Director of Tax

At Preply, we’re all about creating life-changing learning experiences. We help people discover the magic of the perfect tutor, craft a personalised learning journey, and stay motivated to keep growing. Our approach is human-led, tech-enabled - and it’s creating real impact.

We’ve just reached unicorn status with a $150M Series D, accelerating our vision to transform education through human-led, AI-enhanced learning. Today, 100,000+ tutors teach 90+ languages to learners in 180 countries - and we’re only getting started.

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Director of Tax to build our global tax function from the ground up as we scale toward becoming a public company. Operating in 180 countries, our business is inherently cross-border and complex. This is not a role to optimise an existing function - it is an opportunity to design, build, and lead one.

This leader will play a critical role in developing, implementing, and managing a robust global tax framework that supports rapid growth, ensures full compliance, and advances the company's IPO readiness. As a senior member of the finance team reporting directly to the VP of Accounting (CFO-1), the Senior Director of Tax will oversee global tax compliance, reporting, structuring, and planning across all jurisdictions.

• Build and Scale the Global Tax Function: Lead the design, build-out, and scaling of Preply's global tax exposure and tax team from its early-stage foundations.
• Lead Global Tax Compliance & Reporting: Manage worldwide direct and indirect tax compliance, including income tax provision (ASC 740), transfer pricing, VAT/GST, withholding, 1099/DAC7 reporting, and local statutory requirements. Ensure timely and accurate filings while strengthening documentation, controls, and processes in preparation for future SOX readiness.
• Apply a Risk-Prioritised Approach to Global Compliance: Exercise rigorous cost-benefit judgment across a highly complex international footprint.
• Support Strategic Tax Planning & IPO Preparation: Partner with Finance leadership to implement tax strategies that support growth, operational expansion, and capital markets readiness. Lead execution of tax structuring initiatives, legal entity optimisation, intercompany arrangements, and Pillar Two preparedness, while supporting M&A activity and new market entry from a tax perspective.
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally on Public Company Readiness: Work closely with Finance, Legal, and external advisors on tax-related structuring, disclosures, and regulatory filings as part of IPO preparation efforts.
• Strengthen Tax Governance & Transparency: Enhance global tax risk management, reporting discipline, and documentation to ensure readiness for increased scrutiny from auditors, regulators, and future public market stakeholders.
• Drive Executive Communication on Tax: Serve as the primary voice of tax to executive leadership, including the VP of Accounting and CFO. Proactively communicate tax status, risks, and roadmap progress - translating complex, multi-jurisdictional topics into clear, actionable updates for non-tax stakeholders.

• 12–15+ years of progressive international tax experience, including leadership roles in high-growth or multinational environments.
• Experience building, scaling, or materially enhancing a global tax function, ideally in a pre-IPO, newly public, or rapidly expanding private company.
• Strong technical expertise in U.S. and international corporate tax, ASC 740, transfer pricing, global indirect tax regimes, and evolving OECD developments.
• Experience supporting IPO readiness, public reporting requirements, and SOX implementation or preparedness.
• Demonstrated ability to operate both strategically and operationally in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• CPA, MST or JD/LLM in Tax preferred.
• Demonstrated success operating in a fast-paced, high-growth technology and international company.
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with global teams across multiple time zones, managing competing priorities and tight timelines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with comfort collaborating asynchronously when needed.
• Experience managing audits, strengthening internal controls, and supporting SOX compliance efforts.
• Thrives in ambiguity and enjoys building scalable processes and infrastructure from the ground up.
• AI-forward mindset: track record of applying AI tools to tax workflow and process optimisation.
• Experience in SaaS, marketplace, or other technology-enabled businesses.