The Senior Director / Vice President of Tax is a key financial executive responsible for leading all tax and treasury functions for a mid‑size aerospace and defense contractor. This role oversees all aspects of direct and indirect tax compliance, tax planning, and management of third‑party advisors while ensuring adherence to complex aerospace and defense regulatory requirements. Additionally, the position provides leadership over Treasury Services, including corporate cash management, banking relationships, and development and maintence of the company’s rolling cash forecast.

This leader will play a critical role in IPO readiness, public‑company governance, audit preparedness, internal controls, and evolving tax and treasury structures to support rapid growth and operational scale.

Key Responsibilities

Tax Strategy, Planning & Compliance

• Lead the enterprise-wide tax function, including federal, multi‑state, and international (as applicable) corporate income tax; indirect taxes; and government‑related tax requirements specific to aerospace and defense operations.
• Oversee and manage external tax advisors to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant preparation of all filings and disclosures across all jurisdictions.
• Develop a comprehensive tax strategy that optimizes effective tax rate (“ETR”), supports cash tax efficiency, and mitigates risk in alignment with the company’s growth trajectory and pending IPO.
• Oversee ASC 740 tax accounting, including quarterly and annual provision, uncertain tax positions, and footnote disclosures required for SEC‑ready financial statements.
• Manage all tax audits and regulatory inquiries, ensuring strong representation and documentation—particularly in areas sensitive to government contracting.
• Evaluate tax implications of cost‑plus and fixed‑price contracts, R&D credits, DoD and NASA-related tax considerations, and potential implications of ITAR- or EAR‑controlled activities.
• Guide tax aspects of corporate structure, cross‑border operations, transfer pricing, and M&A as the company scales.

IPO Readiness & Public Company Governance

• Serve as a core member of the IPO readiness team, ensuring the company’s tax function meets SEC, PCAOB, and SOX 404 requirements.
• Develop public‑company standard tax policies, controls, reporting processes, and documentation.
• Coordinate with external auditors, legal counsel, and underwriting advisors on tax disclosures, S‑1 content, and pro forma tax impacts.
• Strengthen internal controls and implement scalable systems to support public‑company tax reporting requirements.

Treasury Services & Cash Management

• Lead daily treasury operations, including cash positioning, liquidity monitoring, and working capital optimization.
• Develop scalable treasury processes suitable for a public company environment.
• Oversee banking relationships, manage bank account structures, evaluate credit facilities, and ensure compliance with federal contracting requirements.
• Provide strategic recommendations related to capital structure, cash deployment, and support of growth initiatives.
• Evaluate treasury technology and tools to support automation and visibility.

Rolling Cash Forecast & Financial Planning Integration

• Own the development and continuous improvement of the rolling short‑ and long‑term cash forecast, ensuring alignment with operational, program-driven, and contractual cash flows.
• Partner with Program Finance, FP&A, Accounting, and Operations to ensure accurate forecast inputs related to milestone payments, contract advances, cost timing, inventory procurement, and government billing cycles.
• Conduct cash scenario modeling and liquidity stress testing to support strategic planning and IPO‑related sensitivity analysis.
• Deliver regular cash reporting, trends, and recommendations to the executive leadership.

Leadership & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Lead and mentor a growing team across tax and treasury functions; build capabilities for a public-company environment.
• Foster strong collaboration with Finance, Legal, Contracts, Program Management, and Government Compliance to ensure integrated planning and compliance.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, process optimization, and implementation of scalable tax and treasury technologies.
• Ensure robust internal controls, compliance frameworks, and audit readiness across all areas of responsibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; Master’s in Taxation or MBA preferred.
• CPA or JD strongly preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive corporate tax experience, including leadership roles in a complex, multi‑state or multi‑jurisdiction environment; aerospace and defense or government contracting industry experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience preparing for or operating within a public‑company environment, including ASC 740, SEC reporting, and SOX 404.
• Experience overseeing treasury operations, cash management, and banking relationships.
• Strong understanding of government contracting financial structures, cost accounting standards, and regulatory constraints impacting tax.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives, manage external advisors, and work effectively in a dynamic, growth-focused organization.
• Exceptional communication, analytical, and leadership skills, with the ability to present complex information to executives and the Board.