disciplines.

Regardless of company size, the Head of Tax is ultimately accountable for the organization’s approach to tax.

Managing tax compliance

One of the core responsibilities of any Head of Tax is ensuring the business remains compliant with all relevant tax laws, regulations and reporting requirements.

This typically includes overseeing:

• The preparation and filing of income tax returns
• Federal, state and local tax filings
• Sales and use tax compliance requirements
• Transfer pricing documentation and international tax reporting
• Tax reporting and regulatory submissions
• Internal controls, governance and risk management processes

They frequently work with internal teams, external advisors and government agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state tax authorities, to ensure obligations are met accurately and on time.

While a tax manager, tax analyst or specialist team may handle much of the operational work, the Head of Tax remains accountable for the effectiveness of the overall tax function, including tax controls, governance and readiness for potential tax audits.

Developing tax strategy

Beyond compliance, Heads of Tax play a critical role in shaping business-wide tax strategy.

Working closely with business leaders, including the CFO, they provide guidance on acquisitions, restructuring projects, international expansion and investment decisions.

Effective tax planning allows organizations to optimize cash flow, improve operational efficiency and manage risk while supporting wider strategic planning objectives.

As a result, the Head of Tax acts as a trusted business advisor, balancing commercial priorities with regulatory obligations and long-term tax considerations. Their ability to combine technical expertise with commercial awareness helps ensure tax contributes positively to wider business performance.

Managing tax risk

Every organization faces tax risk, but the nature and complexity of those risks continue to grow.

Tax authorities are using increasingly sophisticated technology, demanding greater transparency and placing more emphasis on governance. As a result, businesses need robust controls and clear documentation to support their tax positions.

A Head of Tax is responsible for:

• Establishing tax governance frameworks
• Reviewing tax policies and controls
• Managing tax authority enquiries
• Preparing for audits and disputes
• Monitoring legislative and regulatory developments

This includes managing disputes with tax authorities, coordinating responses to tax audits and monitoring developments in areas such as Pillar Two, global minimum tax rules and transfer pricing regulations.

Strong analytical skills and strategic thinking are essential when assessing emerging risks and advising senior stakeholders on potential impacts.

Supporting financial reporting

Tax plays an increasingly important role in financial reporting, making collaboration between finance and tax teams essential.

Heads of Tax typically oversee:

• Tax accounting processes
• Tax provision calculations
• Deferred tax accounting
• Regulatory disclosures
• Tax reporting requirements

They are often responsible for ensuring compliance with accounting standards relating to accounting for income taxes while partnering closely with finance teams, external auditors and company leadership.

Strong technical expertise in tax reporting remains a core requirement, particularly within publicly traded companies that face greater scrutiny from regulators and investors.

Leading and developing tax teams

People leadership is a major part of the role.

A Head of Tax is responsible for recruiting, mentoring and developing tax professionals across multiple specialties. Teams may include:

• Tax Directors[GC1] 
• Tax Managers
• Tax Analysts
• Tax Accountants
• Indirect Tax Specialists
• Transfer Pricing Professionals

Successful Heads of Tax combine technical knowledge with exceptional leadership skills, communication abilities and emotional intelligence. They are capable of translating highly technical tax matters into practical business recommendations that senior stakeholders can understand and act upon.

Developing future leaders, creating succession plans and fostering a culture of continuous learning are also key responsibilities for senior tax professionals.

Partnering with senior stakeholders

Tax affects almost every area of a business, which means Heads of Tax regularly engage with stakeholders across multiple functions.

They may work with finance teams on reporting, legal teams on transactions, HR teams on employment tax issues and operational leaders on expansion plans. In many organizations, the Head of Tax is also a key advisor to the CFO, Chief Accounting Officer and broader executive leadership team.

The ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences is therefore critical for success in the role. Stakeholders often rely on the Head of Tax to explain complex issues clearly and provide practical recommendations that support business objectives.

Technology and transformation responsibilities

The tax function is becoming increasingly technology-driven.

Many Heads of Tax oversee the implementation of tax software, data management initiatives and automation projects designed to improve efficiency and accuracy.

These initiatives often focus on:

• Streamlining tax compliance processes
• Improving tax reporting capabilities
• Reducing manual activity
• Enhancing data quality
• Supporting strategic decision-making

Experience leading tax transformation programs is increasingly viewed as a competitive advantage for senior tax leaders. As organizations generate larger volumes of data, the ability to leverage technology effectively has become a valuable skill for modern tax functions.

Skills required to become a Head of Tax

There is no single route to becoming a Head of Tax. Many professionals begin their careers after completing a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or a related field before pursuing professional qualifications.

Many senior tax leaders also hold credentials such as Certified Public Accountant (CPA), JD or LLM qualifications.

Some may start their careers as a tax preparer, tax analyst or tax accountant before progressing into management and leadership positions. Others gain valuable experience in public accounting before moving into industry.

Key skills include:

• Tax strategy
• Tax planning
• Tax accounting
• Tax compliance
• Tax reporting
• Transfer pricing
• Tax research
• Strategic thinking
• Leadership skills
• Analytical skills
• Financial reporting
• Stakeholder management
• Business partnering
• Project management

The most successful professionals combine technical expertise with commercial awareness and an ability to influence decision-making across the organization.

What employers look for when hiring a Head of Tax

When hiring a Head of Tax, employers seek individuals who can provide both technical leadership and commercial insight.

Alongside extensive experience of tax compliance, tax accounting and tax strategy, organizations look for candidates who can influence senior stakeholders, manage large-scale transformation projects and support business growth.

Experience working with complex financial statements, leading tax audits, implementing tax software solutions or navigating evolving global tax frameworks such as Pillar Two is often highly desirable.

Many employers also look for candidates who have managed cross-functional projects, worked internationally or overseen large tax teams. The ability to balance risk management with commercial goals is increasingly viewed as an essential characteristic of successful tax leaders.

The most sought-after candidates combine strong technical expertise with strategic thinking, business acumen and the ability to lead high-performing teams.

How Brewer Morris can help

Whether you are looking to hire a Head of Tax or are exploring your own career progression into tax leadership, we have deep expertise across the US tax market.

We work with organizations ranging from high-growth businesses to Fortune 500 companies, helping them secure exceptional tax talent across corporate tax, international tax, transfer pricing, indirect tax and tax leadership roles.

Our specialist consultants understand the evolving demands placed on today’s tax leaders and can provide market insight, salary benchmarking and access to a highly qualified network of tax professionals.

If you are looking to strengthen your tax function or take the next step in your tax career, get in touch with to discuss how we can help.