Associate Director, Tax

Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction.

The Associate Director, Tax serves as a key business partner to the Senior Director, Tax and supports the implementation and execution of the company's global tax strategy. This role has broad exposure across all aspects of the tax function, including tax provision, global compliance oversight, transfer pricing, tax controversy, M&A support, tax technology, and international tax matters.

The ideal candidate is a highly analytical and collaborative tax professional who can effectively operate in a complex multinational environment, manage cross-functional initiatives, oversee external advisors, and serve as a trusted advisor to finance and business leadership.

This position is designed as the principal deputy to the Senior Director, Tax and will lead critical projects while helping drive the overall effectiveness of the global tax function.

Key Responsibilities

Tax Provision, Reporting, and Controls

• Oversee the global income tax accounting and reporting process under ASC 740.
• Manage external tax provision preparers to ensure timely and accurate quarterly and annual tax reporting.
• Review and oversee effective tax rate analyses, uncertain tax positions, tax disclosures, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain and enhance SOX controls and governance processes related to income tax accounting and reporting.
• Drive process improvements to increase efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in tax reporting.
• Coordinate closely with Corporate Accounting, Internal Audit, and External Auditors.

Global Tax Compliance Oversight

• Provide oversight of global direct and indirect tax compliance activities across all jurisdictions.
• Manage external service providers and internal stakeholders responsible for preparation and filing activities.
• Ensure tax returns, elections, and payments are completed accurately and on a timely basis.
• Maintain appropriate controls, governance, and monitoring processes over global compliance activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve compliance processes and reduce operational risk.

Transfer Pricing

• Oversee global transfer pricing compliance and documentation requirements.
• Manage relationships with external transfer pricing advisors and consultants.
• Monitor implementation of transfer pricing policies across the organization.
• Support the Senior Director, Tax in evaluating and developing transfer pricing planning opportunities.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and business stakeholders to ensure alignment between transfer pricing policies and operational activities.

Tax Technology and Process Improvement

• Drive modernization and automation initiatives within the tax function.
• Help develop tax data, reporting, and technology strategies.
• Improve tax process efficiency through enhanced controls, analytics, and digital tools.
• Support implementation and optimization of tax technology solutions.

Tax Controversy, Risk Management, and Special Projects

• As needed, manage tax audits, inquiries, examinations, and disputes with tax authorities globally.
• Coordinate responses to regulatory information requests and audit activities.
• Identify emerging tax risks and develop mitigation strategies in partnership with the Senior Director, Tax.
• Lead and support ad hoc tax projects, business development, technical analyses, and cross-functional initiatives as business needs arise.

Business Partnership and Global Tax Strategy Support

• Support implementation and execution of the company's global tax strategy in alignment with business objectives.
• Partner with business leaders, Finance, Legal, Commercial, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders to evaluate tax implications of key business decisions.
• Assist with evaluating tax implications of business reorganizations, supply chain changes, licensing arrangements, and financing transactions.
• Lead analysis related to Pillar Two, BEPS developments, and other international tax initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Tax, or related field.CPA, JD/LLM (Taxation), or equivalent professional qualification preferred.

Experience

• 8+ years of progressive tax experience.
• Combination of Big Four/public accounting and multinational corporate tax experience strongly preferred.
• Significant experience in tax provision, international tax, tax planning, and tax controversy.
• Experience supporting a global organization with operations in multiple jurisdictions.
• Pharmaceutical, life sciences, biotechnology, or healthcare industry experience preferred.
• Experience with Pillar Two implementation and global tax reform initiatives preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of U.S. and international corporate taxation.
• Deep understanding of ASC 740 and tax accounting principles.
• Familiarity with transfer pricing regulations and OECD guidelines.
• Knowledge of global tax compliance frameworks and risk management practices.
• Experience with tax technology and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle).

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Pay Range:

The expected salary range for this position based on the primary location of South San Francisco, CA is $198,000-$231,000. The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. Base salary is just one component of our competitive total compensation package, which includes equity in the form of stock options and/or restricted stock units, comprehensive health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage, 401k retirement benefits with employer match, learning and wellness stipends, and paid time off. Note that benefits are subject to change and may vary based on jurisdiction of employment.

Our employees come from different backgrounds, and we celebrate those differences. We are looking for the best candidates for our open roles, but do not expect applicants to meet every qualification in order to be considered. If you are excited about what you could accomplish at Cytokinetics and believe you can add value to our team, we would love to hear from you.

Please review our General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) policy PRIOR to applying.  

Our passion is anchored in robust scientific thinking, grounded in integrity and critical thinking. We keep the patient front and center in all we do – all actions and decisions are in service of the patient and their caregivers. We champion integrity, ethics, doing the right thing, and being our best selves.

Fraud Warning: How to Identify Impersonated Cytokinetics Job Postings and Offers

Recently, there have been fraudulent employment offers being sent to candidates on behalf of Cytokinetics. Please be advised that all legitimate offers from Cytokinetics will come directly from our official email domain (Cytokinetics.com) and will only be made after completing a formal interview process.

Here are some ways to check for authenticity:

• We do not conduct job interviews through non-standard text messaging applications

• We will never request personal information such as banking details until after an official offer has been accepted and verified

• We will never request that you purchase equipment or other items when interviewing or hiring

• If you are unsure about the authenticity of an offer, or if you receive any suspicious communication, please contact us directly at talentacquisition@cytokinetics.com

Please visit our website at: www.cytokinetics.com

Cytokinetics is an Equal Opportunity Employer