Tax Director North America

Reporting to the Head of Group Tax, the North America Tax Manager will lead all aspects of the North American tax function, including tax compliance, reporting, planning, indirect tax, controversy management, and tax governance. The role will serve as a strategic business partner to regional and global leadership, providing tax leadership across the United States, Canada, and Mexico while driving tax transformation, operational excellence, and effective risk management within a complex multinational manufacturing environment.

Essential Functions:

• Lead the North American tax function, providing technical guidance and oversight across all tax matters
• Drive initiatives to simplify, standardize, and automate tax processes to improve efficiency and reduce key-person dependency. Including use of the Groups GBS center.
• Drive implementation of tax technology solutions and enhancements to existing tax systems, including review of which corporation tax system to use for return preparation and fixed asset platforms.
• Establish effective governance, documentation, and internal controls across the tax function.
• Lead succession planning and capability development within the North American tax team.
• Implement tax strategies in line with the Group overall tax strategy that support business objectives while maintaining compliance and managing risk.
• Serve as the primary tax advisor to NA finance leadership and business stakeholders.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and assess the impact on the Group's tax position.
• Support local tax initiatives and contribute to the broader Group Tax strategy.

• Direct ownership of federal return preparation process with support from the NA Tax Manager and Tax analyst providing support.  Review of U.S. federal, state, local, Canadian and Mexican income tax filings.
• Ensure all tax returns, elections, estimates, extensions, and statutory filings are completed accurately and on time.
• Manage relationships with outsourced service providers and external advisors where applicable.
• Maintain effective tax compliance processes and controls across all North American entities.

• Lead quarterly and annual tax reporting activities in accordance with IFRS and Group reporting requirements.
• Review current and deferred tax calculations, tax provisions, effective tax rate analyses, and tax disclosures.
• Manage tax forecasting, budgeting, and cash tax planning activities.
• Ensure tax balances are appropriately supported and reconciled.

• Identify opportunities to optimize the Company's tax position while maintaining compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Support transfer pricing initiatives and cross-border tax planning in collaboration with Group Tax.
• Evaluate the implications of new tax legislation and accounting standards.
• Advise on NA Tax implication for any potential mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financing arrangements, and other strategic transactions.

• Lead interactions with federal, state, provincial, and local tax authorities.
• Manage tax audits, examinations, appeals, and dispute resolution activities.
• Identify and mitigate tax risks through effective governance and internal controls.
• Ensure appropriate documentation of key tax positions and judgments.

• Manage, mentor, and develop members of the North American tax team.
• Allocate resources and establish priorities to ensure efficient delivery of tax obligations.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and technical excellence.
• Build capabilities within the team through coaching and professional development.

• Drive the enhancement of tax processes, controls, and documentation.
• Promote the use of technology, automation, and data analytics to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Oversee the effective use of tax technology platforms, including Corptax or Onesource and tax fixed asset systems.
• Support finance transformation projects affecting tax processes and reporting.

• Adherence to NSG/Pilkington Standards of Business Conduct and its Values and Principles
• Other duties as assigned by manager

• Passion for excellence - Shows resilience by consistently displaying a positive outlook and responding resourcefully when faced with new challenges and demands
• Innovation and change - Drives organization to think and act in an agile manner to reduce complexity and increase efficiency
• Empowers and Develops - Empowers work teams to take ownership in achieving business objectives and delegates work to the appropriate level

Qualifications Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, or a related field or equivalent experience
• 12+ years of progressive corporate tax experience within multinational organizations.
• Significant experience in U.S. federal and state taxation, with exposure to Canada and Mexico.
• Strong knowledge of tax compliance, tax accounting, transfer pricing, international tax, and tax risk management.
• Experience managing tax audits, tax authority interactions, and controversy matters.
• Knowledge of IFRS tax accounting, including current and deferred tax provisions.
• Experience supporting M&A, restructurings, and financing transactions.
• Proven track record in tax transformation, automation, process improvement, and tax technology implementation.
• Experience with Corptax, OneSource, SAP, or similar tax and ERP systems.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and team development skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex tax matters clearly.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills and strong analytical capabilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced multinational environment and travel as required.

• CPA, Chartered Accountant, or equivalent professional qualification; advanced degree in Taxation, Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline