Senior Director Tax & Compliance - Cat Financial

Career Area:

Finance

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Tax & Compliance leads global tax strategy, tax compliance, tax accounting, and tax planning, while also representing tax in strategic business initiatives across Cat Financial. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, the position partners closely with executive leadership, treasury, legal, accounting, and global business leaders to optimize business practical tax outcomes. The successful candidate will lead and be responsible for further developing a high-performing team. This role requires exceptional leadership capability, deep technical tax expertise, the ability to interact directly with customers and dealers, and the ability to influence enterprise decisions with significant financial impact. The position offers a unique opportunity to help shape the future of a global financial services organization through strategic tax leadership.

What you will do:

Global Tax Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute global tax strategies that optimize effective tax rates and cash flow.

• Provide executive leadership for domestic and international business and tax planning initiatives.

• Partner with Treasury, Accounting, Legal, and executive leadership to provide business practical advice.

• Evaluate emerging legislation, regulatory developments, and geopolitical impacts affecting tax strategy.

• Set tax risk profiles and align planning decisions with business, cash flow, customer, and governance needs.

Tax Compliance

• Oversee direct and indirect tax compliance, including Federal, state, sales and use tax, VAT, property tax, local non-US tax, transfer pricing, and other jurisdictional requirements.

• Ensure adherence to tax laws and regulations across a globally distributed portfolio of operating entities.

• Coordinate local direct and indirect tax compliance across global jurisdictions, including internal and external provider oversight.

SEC reporting & Tax Accounting

• Provide strategic leadership for ASC 740, tax reserves, and financial statement disclosures.

• Ensure financial reporting integrity and compliance with accounting and regulatory requirements.

• Lead Sarbanes-Oxley compliance within the tax function and support enterprise governance initiatives.

• Advise executive leadership on tax accounting impacts associated with strategic business decisions.

• Own tax accounting policy, deferred tax, valuation allowance, FIN 48 reserves, disclosures, and external auditor support.

• Consolidate global tax return and provision inputs to support accurate financial reporting.

Tax Controversy & Audit Defense

• Lead global tax authority interactions, examinations, disputes, and audit defense strategies.

• Oversee responses to regulatory inquiries and government audits.

• Direct negotiations related to tax assessments, appeals, settlements, and litigation matters.

• Manage relationships with external advisors, law firms, and consulting organizations.

• Coordinate controversy strategy with Cat Inc. Tax, Legal, and external providers across jurisdictions.

Tax Compliance & Risk Management

• Lead and continuously improve tax compliance.

• Identify and mitigate tax, regulatory, and compliance risks.

• Prioritize resources and strategic initiatives based on enterprise risk assessments.

• Track tax legislation and assess impacts on payments, operations, customers, technology, and advocacy.

Executive Leadership

• Lead a global team of approximately 40 tax professionals, setting strategy, goals, development priorities, and succession plans.

• Build organizational capabilities while creating an environment focused on accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• Support the CFO and partner with Accounting, Treasury, Risk Management, Compliance, Legal, and Cat Inc. Tax.

• Partner with Cat Financial leaders and influence executive stakeholders through tax expertise and strategic recommendations.

• Interact directly with Caterpillar customers and dealer on tax matters.

What you will bring (Skills and Experience):

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Taxation, Economics, or related field.

• CPA (or international equivalent)

• JD or international equivalent a plus

• Master's in Taxation, LL.M. in Taxation, or advanced tax qualification preferred.

Experience

• 15+ years of progressive global tax leadership experience.

• Extensive experience managing multinational tax operations.

• Significant expertise in:

  • U.S. Federal Tax

  • International Tax

  • Transfer Pricing

  • State & Local Tax

  • VAT and Indirect Tax

  • Tax Planning

  • Tax Reporting

  • Tax Controversy

  • Regulatory Compliance

• Experience leading large teams and executive-level business partnerships.

Critical Skills

Tax Management: Expert level knowledge of tax laws, organizational tax practices, obligations; ability to manage organization tax related issues.

Tax Regulations: Expert level knowledge of federal, state and local tax procedures and regulations; ability to adhere to tax regulations when filing forms as they pertain to a particular business or industry.

Tax Accounting and Provision Governance: Expert knowledge of ASC 740, provision consolidation, deferred tax, reserves, disclosures, and external audit support.

Business Acumen: Knowledge of business concepts, tools, and processes that are needed for making sound decisions in the context of the company's business; ability to apply this knowledge appropriately to diverse situations.

Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations.

Influencing Through Expertise: Knowledge of effective influencing tactics and strategies; ability to use these to deepen own expertise and impact or challenge decisions within and outside own organization.

Technology and Service Provider Management: Ability to manage tax technology platforms, automation opportunities, and external service providers.

Preferred Skills

• Financial services, banking, captive finance, leasing, or commercial finance industry experience highly preferred.

• Experience leading tax functions across multiple international jurisdictions.

• Experience supporting SEC reporting and public-company governance requirements.

• Tax technology transformation experience.

• Experience working directly with Executive leadership teams

• Experience leading complex business structures and financing arrangements.

Additional Information:

• Visa Sponsorship will not be offered.

• Domestic relocation is offered for this role.

• This role is on-site five days a week.

• This position is eligible for stock or other equity grants pursuant to Caterpillar’s long-term incentive plan.

 

 

Summary Pay Range:

$226,548.00 - $362,484.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

• 401(k) savings plans*

• Health Savings Account (HSA)*

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

• Health Lifestyle Programs*

• Employee Assistance Program*

• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

• Career Development*

• Incentive bonus*

• Disability benefits

• Life Insurance

• Parental leave

• Adoption benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

       

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

 

 

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

 

 

Relocation is available for this position.

 

 

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

 

 

Posting Dates:

August 3, 2026 - August 7, 2026

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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