Tax Manager at Gathr Outdoors

GATHR

Gathr Outdoors, a portfolio company of Centre Partners, is a diversified global company that designs and manufactures outdoor products and sporting goods.  Gathr’s businesses are recognized leaders in their respective markets and are trusted partners to some of the world’s most recognizable brands and retailers.  Gathr’s brands include GCI Outdoor, Klymit, Rightline Gear, Cascadia Vehicle Tents, WaterPORT, PrideSports, Pride Manufacturing, and MacNeill Engineering.  Each brand is tasked with providing industry-leading product development, engineering, design and customer service/support to its worldwide customer base.   At Gathr Outdoors, we believe experiences are always more powerful when spent together outside.  We are Better Together, Passionate by Nature, Blazing New Trails & Rugged for a Reason!

OVERALL JOB PURPOSE

The Tax Manager, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, will be responsible for the company's global tax strategy, planning, compliance and accounting activities including US and worldwide, to minimize tax expense, while ensuring compliance with all applicable tax laws. The Tax Manager is responsible for establishing productive and value-added relationships with tax advisors and for representing the company during tax examinations. 

Success in this role is measured in the context of value creation (measured in effective tax rate (ETR) and cash flow improvement), cost management and the effectiveness of internal controls/compliance. Leadership behaviors required for success in this role include strong tax and business acumen, ability to influence outcomes, as well as initiating and leading change. 

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning:

The Tax Manager provides strategic tax leadership and execution of tax strategies by:

• Identifying and developing effective operational and tactical plans to minimize the overall tax burden (ETR and cash taxes) while enabling effective cash management by region
• Identifying opportunities to reduce taxes related to current and previously filed tax returns
• Knowing how the business makes money: understand global sales and profit drivers by region as well as regional future cash flow requirements; remain current on matters affecting these 
• Maintaining a competitive/current understanding the pipeline of domestic and foreign tax legislation/regulations/rulings and interpreting the impact to the company; take necessary actions to continue to minimize taxes due
• Maintaining integrity and tax efficiency of Company's sales and distribution model and current legal entity structure

Taxable Operations:  

The Tax Manager will maintain appropriate systems and policies to perform and report accurate and timely tax information.   Specifically, the Tax Manager will oversee:

• Tax Filings - Manage the domestic & worldwide income tax filings including preparation and review of the US consolidated federal income tax return, multi-state income tax returns, federal and state estimated payments and extensions, foreign income tax returns, and foreign GST and VAT taxes
• Sales & Use Taxes - Prepare and/or review the preparation of all Sales and Use tax returns and drive process improvements associated with sales and use tax preparation. Prepare and/or review the preparation of U.S. property tax returns and Federal/State R&D Tax Credit calculations
• Transfer Pricing - Manage the worldwide transfer pricing policy
• Tax Provisions
• Responsible for preparation of the global tax provision under US GAAP (and other applicable country-specific rules) 
• Provide guidance for the accounting and financial reporting of worldwide income taxes including addressing all US GAAP tax-related issues and periodic tax calculations
• Transaction Processing
• Ensure that all intercompany transactions (including loans, transfer pricing and other transactions) are compliant with legislative changes of applicable jurisdictions
• Oversee all tax-related payments; review and preparation of income tax projections for cash flow modelling

Compliance:

Accountable for the tax compliance program, the Tax Manager will ensure effective internal controls are in place to ensure compliance (and minimize risk of non-compliance) with company policies and applicable international, federal, state and local regulatory laws and rules by:

• Developing, implementing, and maintaining written policies, procedures, and standards, and conducting internal monitoring and auditing
• Monitoring and reviewing areas with potential tax exposure including, but not limited to, FBAR reporting, foreign nationals' tax reporting, unrelated business income taxation, tax withholding deposits, payroll, property, fringe benefits, and other federal, state and foreign tax issues
• Ensuring the appropriate level of documentation is created and maintained to support analyses performed, decisions made, and conclusions reached to comply with appropriate international / statutory / US GAAP
• Leading all aspects of preparation for and management of audits including developing and maintaining professional and co-operative “no-surprises” relationships with management and external advisors supporting the company
• Representing the company during tax examinations initiated by various jurisdictions relating to all types of taxes and coordinate audit and tax planning activities with internal Legal and Finance departments

Reporting:

Full and transparent communication of tax activities within the company is a critical element of the Tax Managers’ role.  Specifically, the Tax Manager will:

• Prepare monthly statements, dashboards, and other informational reports/analysis for management, lenders and stakeholders
• Recommend benchmarks against which to measure the performance of tax operations
• Prepare, review and/or present periodic presentations to Board of Managers, senior executives and line management at all levels on key tax issue developments with a focus towards risk management

Other:

While the Tax Manager must be technically proficient in executing the responsibilities noted above, tasks of equal value are required in this role: 

• Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external teams locally and globally
• Leading change management and process improvement initiatives

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Required Experience

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required
• Bachelor's Degree (B.S.) in Accounting/Finance; Master's Degree in Business Taxation preferred
• In-depth experience with Accounting for Income Taxes (ASC 740) 
• Demonstrated experience with US, federal, and state income taxation and multi-state sales and use taxation
• At least 15 years in taxation, including Big Four accounting experience as a Senior Manager/Manager with heavy involvement in tax research, compliance, including preparation of consolidated income tax returns, and management of income tax provision preparation, disclosure, and audit
• Experience with international tax issues and planning strategies, with solid understanding of transfer pricing related matters
• Experience with U.S. domestic and foreign tax audits
• Proven ability to work with all levels of management and foster relationships with operational personnel

Essential Skills & Knowledge

• Strong organizational skills
• Extremely detail oriented
• Must be able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and organize workload to meet organizational timelines in a fast paced, very high-growth environment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 

Personal Qualities

• High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation, with a track record for delivering to plan
• Flexibility to adapt quickly to changing circumstances; able to proactively question and challenge to prioritize and identify solutions in timely manner
• Able to see the big picture but possesses a pragmatic /flexible approach to delivery

Travel
Periodic travel to and between the company’s manufacturing and sales locations will be required (approximately 10%). 

Nota Bene:

The company’s job descriptions are not intended to be a complete detailed account of all expected/anticipated activities. We operate in a fast-moving and competitive global environment and therefore need employees to be flexible.