Company Overview:
Blackbeard Operating, LLC is a private equity-backed upstream and royalty / land company headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. Since its founding in 2014, Blackbeard has operated as a private company. We are now preparing to become publicly traded through a pending reverse merger that will use an Up-C structure. The Tax Director is a foundational hire who will build the company's tax function through this transition, establishing the provision process, tax controls, and advisor relationships required of a public registrant.
Position Summary:
The Tax Director leads the company's tax strategy, compliance, and reporting functions. Reporting to the Chief Accounting Officer, this role oversees all aspects of income tax, state and local taxes, and indirect taxation, manages tax risk, builds the tax provision and controls infrastructure needed to meet the financial reporting requirements of a public registrant, and advises executive leadership on the tax implications of the company's Up-C structure and merger transaction, as well as acquisitions, divestitures, financings, and capital allocation decisions for the company's upstream and royalty / land operations. This is a hands-on, foundational role that will build the tax function as Blackbeard transitions from a private company to a public company. This position is located in Fort Worth, Texas.
Key Responsibilities:- Tax Strategy and Planning
- Develop and execute tax strategies that minimize the effective tax rate and cash taxes while managing risk and supporting business objectives
- Evaluate the tax impact of M&A, joint ventures, asset swaps, and farm-in/farm-out arrangements
- Lead tax structuring, compliance, and reporting for the company's Up-C structure, including partnership tax reporting, and basis step-up accounting where applicable
- Support tax diligence, structuring, and reporting for the company's pending reverse merger and related public company registration process
- Optimize use of oil and gas-specific provisions, including intangible drilling costs (IDCs), depletion, percentage depletion where applicable, and Section 1031-type considerations
- Monitor and model the effects of tax legislative and regulatory changes on the company, including current tax law affecting oil and gas producers and changes to severance, ad valorem, and income tax rules
- Financial Reporting and Compliance (ASC 740)
- Own the quarterly and annual income tax provision, including current and deferred taxes, valuation allowances, and uncertain tax positions
- Ensure accurate effective tax rate forecasting and clear disclosure in SEC filings (10-K, 10-Q)
- Maintain SOX-compliant internal controls over tax accounting and reporting
- Build the first-year income tax provision process and tax controls environment for a newly public company, including documentation, review procedures, and audit readiness
- Partner with the Chief Accounting Officer, Controller, and VP of Financial Reporting on earnings guidance and analyst communications
- Tax Compliance and Controversy
- Oversee timely, accurate filing of income tax returns and franchise tax reports, coordinating with the outside advisors who support return preparation
- Assume ownership of severance, ad valorem, and sales and use tax compliance from operational accounting, where these processes are currently overseen, and take over management of the existing specialist advisors who support each area
- Direct audits, appeals, and negotiations with taxing authorities
- Oversee appraisal district protests and valuation disputes for oil and gas properties and related equipment
- Team Leadership and Advisory
- Serve initially as a hands-on leader of the tax function, working directly with outside advisors, and build and develop an internal tax team over time as public company needs grow
- Manage relationships with outside tax advisors (income tax advisors as well as specialists for sales, ad valorem, and severance tax), auditors, and legal counsel
- Serve as an advisor to the Chief Accounting Officer, CFO, Legal, and Business Development
- Partner closely with the Controller, the VP of Financial Reporting, the Director of External Reporting and Technical Accounting (for the tax footnote and rate reconciliation in SEC filings), and the internal controls team (for SOX tax controls)
- Support the Chief Accounting Officer in presenting tax matters to the Audit Committee and Board of Directors as needed
- Systems and Process Improvement
- Drive automation and technology adoption in tax provision, compliance, and data management
- Improve data integration with accounting and land/revenue systems
Requirements:- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
- 10+ years of progressive corporate tax experience, with demonstrated leadership experience (years in a formal leadership role are flexible for candidates with strong, hands-on ASC 740 provision ownership)
- Deep technical knowledge of ASC 740, partnership taxation, and corporate reorganizations
- Experience with Up-C structures, including basis step-up accounting, and with tax reporting for reverse merger transactions
- Experience standing up or running a first-year income tax provision and tax controls process at a newly public company, or through an IPO or merger registration process
- Significant experience in the oil and gas industry, including familiarity with upstream and royalty tax rules
- Working knowledge of oil and gas-related taxes, including franchise tax, severance taxes, and ad valorem taxes
- Experience with SEC reporting and SOX compliance in a public company environment
- Demonstrated experience with M&A tax structuring and due diligence
Preferred
CPA license and/or Master's in Taxation or JD/LLM in Taxation
Big 4 or major law firm experience
Experience with tax provision software (e.g., OneSource, Corptax, Longview) and ERP systems (SAP, Oracle)
Core Competencies:- Strategic and analytical thinking with strong business acumen
- Executive-level communication and influence
- Risk management and sound judgment
- Ability to lead through change and manage multiple priorities under deadlines
- High integrity and commitment to ethical standards
- Work Environment And Compensation
Location: Fort Worth, Texas corporate headquarters
Travel: Occasional, to field offices, advisors, and taxing authorities
Compensation:
Competitive base salary, annual bonus, long-term equity incentives, and full benefits (varies by company size and market)
