Senior Director, US Tax Operations, Reporting and Compliance

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we're united by a shared mission-to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you're ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you're in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us!

We believe collaboration thrives in person. That's why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it's needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

Job Summary

The Senior Director, US Tax Operations, Reporting and Compliance, will serve as a critical leader, collaborating directly with the tax team leadership to ensure best-in-class compliance with all tax regulations and strategically optimize the company's global tax position. This role demands a strong focus on Global Tax Accounting & Quarterly Close (ASC 740), US Federal, and State compliance, where you will lead a high-performing global team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end quarterly and annual global income tax provision process (ASC 740), ensuring the highest standards of accuracy for financial statement reporting.
• Manage all tax financial reporting, including SEC disclosures (10-Q/10-K), ensuring accurate journal entries in SAP, and serving as the main point of contact for external auditors.
• Direct the timely and accurate filing of all U.S. federal and state income tax returns, and oversee U.S. Sales & Use tax compliance, audits, and special projects.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing global team of approximately 10 tax professionals, setting clear priorities and fostering a collaborative environment to meet all deadlines.
• Proactively collaborate and partner with FP&A and Treasury to provide accurate cash, GAAP, and non-GAAP tax forecasting and analysis.
• Serve as the primary interface with tax regulatory authorities (e.g., IRS, state) for all inquiries and audits, ensuring alignment and clear communication.
• Identify and implement process improvements by leveraging technology and best practices to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the tax function.
• Own and oversee key SOX controls, ensuring all tax activities are meticulously documented and reviewed to satisfy audit requirements.

• Bachelor's degree with 15+ years of relevant experience or Master's degree with 12+ years of experience in a Big 4 accounting firm and/or a large corporate tax department.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
• Proven subject matter expertise in US GAAP Tax Accounting (ASC 740) for financial statement reporting.
• Deep technical proficiency in U.S. federal, state, and local tax laws and regulations.
• Experience with tax preparation software (e.g., Corptax, OneSource Tax Provision) and advanced proficiency in Excel modeling.

• Master's Degree in Taxation.
• Experience working in a publicly-traded, multinational company environment.
• Experience with a large ERP system, preferably SAP, and G-Suite.
• Proven track record of championing and implementing new processes and initiatives to improve function effectiveness.