COMPANY OVERVIEW
Cercano Management LLC(“Cercano”)is a multi-family office that provides investment advisory services, including access to a range of alternative investment funds, while also offering clients acomprehensive suiteof family office services.Cercanois based in Bellevue, WA, with offices in Minneapolis, MN,and Singapore. Cercano invests globally for its clients, commonly operating as the family office Chief Investment Officer.The team hasextensive experience in direct investing in all stages of venture capital, private equity, private credit, and public equitieson a global basis.
At Cercano, we focus on delivering to a select group of families, a client experience informed by the heritage, discretion, investment access, and alignment commonly associated with a single-family office. We dedicate ourselves to understanding each family’s objectives and values and to developing customized, holistic solutions that support long-term growth and generational wealth preservation. Our goal is to serve as a trusted partner by offering services at the intersection of institutional investment management, alternative investment funds, operational capabilities, and family office services.
POSITION MISSION
The Director, Tax is a senior tax professional responsible for supporting the Managing Director, Tax in delivering investment-focused tax leadership across Cercano's platform. This individual will serve as a key technical resource on transaction review, structuring, compliance oversight, and documentation across allinvestment strategies. The Director, Tax will independently manage complex tax matters and partner closely with internal and external stakeholders while escalating significant technical, policy, and strategic issues to the Managing Director, Tax. The role requires strong technical expertise, sound judgment, and a hands-onapproach in a fast-paced environment.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Transaction Due Diligence and Structuring:
- Support tax review of investment transactions across all strategies, including private equity, privatecredit, venture capital, and family/foundation structures.
- Implement structuring, as needed, for US taxable investors, US tax-exempt investors, and foreign investors to mitigate negative tax implications.
- Partner with Legal on review and negotiation of fund and investments documents (e.g., LPAs, LLCagreements, subscription agreements, side letters, credit agreements, and other transactiondocuments).
- Assist with the preparation and maintenance of written tax analyses, transaction memoranda, andinternal guidance documenting tax positions, assumptions, and materiality thresholds.
- Independently identify tax risks, structuring opportunities, elections, and compliance considerationsat the transaction stage.
Compliance and Reporting:
- Oversee the entire federal, state, and international tax compliance process across all funds includingpreparation of estimates, review of tax returns, and managing tax distributions.
- Assist with tax planning and forecasting of each clients’ taxable income position.
- Communicate relevant tax developments to the Investment team, the Managing Director of Tax, andthe company as a whole.
- Assist with the defense of all tax positions taken on the tax returns. Including establishing strategic and tactical positions on all tax audits, negotiate with Internal Revenue Service personnel and state and local tax personnel, and develop a strategy for responses to all requests for tax information from
federal, foreign, state and local tax authorities. - Provide exceptional client service to all clients including regular communication on estimated taxableincome, timely providing annual tax reporting information and updates on relevant tax developmentsimpacting investment entities.
Investment Tax Advisory:
- Serve as a trusted tax advisor to the Investment team, proactively communicating tax considerationsrelated to acquisitions, restructurings, dispositions, and liquidity events.
- Monitor and interpret tax law developments and translate them into practical guidance for internalstakeholders.
- Support structuring and review of complex partnership allocations, waterfalls (American andEuropean), and carried interest arrangements.
- Partner with the portfolio managers and external advisors to identify tax planning opportunities forfamilies, foundations, and related entities, aligning tax planning with investment strategy andgovernance objectives.
Leadership and Process Improvement:
- Lead significant tax projects and workstreams with a high degree of independence while providingregular updates and recommendations to the Managing Director, Tax.
- Assist in developing and enhancing tax processes, controls, documentation standards, andtechnology solutions to support scalability and risk management.
- Support the Managing Director, Tax in overseeing relationships with external tax advisors, serviceproviders, and taxing authorities.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Therequirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonableaccommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Knowledge, experience, skill, and/or ability
Required
- Excellent organizational, writing, and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated ability to independently evaluate, document, and support tax positions for complexinvestment transactions for domestic, foreign, and tax-exempt investors.
- Exposure to US and foreign investments and structuring options to minimize tax implications.
- Deep technical knowledge of tax issues related to venture capital, private equity, private credit, andfund of funds investments; including both domestic and international.
- Highly organized and detail oriented and an ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
- Strong communicator who can simplify complex tax concepts when communicating to individualsoutside of the tax team.
- Ability to establish strong and effective working relationships throughout operational groups and withexternal stakeholders.
- Team player; flexible to learn other responsibilities and adapt to client needs.
- Ability to work with confidential data, maintain discretion and demonstrate trustworthiness that thedata will be secure and private.
Preferred
- Experience with ultra-high net worth family offices and private foundations, including self-dealing,excess business holdings, UBTI and related excise tax regimes.
Experience | Education | Certifications
- B.A. or B.S. in Accounting, Finance or equivalent from accredited institution
- An advanced degree in taxation or related field preferred
- Minimum of 8 years of relevant industry experience in tax, public accounting preferred
- CPA required
SALARY RANGE:$178,550 to $239,260annually, with a target hiring range of $225,000 based on experience, qualifications, and job-related factors.
SALARY DETAILS:
Pay will be based on multiple factors, including, and not limited to location, relevant experience/level and skillset while balancing internal equity. Our discretionary bonus program is in addition to the base compensation range listed above. Cercano is committed to fair, unbiased compensation along with competitive benefits in all locations in which we operate.
TOTAL REWARDS:
Cercano offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance, Health Savings Account with generous annual employer contribution, Flexible Spending Accounts for health and dependent care, vacation and sick time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave, and the opportunity to participate in a 401(k) plan with a generous employer match of 50% of your own contributions up to the standard annual IRS limit, company paid life insurance, and a Health and Wellness Benefit. Employees are also eligible for reimbursement for approved professional development activities.
Cercano Management LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Every qualified applicant will be considered for employment. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, sex, disability, political ideology, or veteran status, or other protected class.