Director of Tax

Company Overview

Legal Shield (PPLSI) is a pioneering provider of subscription‑based legal and identity theft protection plans to individuals, families, and businesses in North America. Operating through two brands ‑ Legal Shield and IDShield ‑ the company serves 1.8 million active members through a network of nearly 40 law firms across the US and Canada. Founded in 1972, Legal Shield is dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves a secure life and equal treatment under the law.

Backed by Stone Point Capital, the company is investing in growth, technology modernization, and operational excellence.

We are seeking a Director of Tax to own the full tax function for a complex, multi‑entity, multi‑jurisdiction organization. This role encompasses federal and state income tax, international tax (Canada), indirect taxes (sales, gross receipts, premium, property), payroll tax compliance, tax provision, and tax planning. Reporting directly to the CFO, you will be the company’s senior tax authority — setting tax strategy, managing external compliance advisors, leading audits, calculating provisions, and ensuring every filing is accurate and timely.

The current operating model relies on external advisors for the majority of compliance preparation, with the Director providing internal oversight, provision work, estimated payments, and strategic judgment. You will be expected to evaluate this model with fresh eyes — optimizing the balance between internal execution and external advisory, managing advisor spend for value, and ensuring the company has the right tax infrastructure for its growth trajectory.

This is a hands‑on leadership role in a PE‑backed environment where precision, speed, and proactive planning are expected.

External Advisor & Vendor Management

• Own the end‑to‑end relationship with external tax compliance advisors: scope of work, engagement terms, fee negotiation, timeline management, quality review, and performance evaluation.
• Review all externally prepared returns and filings for accuracy, completeness, and optimization of filing positions before submission.
• Manage the annual tax advisory budget; track spend against scope and challenge fees where deliverables don’t justify cost.
• Continuously evaluate the in‑house vs. outsourced compliance model — identify opportunities to bring high‑value work internal or to restructure advisor engagements for better economics.
• When specialized advisory is needed beyond the compliance advisor (e.g., transfer pricing, R&D credits, state incentive programs, M&A structuring), identify, engage, and manage those relationships independently.
• Maintain a competitive awareness of alternative advisory firms to ensure the company has access to best‑in‑class tax advice and is not over‑reliant on a single provider.

Income Tax Compliance Oversight

• Oversee preparation of the consolidated federal income tax return and all related schedules by external advisors; perform detailed review and approve final filing.
• Manage the Canadian federal tax return and ensure compliance with cross‑border reporting requirements.
• Oversee preparation and review of all state and local income/franchise tax returns across applicable jurisdictions.
• Ensure all filing positions are defensible, well‑documented, and aligned with the company’s risk tolerance.

Indirect & Specialty Tax Compliance

• Manage sales and use tax filings across all applicable states.
• Oversee premium tax return preparation and filing for insurance‑regulated entities.
• Prepare or supervise gross receipts, B&O, and other transaction‑based tax filings.
• Manage property tax filings and assessments; evaluate and challenge valuations where appropriate.
• Ensure timely completion of various local tax returns and specialty filings.

Tax Provision & Financial Reporting

• Calculate the monthly income tax provision (current and deferred) and prepare all related journal entries. This work is performed in‑house and is not outsourced.
• Manage federal and state estimated tax payment calculations and ensure timely remittance.
• Maintain deferred tax asset/liability schedules; track and reconcile all significant book‑to‑tax differences.
• Own the…