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Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Vice President, Tax

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, United States, 92002


Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland. For more than 30 years, Ionis has been the leader in RNA-targeted therapy, pioneering new markets and changing standards of care with our novel antisense technology. Ionis currently has three marketed medicines and a premier late-stage pipeline highlighted by industry-leading cardiovascular and neurological franchises. Our scientific innovation began and continues with the knowledge that sick people depend on us, which fuels our vision to become the undisputed leader in genetic medicine, utilizing a multi-platform approach to discover, develop and deliver life-transforming therapies.

As the first company to fully harness the power of RNA technology for human therapeutics, Ionis’ platform continues to revolutionize drug discovery and transform lives for patients with unmet needs. We are building upon our innovative research and drug development excellence to provide greater value to patients, and we are well positioned financially to deliver on our strategic goals.

Ionis is a challenging, motivating and rewarding environment designed to foster innovation and scientific excellence. Our success is a direct result of our outstanding employees. We are interested in bringing together a diverse group of individuals with different skill sets and perspectives into this creative environment to be part of a productive and inclusive team. While acknowledging people are actively engaged in hybrid/remote work, we continue to invest time, money, and energy into making our workplace locations a place where our culture and employees can thrive. We believe engaging on a day-to-day basis, in person, builds solid and lasting relationships, and contributes positively to our culture and innovation. From the heart of our stunning Carlsbad campus, we aim to provide a central connection point for all our employees. These facilities give us the opportunity to connect cross-functionally, collaborate and to build on the success of our business as we continue to grow. Join us and experience our unique culture while you develop and expand your career.

VICE PRESIDENT, TAX

SUMMARY:

We are seeking a dynamic individual to join our Finance department that will contribute to the success of Ionis. The Vice President of Tax will have overall responsibility for leading the tax function. In addition to leading the company’s tax activities, the Vice President of Tax manages the Payroll department and Treasury operations. This position reports to the Chief Accounting Officer.

The Vice President of Tax manages Ionis’ tax activities and works closely with various levels of management, auditors and accounting personnel. This position is also responsible for advising the executive management team on the tax consequences of business decisions to support the growth of the organization. The Vice President of Tax is expected to have a hands-on approach in all aspects of the job.

The successful candidate must be a strategic thinker who is secure working in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment, must be capable of handling multiple tasks, and must possess excellent analytical, organizational and communication skills. The Vice President of Tax must be a proactive self-starter who takes ownership of projects and can collaborate cross-functionally on complex issues.

You’ll thrive in this position if you are:

A strong communicator—you have the demonstrated ability to successfully communicate and convey complex topics in a concise and effective manner to various levels of management.

A master planner—you are skilled at juggling multiple priorities at one time and keeping track of deadlines without missing a step.

Adaptable—you are at ease in a fast-paced environment and you’re able to change direction rapidly when priorities and deadlines shift.

An Explorer—you are curious by nature and never hesitate to research and probe for answers.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Strategic Tax Planning:

Develop and implement long term tax strategies to minimize the organization’s tax liability with specific emphasis on our expanding international commercial footprint

Provide strategic advice to senior management on tax implications of business decisions

Identify opportunities for tax savings and deferrals

Develop and maintain tax policies and procedures to ensure consistent and compliant tax practices across the organization

Work with internal stakeholders and external tax consultants to maximize our R&D Tax Credits

Tax Compliance:

Ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and international tax laws and regulations

Oversee the preparation and filing of all tax returns, including income, payroll, sales & use, and property taxes

Oversee tax withholding compliance & reporting, including Form 1099 and 1042/1042-S

Manage relationships with tax authorities and handle audits, inquiries, and disputes.

Tax Reporting & Forecasting:

Oversee the accurate and timely preparation of tax provision and disclosures for 10-K and 10-Q financial statement filings

Work with the finance team on tax-related aspects of budgeting and forecast planning

Risk Management:

Identify and mitigate tax risks to protect the organization from penalties and interest

Monitor changes in tax laws and regulations and assess their impact on the organization

Oversee tax related SOX controls

Stakeholder Communication:

Communicate tax strategies, risks, and compliance issues to senior management and the board of directors

Prepare reports and presentations on the organization’s tax position and strategy

Serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors, consultants, and tax advisors

International Taxation:

Manage the organization’s international tax strategy, including transfer pricing, cross-border transactions, and global tax compliance

Optimize the organization’s expanding global tax position through strategic planning and structuring

Ensure compliance with international VAT requirements

Other responsibilities include:

Supervising the payroll department

Managing Ionis’ treasury operations

Ensure compliance with Ionis’ investment policy

Manage relationships with Ionis’ external investment advisors

Ensure excess cash is invested to deliver market returns while preserving principal

Assess investments for potential tax minimization strategies

Leadership and Team Management:

Lead and develop the team, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities

Manage the department’s budget, including resource allocation

Coordinate across departments (e.g., business development, legal, finance, HR)

The successful candidate must be able to proactively identify issues with respect to all the above areas.

REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor degree in Accounting, Business, Finance or Economics

Masters in taxation and/or CPA, or comparable credentials is preferred

Minimum of 15 years of experience in either the tax division of a Big 4 public accounting firm or within the tax department of a public company. Direct experience with early commercial stage Biotech or Pharmaceutical companies is a distinct plus

Experience with SAP is a plus

Strong technical tax background

Experience handling IRS and/or state income tax audits and maintaining positive relationships with auditors

Proven track record in establishing and improving key processes to manage tax issues

Strong computer skills–extensive experience with Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, Power Point)

Goal orientated and self-motivated

Shows good initiative

Strong interpersonal skills: ability to work constructively within a team environment and with all levels of management

Desire to understand the business beyond merely the tax and financial aspects.

Strong communication skills (written, oral and presenting)

Strong attention to detail and accuracy

Strong research and documentation skills

Tolerance for the ambiguity that comes with a high growth business transitioning to a sustainably profitable, multiproduct company

Able to translate broad corporate strategy into clear, specific objectives and plans; thinks several years ahead

Comfortable in an interrogative environment; embraces collaboration and open debate to manage projects, solve problems and discuss challenging issues

Able to work efficiently and productively in an intense work environment

Please visit our website,

www.ionispharma.com

for more information about Ionis and to apply for this position; reference requisition #IONIS003399

Ionis offers an excellent benefits package! Follow this link for more details:

Ionis Benefits

Full Benefits Link:

Ionis Benefits

The pay scale for this position is $224,993 to $324,378

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. PRINCIPALS ONLY.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and all its subsidiaries are proud to be EEO employers.

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