Tax Accountant

Department: Finance

Location: Torrance, CA

Compensation: $112K – $140K • Offers Equity

Employment Type: FullTime

About Northwood:

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role

Northwood Space is looking for a Tax Accountant to help build the tax function. You will own day-to-day tax activities, coordinate with external advisors, and establish scalable processes that support our expanding operations. Working closely with Finance, Accounting, Legal, and operational teams, you will bring structure to complex tax matters and help the company make informed business decisions as we continue to grow and scale.

Responsibilities

• Own the tax compliance calendar and coordinate federal, state and local filings with external advisors, ensuring accurate supporting schedules, timely submissions, and appropriate documentation.

• Manage sales and use tax compliance, including registrations, nexus assessments, exemption certificates, and evaluating the tax treatment of ground station services and equipment purchases.

• Support income tax provisions, tax account reconciliations, estimated payments, and financial reporting by preparing workpapers and coordinating technical reviews with external tax specialists.

• Partner with Finance, Legal, and business teams to assess tax considerations for new ground station locations, customer contracts, capital investments, and expansion into new jurisdictions.

• Build scalable tax processes, internal controls, and documentation; improve ERP tax configurations and data quality; and serve as the primary internal contact for tax notices, audits, and advisor requests.

• Identify and evaluate potential tax credits, incentives, and opportunities in partnership with external advisors, including those related to research and development, manufacturing, and infrastructure investment.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• 3+ years of tax experience in public accounting, corporate tax, or a combination, with hands-on experience preparing or reviewing tax filings and supporting schedules.

• Working knowledge of U.S. federal and state business taxation, including income tax and sales and use tax, with the ability to research unfamiliar issues and recognize when specialist guidance is needed.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with proficiency in Excel and accounting systems and the ability to independently manage deadlines and build processes in an evolving environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA designation, progress toward CPA licensure, or a graduate degree in Taxation or Accounting.

• Experience at a startup or growing company, particularly in aerospace, telecommunications, infrastructure, manufacturing, or another business with significant physical assets.

• Exposure to international tax compliance, VAT/GST, transfer pricing, or tax considerations associated with operating across multiple jurisdictions.

• Experience with income tax provisions under ASC 740, fixed asset tax depreciation, R&D tax credits, or tax process automation using NetSuite or a similar ERP.

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.