Financial Services Tax Principal

Overview

Withum is seeking an exceptional professional to build and lead a Financial Services Practice within the San Francisco area. The role involves strategic and tactical leadership, contributing to the local and national go‑to‑market strategy, developing the local team, overseeing quality, and representing the Firm’s brand in local markets. This high‑profile leadership position will coordinate with firm resources to execute a market‑specific contribution to the national growth strategy.

Responsibilities

• Drive Financial Services tax practice growth by achieving revenue targets, expanding tax team headcount, and strengthening key ecosystem, referral, and alliance relationships.
• Serve as a focal point for collaboration, coordination, and communication across the local tax team and the national Financial Services Tax practice.
• Identify and lead coordinated, cross‑functional teams to pursue Financial Services tax opportunities within the San Francisco marketplace.
• Oversee and evaluate key organizational tax‑focused sponsorships, affiliations, and strategic industry partnerships.
• Actively participate in national Tax and Financial Services strategy sessions, marketing calls, and market‑facing events.
• Partner with industry and service line engagement teams to ensure the appropriate tax expertise, resources, and deliverables are provided to Financial Services clients.
• Maintain a strong understanding of clients’ tax positions, organizational structures, leadership, activities, risks, and challenges to proactively support their needs.
• Provide visible tax thought leadership within the San Francisco Financial Services market.
• Actively contribute to tax, industry, and service line leadership by sharing perspective on tax trends, growth opportunities, and challenges impacting Withum in the Financial Services marketplace.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting or finance from an accredited institution.
• MBA is a plus.
• CPA, JD, LLM, or MST required.
• Minimum of 8+ years of professional services experience.
• Minimum 5 years industry knowledge within the DS sector.
• Partner / Senior Manager from a Top 50 CPA Firm is a plus.
• Demonstrated strategic leadership (defining market opportunities, creating a strategic plan, process and deployment capabilities).
• Demonstrated process creation and ability to develop and deploy best‑of‑breed business development and relationship management practices.
• Outstanding multitasking skills, organization, strong verbal, writing and presentation skills.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to set strategy and lead a team of professionals.
• Project management experience; ability to manage time, multi‑task, and meet deadlines.
• Tangible and demonstrated experience in formal sales process deployment, use and training.
• Ability to adhere to an environment of accountability and responsibility with no excuses.
• Ability to constructively monitor client account performance (formal CRM and informal interaction).
• Creative problem‑solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Attentiveness to detail, outgoing personality, self‑starter.
• Outstanding relationship management and personal networking skills.

Reporting

Reports directly to the National Financial Services Leader and indirectly to the SFO Partner‑in‑Charge.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range: $200,000 – $250,000 for the San Francisco office. Base compensation plus a competitive benefits package and bonus program based on individual and firm performance. Final offer depends on role, location, skills, experience, and qualifications. For more information on our benefits, visit

EEO Statement

WithumSmith+Brown, PC is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, age, sex, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, domestic partnership status, familial status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship status, national origin, disability or handicap, veteran status, weight, height, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law.

Withum is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and an accessible recruiting experience for all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to search for a position, complete an application, participate in the interview process, or otherwise engage in any part of the hiring process due to a disability, please contact us for assistance. We will work with qualified individuals to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws and our commitment to an inclusive workplace.