Principal - Tax Planning & Strategy

The work we do has an impact on millions of lives, and you can be a part of it.
We help protect our customers against life’s uncertainties. Regardless of where you work within the company, you’ll be helping provide protection and peace of mind when our customers need it most.

The Principal Tax Planning & Strategy role is a senior technical professional within Protective’s Corporate Tax Department. Reporting to the VP, Head of Corporate Tax, this role leads complex tax planning, transaction support, and international tax initiatives, and supports Protective’s business lines and legal and operational teams on policyholder tax matters. The Director partners with business leaders, corporate functions, parent-company tax teams, and external advisors to identify opportunities, evaluate alternatives, and deliver practical solutions that create business value and manage tax risk.

This individual-contributor role combines deep technical expertise with strategic judgment and cross-functional leadership. Although the position has no direct reports, it plays an important role in mentoring, training, and developing tax professionals across the department.

Responsibilities
•    Identify, evaluate, and implement tax planning strategies that support business objectives, improve tax efficiency, preserve tax attributes, and enhance capital effectiveness.

•    Lead tax diligence, structuring, modeling, and integration for acquisitions, dispositions, and reorganizations, including related legal-entity and intercompany arrangements.

•    Lead international tax analysis and global initiatives, including Pillar Two and Bermuda corporate income tax, in coordination with parent-company and internal tax teams.

•    Partner with parent-company stakeholders on U.S. and cross-border tax planning, evaluating the tax implications of investments, business structures, and strategic opportunities.

•    Support Protective’s business lines and legal and operational teams in addressing policyholder tax matters.

•    Lead research on complex and emerging tax issues; prepare and review technical memoranda and communicate clear, actionable recommendations to senior stakeholders.

•    Lead cross-functional projects from analysis through implementation, establishing clear priorities, responsibilities, documentation, and controls.

•    Manage external advisor engagements and collaborate with internal tax teams to ensure consistent technical positions and effective execution.

•    Mentor and train tax professionals, share technical knowledge, and provide development opportunities through participation in complex projects.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes
•    Deep knowledge of U.S. corporate and consolidated return taxation, with strong technical research and analytical skills.

•    Strong understanding of international tax, global minimum tax requirements, and transaction-related tax considerations.

•    Ability to connect technical analysis with business economics, risk, and strategic priorities.

•    Ability to independently lead complex projects and influence stakeholders across functions without direct reporting authority.

•    Clear communication, sound judgment, a collaborative approach, and a strong commitment to customer service and developing others.

Requirements
•    CPA required; JD or LLM in Taxation a plus.

•    10+ years of progressive corporate tax experience in public accounting and/or a large corporate tax function.

•    Significant experience in tax planning and transactions, including diligence, structuring, and implementation.

•    Experience with international tax and Pillar Two; Bermuda corporate income tax experience strongly preferred.

•    Insurance industry experience strongly preferred, including familiarity with policyholder tax matters.

Employee Benefits:
We aim to protect the wellbeing of our employees and their families with a broad benefits offering. In addition to offering comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance, we support emotional wellbeing through mental health benefits and an employee assistance program. Work/life balance is important and Protective offers a variety of paid time away benefits ( e.g. , paid time off, paid parental leave, short-term disability, and a cultural observance day). The financial health of our employees is just as important as physical and emotional health.  Some of the financial wellbeing benefits include contributions to healthcare accounts, a pension plan, and a 401(k) plan with Company matching. All employees are encouraged to protect their overall wellbeing by engaging in ProHealth Rewards, Protective’s platform to improve wellbeing while earning cash rewards.

Eligibility for certain benefits may vary by position in accordance with the terms of the Company’s benefit plans.

Accommodations for Applicants with a Disability :
If you require an accommodation to complete the application and recruitment process due to a disability, please email eric.hess@protective.com. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application and recruitment process.

Please note that the above email is solely for individuals with disabilities requesting an accommodation.  General employment questions should not be sent through this process.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to being inclusive and attracting, retaining, and growing an inclusive workforce.