Head of Tax, Global
Over the coming years, biotech will fundamentally rewrite the way we live. Gene editing and cell therapy are dramatically changing how we treat cancer and other major illnesses. Biofuels and biomaterials are transforming the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, and the makeup of everyday objects. Crop science and synthetic biology are producing sustainable and ethical food. Benchling’s mission is to accelerate the research that propels us towards this reality, and magnify its impact, through modern software.
Every day, scientists around the world use Benchling’s applications, platform, & analytics in their efforts to solve humanity’s most pressing problems. For these scientists, Benchling is the central technology they use to conduct their research. Our customers include pharmaceutical giants, leading biotechs, and the world’s most renowned research institutes.
ROLE OVERVIEW
The Head of Tax will act as our in-house tax advisor and be responsible for managing tax risk assessment and planning, compliance, and accounting for all areas of tax, including income tax, business activity tax, local tax compliance, sales and use tax, transfer pricing, payroll and equity related tax, tax provision, R&D tax credit, etc. pertaining to domestic and international operations at a fast growing SaaS company. This role will report to the Corporate Controller and will work closely with accounting, HR, legal and other senior partners across multiple business units.
WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
- Own overall tax strategies and practices that are operationally sound for Benchling’s domestic and international businesses. Create and manage tax compliance checklists and processes with internal and external stakeholders. Reduce reliance on external advisors by evaluating tax and accounting treatments based on research and memorandums. Provide clear, quantifiable and documented recommendations on tax matters.
- Oversee accurate and timely filings of all tax returns, and other compliance and information reporting.
- Quantify and advise on tax considerations for entering in new jurisdictions (domestic and abroad). Act as a key participant in assessing nexus requirements as well as international tax structure and transfer pricing agreements.
- Monitor legislative and regulatory tax law developments, communicate the impact to internal stakeholders, and implement the changes as applicable.
- Support the corporate accounting team by participating in month/quarter/year-end financial closing activities as well as external audits: tax provision, R&D tax credit, Sec. 382 analysis, tax journal entries and reconciliations.
- Collaborate with accounting and GTM teams in evaluating sales, use, VAT tax requirements for all new subscription and service products. Develop a plan to address the requirements, implement solutions, and monitor the ongoing process.
- Assist HR and payroll & stock administration teams to ensure tax rules are adhered to for payroll and stock transactions, including proper tax treatments related to employee mobility (domestic and global).
- Design and implement internal controls and documentations in accordance with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
- Actively engage with cross functional leadership to keep abreast of the business objectives, priorities and strategies to enable collaborative and supportive relationships as well as provide value added services to each other.
- Lead or assist on special tasks and projects as needed.
ABOUT YOU
- BS/BA in Accounting or equivalent with a solid knowledge of technical tax and GAAP required.
- Masters in tax and/or CPA license required.
- 8+ years in tax required. Big 4 tax experience plus enterprise SaaS public company experience preferred.
- International tax experience required. Experience helping a company set up a foreign entity preferred.
- Proficiency using NetSuite and Avalara preferred.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite with intermediate skills in Excel including VLOOKUP, if functions, pivot tables, etc. preferred.
- Analytical, skeptical and curious; able to identify and report relevant risks and issues to stakeholders for a timely and appropriate resolution.
- Concise and effective communicator with teammates and various levels of leadership as well as external contacts.
- Versatile, enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple projects. Demonstrate strong project management skills by proactively prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines and demands.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Resilient and reliable with strong work ethic.
- Mature and professional to handle confidential data.
Benchling welcomes everyone. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity and inclusion by broadening our ways of problem-solving for future challenges. Even if you don't meet 100% of the qualifications for this job, we strongly encourage you to apply.
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
- Admit mistakes and shortcomings
- Deliver results
- Disagree and commit
- Obsess over customers
- Rely on work ethic
- Show empathy
- Recruit and develop the best
- Sweat the details
- Think and communicate clearly
- Unite around the mission
PERKS AND BENEFITS
- Work with a talented yet humble team
- Competitive compensation & equity package
- Quarterly mental health days
- Weekly virtual social events, and annual company retreats
- 401k, Medical, dental, and vision insurance (US Employees Only)
- Monthly health & wellness stipend (Currently US Employees Only)
- Yearly educational stipend (Currently US Employees Only)
- To support remote work conditions, Benchling provides each employee a one-time stipend of $1,000(USD) upon commencing employment, and additional discounted employee purchase plans for home-office equipment.
In following best practices and safety protocols, all Benchling employees are expected to work remotely until we are further advised that it is safe for employees to resume work in their respective office locations.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.