Director of Tax

The Opportunity

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.

The Director of Tax is the single point of accountability for all tax compliance, provision, and planning activities across the PPLSI family of entities. The role covers a consolidated federal return, a Canadian federal return, multi‑state income and franchise taxes, premium taxes (insurance‑regulated entities), sales and use taxes, gross receipts and B&O taxes, property taxes, payroll taxes, and various local jurisdiction filings.

The company’s external tax advisors currently handle the majority of return preparation and compliance filing (~$130K annual spend), focused exclusively on compliance. The Director owns the provision, estimated tax payments, and all tax planning internally. The Director will manage the external advisor relationship end‑to‑end — scoping engagements, negotiating fees, setting quality and timeline expectations, reviewing deliverables, and continuously evaluating whether the current in‑house vs.

outsourced mix is optimal. The Director will manage one direct report (Tax Analyst) and work closely with the Controller on matters that intersect financial reporting — including deferred tax assets/liabilities, book‑to‑tax differences on intangible assets and equity compensation, and statutory basis reporting for regulated entities. As a direct report to the CFO, the Director will also be expected to contribute to strategic tax planning for M&A, entity structuring, and sponsor‑level reporting.

As a direct report to the CFO, this role operates as a peer to the VP & Controller and the VP of FP&A. You will work closely with the Controller on all matters where tax intersects financial reporting, close, and compliance — including the monthly provision, deferred tax schedules, equity compensation entries, and statutory filings. The Controller owns the books; you own the tax.

You will collaborate with FP&A on tax‑impacted forecasting and cash‑flow projections, including supplying updated payroll tax rates for the planning platform. You will work directly with HR/Payroll on employment tax matters, taxability determinations, and withholding compliance. You will also coordinate with Legal on entity structuring and regulatory filings. Externally, you will manage the company’s tax compliance advisors, engage specialized advisory firms as needed, and represent Legal Shield in tax authority audits and examinations.