Tax Manager, Indirect Tax

Upwork Inc.’s (Nasdaq: UPWK) family of companies connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent across every contingent work type including freelance, fractional, and payrolled. This portfolio includes the Upwork Marketplace, which connects businesses with on-demand access to highly skilled talent across the globe, and Lifted, which provides a purpose-built solution for enterprise organizations to source, contract, manage, and pay talent across the full spectrum of contingent work. From Fortune 100 enterprises to entrepreneurs, businesses rely on Upwork Inc. to find and hire expert talent, leverage AI-powered work solutions, and drive business transformation. With access to professionals spanning more than 10,000 skills across AI & machine learning, software development, sales & marketing, customer support, finance & accounting, and more, the Upwork family of companies enables businesses of all sizes to scale, innovate, and transform their workforces for the age of AI and beyond.

Since its founding, Upwork Inc. has facilitated more than $30 billion in total transactions and services as it fulfills its purpose to create opportunity in every era of work. Learn more about the Upwork Marketplace at Upwork.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X; and learn more about Lifted at Go-Lifted and follow on LinkedIn.

As our Tax Manager, Indirect Tax, you’ll lead the compliance of U.S. and global indirect tax functions for multiple Upwork entities, supporting Upwork’s multi-national operations. Reporting to the Director of Global Indirect Tax, you’ll oversee key areas including sales & use tax, VAT/GST, property tax, and non-income tax compliance. You’ll drive improvements in indirect tax data management, automation, and audit readiness—while mentoring and managing a distributed team. This is a cross-functional role that will partner closely with Finance, Legal, Product, and Engineering teams to ensure accurate tax treatment across our operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead indirect tax compliance efforts across U.S. and global jurisdictions, ensuring timely and accurate filings, remittances, and reconciliations.

• Oversee monthly and quarterly reconciliations for indirect tax accounts.

• Maintain and monitor ASC 450 positions and reserves, ensuring proper documentation and alignment with accounting guidance.

• Partner with Finance Systems and Engineering to enhance automation and scalability of our tax technology.

• Support internal and external stakeholders with exemption certificate validation and other indirect tax queries.

• Track evolving tax legislation and assess potential impacts on Upwork’s operations, ensuring the organization stays compliant.

• Lead, coach, and develop team members to deliver high-quality, scalable tax support.

• Collaborate with other tax leaders to support the tax function when needed.

What it takes to catch our eye

• CPA or LLM in tax

• 5+ years of experience managing U.S. and international indirect tax compliance within a global organization, Big 4 experience preferred.

• Strong working knowledge of accounting (ASC 450), and tax technology platforms.

• Expertise managing large data sets with Alteryx and advanced spreadsheet skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to translate complex tax matters into clear, actionable insights for non-tax stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop team members, manage vendors, and other contributors, with a focus on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Come change how the world works.

Our culture is built on trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence, all in service of our core mission: to create economic opportunities so people have better lives. We embrace authenticity and inclusion, encouraging everyone to bring their whole selves to work. Personal and professional growth is a priority here, supported through development programs, mentorship, and our Upwork Belonging Communities.

We’re proud to offer benefits that go beyond the basics, including comprehensive medical coverage for you and your family, unlimited PTO, a 401(k) plan with matching, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Visit our Life at Upwork page to learn more about our values, working principles, and the overall employee experience.

Ready to help shape the future of work? Check out our Careers page to learn more about opportunities at Upwork.

Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Please note that a criminal background check and/or a credit check may be required once a conditional job offer is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances.  Similarly, credit checks will be conducted in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and other applicable law.

Upwork is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, or other legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law.

Please note that a criminal background check may be required once a conditional job offer is made. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered in accordance with applicable law, including the California Fair Chance Act and local Fair Chance ordinances. The Company is committed to conducting an individualized assessment and giving all individuals a fair opportunity to provide relevant information or context before making any final employment decision.

To learn more about how Upwork processes and protects your personal information as part of the application process, please review our Global Job Applicant Privacy Notice