Senior Vice President, Head of Tax

Description

Merchants Bancorp is seeking a strategic and accomplished tax executive to serve as our next Senior Vice President, Head of Tax. While headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, Merchants is far more than a traditional regional bank. As a diversified financial holding company with more than $21 billion in assets, we operate a nationwide platform spanning multifamily housing and healthcare finance, mortgage warehouse lending, tax-advantaged investment platforms, residential mortgage banking, agricultural lending, and community banking. In this highly visible leadership role, you will shape and execute the enterprise tax strategy across a complex multi-entity organization, partnering with executive leadership and the Board to drive compliance, optimize tax outcomes, and support business growth across our diverse national lending and investment platforms. This is a unique opportunity for a hands-on tax leader to make a meaningful impact within a dynamic, growth-oriented organization while working alongside a collaborative team at our corporate headquarters in Carmel, Indiana.

The Senior Vice President, Head of Tax can do the following confidently and independently...

Tax Strategy & Planning

• Develop and execute the Company’s enterprise tax strategy to responsibly optimize the effective tax rate while managing risk and maintaining full compliance.
• Lead tax planning for tax-advantaged investments, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), and advise on the proportional amortization method and related GAAP/tax positions.
• Evaluate and structure federal and state tax credit opportunities (e.g., R&D, energy, and state-specific credits), coordinating with external advisors such as KPMG.
• Provide tax guidance on M&A, new business lines, entity structuring, and intercompany transactions across the MBIN/MBI/MCC/MCI family of entities.
• Partner with the CFO and business leaders on balance-sheet optimization initiatives that carry tax implications (e.g., asset placement across legal entities for tax efficiency).
• Tax Provision & Financial Reporting
• Own the quarterly and annual income tax provision (ASC 740), including current and deferred tax calculations, valuation allowance analysis, and effective tax rate reconciliation.
• Ensure accurate and timely tax disclosures in SEC filings (10-Q, 10-K) in coordination with SEC Reporting and external auditors.
• Maintain robust documentation and support for uncertain tax positions (FIN 48 / ASC 740-10).

Compliance & Operations

• Oversee the preparation and timely filing of all tax returns across all entities—federal, state, and local income, franchise, and information returns.
• Own all non-income tax obligations across the enterprise, including property, sales/use, and other transaction and excise taxes.
• Manage tax audits, notices, and examinations with federal, state, and local authorities, serving as the Company’s primary point of contact.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments, assess impact to the Company, and communicate implications to management.

Controls, Risk & Governance

• Establish and maintain effective internal controls over tax accounting and reporting consistent with SOX requirements.
• Develop tax policies, procedures, and documentation standards suitable for audit and examination.
• Present tax matters, strategy, and risk assessments to senior management, the Audit Committee, and the Board as needed.
• Leadership & Collaboration
• Lead, mentor, and develop the existing tax team while building out its structure, talent, processes, and technology roadmap to enhance enterprise capabilities.
• Manage relationships with external tax advisors, auditors, and consultants, ensuring value and accountability.
• Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Accounting, Treasury, Legal, and the business verticals to embed tax considerations into decision-making.

Controls, Risk & Governance

• Establish and maintain effective internal controls over tax accounting and reporting consistent with SOX requirements.
• Develop tax policies, procedures, and documentation standards suitable for audit and examination.
• Present tax matters, strategy, and risk assessments to senior management, the Audit Committee, and the Board as needed.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and develop the existing tax team while building out its structure, talent, processes, and technology roadmap to enhance enterprise capabilities.
• Manage relationships with external tax advisors, auditors, and consultants, ensuring value and accountability.
• Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Accounting, Treasury, Legal, and the business verticals to embed tax considerations into decision-making.

Reports to the Chief Accounting Officer, Merchants Bank.

Requirements

What we are looking for...

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; and licensed CPA.
• 10+ years of progressive corporate and/or public accounting tax experience, preferably including significant tenure at a Big Four or large national public accounting firm.
• Deep, hands-on expertise in ASC 740 income tax accounting and federal/state corporate tax compliance.
• Demonstrated experience leading tax planning and structuring for complex, multi-entity organizations.
• Strong knowledge of tax matters affecting financial institutions and/or real estate, including tax credits (LIHTC and others).
• Proven ability to manage tax audits and interface with taxing authorities and external auditors.

Preferred

• Master’s in Taxation (MST) or JD/LLM in Tax.
• Prior experience in banking, mortgage, or specialty finance; familiarity with bank holding company structures.
• Experience with LIHTC, historic, energy, or other investment tax credit programs and partnership taxation.
• Experience enhancing an in-house tax function—maturing processes, controls, and technology within an existing team.

Our Benefits

At Merchants, we believe in investing in our people. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) participation, generous paid time off, wellness resources, and a standout Tuition Assistance Program that covers 100% of eligible tuition expenses, as well as required books and materials. Whether you're advancing your education, growing your career, or planning for the future, we're committed to supporting your success every step of the way.

About Merchants

Ranked among the top-performing U.S. public banks by S&P Global Market Intelligence, Merchants Bancorp is a diversified financial holding company headquartered in Carmel, Indiana. Through its banking, mortgage, investment, and lending platforms, the Company operates nationwide across multifamily housing and healthcare finance, mortgage warehouse lending, tax-advantaged investment programs, residential mortgage banking, agricultural lending, and traditional community banking. With approximately $21.2 billion in assets and $14.3 billion in deposits as of June 30, 2026, Merchants conducts its business through a family of specialized subsidiaries, including Merchants Bank of Indiana, Merchants Capital Corp., Merchants Capital Investments, LLC, Merchants Capital Servicing, LLC, Merchants Investment Partners, LLC, and Merchants Mortgage, a division of Merchants Bank. Merchants offers the entrepreneurial spirit of a growth-oriented organization paired with the stability, sophistication, and national reach of a diversified financial institution.

Merchants Bank and Merchants Capital have recently been honored with the 2025 USA Today Top Workplaces recognition, ranking 22nd nationally within the 500-999 employee category. This is the second year that Merchants has been recognized with this award. These accolades build on our strong history of workplace recognition, including being named a Best Place to Work in Indiana for seven consecutive years (2016–2022). For more information read the entire article here.