Director, Tax

Established boutique REIT is looking to add a Director of Tax to their team. In this role, the Director of Tax will own the oversight of tax functions, ensuring compliance with tax regulations, and optimizing the REIT’s tax position. The Director of Tax will be involved with strategic conversations regarding the position of the assets, determining ways to maximize shareholder value and maintain compliance with complex industry specific tax rules. This is an individual contributor role, with potential to build a small team down the road.

Tax Compliance

• Oversee and manage the preparation, review and filing of federal, state and local tax returns, ensuring compliance with REIT-specific regulations, including quarterly and annual tests to maintain REIT status.
• Coordinate with external auditors and tax consultants to ensure timely and accurate tax filings.
• Ensure full compliance, annually and quarterly, with REIT-specific requirements, including compliance with distribution rules and asset/income tests and proactively address any issues.
• Serve as the primary contact for external tax advisors and tax authorities , monitor state withholding and resolve federal and state audits and notices.
• Maintain all online tax payment accounts and initiate quarterly estimated income/franchise tax payments.
• Compute tax provisions for taxable REIT subsidiaries.
• Respond to investor tax queries.

Tax Planning

• Conduct tax research and analysis to assess the impact of proposed transactions, tax legislation and other changes on the REIT’s tax position; present these as requested to the company’s audit committee.
• Implement and update tax policies and procedures, both at the corporate level and at the JV level.
• Identify opportunities to minimize tax liabilities, including state and local tax planning.
• Monitor and report to the audit committee, the taxable income projection and distributions (and character) for the REIT to ensure the appropriate amount of taxable income is distributed each year
• Monitor changes in tax laws and regulations, assess their impact, and communicate any necessary changes in strategy or procedures to senior management.
• Advise senior management and asset management on disposition rules impacting the REIT (prohibited transactions) and provide recommendations.

Tax Strategy

• Develop and implement tax-efficient strategies that align with the REIT’s goals, including those related to acquisitions, dispositions and deal restructurings.
• Advise acquisitions on good and bad REIT assets and income; create and monitor use of taxable REIT subsidiaries
• Advise management on tax matters affecting the REIT status and recommend strategies to mitigate risks.
• Work closely with other departments, including finance, accounting, asset management and acquisitions to support tax-related initiatives.
• Work closely with the COO/CFO on private REIT specific issues.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external auditors and tax advisors.
• Stay up to date on changes to tax legislation and communicate potential impacts to the board and senior management. Ensure tax policies and practices meet legal standards and industry best practices.