---
title: 'Principal - Tax Planning & Strategy at Protective'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-tax-planning-strategy-protective-remote-5gsy011re4y6'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-11'
---

# Principal - Tax Planning & Strategy at Protective

- **Company:** Protective
- **Location:** Remote
- **Compensation:** $160k–$170k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-11-04
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-11
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/protective/fdc97a1c-d9a5-4c4b-9771-572440a7bc62

## Job description

The work we do has an impact on millions of lives, and you can be a part of it. We help protect our customers against life’s uncertainties. Regardless of where you work within the company, you’ll be helping provide protection and peace of mind when our customers need it most.

The Principal Tax Planning & Strategy role is a senior technical professional within Protective’s Corporate Tax Department. Reporting to the VP, Head of Corporate Tax, this role leads complex tax planning, transaction support, and international tax initiatives, and supports Protective’s business lines and legal and operational teams on policyholder tax matters. The Director partners with business leaders, corporate functions, parent-company tax teams, and external advisors to identify opportunities, evaluate alternatives, and deliver practical solutions that create business value and manage tax risk.

This individual-contributor role combines deep technical expertise with strategic judgment and cross-functional leadership. Although the position has no direct reports, it plays an important role in mentoring, training, and developing tax professionals across the department.

## Responsibilities

- Identify, evaluate, and implement tax planning strategies that support business objectives, improve tax efficiency, preserve tax attributes, and enhance capital effectiveness.
- Lead tax diligence, structuring, modeling, and integration for acquisitions, dispositions, and reorganizations, including related legal-entity and intercompany arrangements.
- Lead international tax analysis and global initiatives, including Pillar Two and Bermuda corporate income tax, in coordination with parent-company and internal tax teams.
- Partner with parent-company stakeholders on U.S. and cross-border tax planning, evaluating the tax implications of investments, business structures, and strategic opportunities.
- Support Protective’s business lines and legal and operational teams in addressing policyholder tax matters.
- Lead research on complex and emerging tax issues; prepare and review technical memoranda and communicate clear, actionable recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Lead cross-functional projects from analysis through implementation, establishing clear priorities, responsibilities, documentation, and controls.
- Manage external advisor engagements and collaborate with internal tax teams to ensure consistent technical positions and effective execution.
- Mentor and train tax professionals, share technical knowledge, and provide development opportunities through participation in complex projects.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

- Deep knowledge of U.S. corporate and consolidated return taxation, with strong technical research and analytical skills.
- Strong understanding of international tax, global minimum tax requirements, and transaction-related tax considerations.
- Ability to connect technical analysis with business economics, risk, and strategic priorities.
- Ability to independently lead complex projects and influence stakeholders across functions without direct reporting authority.
- Clear communication, sound judgment, a collaborative approach, and a strong commitment to customer service and developing others.

## Requirements

- CPA required; JD or LLM in Taxation a plus.
- 10+ years of progressive corporate tax experience in public accounting and/or a large corporate tax function.
- Significant experience in tax planning and transactions, including diligence, structuring, and implementation.
- Experience with international tax and Pillar Two; Bermuda corporate income tax experience strongly preferred.
- Insurance industry experience strongly preferred, including familiarity with policyholder tax matters.

Employee Benefits: We aim to protect the wellbeing of our employees and their families with a broad benefits offering. In addition to offering comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance, we support emotional wellbeing through mental health benefits and an employee assistance program. Work/life balance is important and Protective offers a variety of paid time away benefits (e.g., paid time off, paid parental leave, short-term disability, and a cultural observance day). The financial health of our employees is just as important as physical and emotional health.  Some of the financial wellbeing benefits include contributions to healthcare accounts, a pension plan, and a 401(k) plan with Company matching. All employees are encouraged to protect their overall wellbeing by engaging in ProHealth Rewards, Protective’s platform to improve wellbeing while earning cash rewards.

Eligibility for certain benefits may vary by position in accordance with the terms of the Company’s benefit plans.

Accommodations for Applicants with a Disability: If you require an accommodation to complete the application and recruitment process due to a disability, please email eric.hess@protective.com. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application and recruitment process.

Please note that the above email is solely for individuals with disabilities requesting an accommodation.  General employment questions should not be sent through this process.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to being inclusive and attracting, retaining, and growing an inclusive workforce.

## About Protective

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Protective is a financial services company providing life insurance, retirement solutions, employee benefits, and asset protection products to individuals and businesses.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc., TSE:8750)
- **Headquarters**: Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- **Founded**: 1907
- **Founders**: Not publicly available

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Insurance (Life, Annuity, Asset Protection, Employee Benefits)
- **Target customers**: B2C (individuals) and B2B (employers, partners)
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "To help everyone deserve confidence through life's moments — big, small and everything in between." [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us)

## Products & Services
- **[Life Insurance]**: Offers term life, whole life, and universal life policies for individuals and families.
- **[Retirement Solutions]**: Fixed and variable annuities, retirement income planning products.
- **[Asset Protection]**: Commercial mortgage investments, structured settlements, and stable value products via Protective Asset Division.
- **[Employee Benefits]**: Group life, disability, and other workplace benefit programs for employers.
- **[Acquisitions & Stable Value]**: Manages and acquires in-force blocks of life insurance and annuity policies.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, TSE:8750)
- **Key Metric**: $6.4B annual revenue (PLICO financials) [wellfound.com](https://linkedin.com/company/protective-life)
- **Total Assets**: $142 billion as of December 31, 2025 [protective.com](https://investor.protective.com/Company-Overview/default.aspx)
- **Net Income**: $389 million USD (2024) [linkedin.com](https://linkedin.com/company/protective-life)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent company Dai-ichi Life Holdings (Japan), one of the largest life insurers globally.
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Over 14.4 million customers served.
  - 61 acquisitions in company history. [protective.com](https://investor.protective.com/Company-Overview/default.aspx)
  - ~32 million policies and contracts in force.
  - $1 trillion life insurance in force.
  - 3,800+ employees as of Jan 1, 2026 (up from 3,800 reported in 2023).
  - Fastest growing core site in the greater Cincinnati area. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)

## Competitive Advantages
- **115+ Years of Stability**: Founded in 1907, the company has a long track record of financial strength and reliability.
- **Parent Backing**: As part of Dai-ichi Life Group, a global top-tier insurer, Protective has access to significant capital and a long-term strategic focus.
- **Diversified Portfolio**: Multiple business segments (Protection, Retirement, Asset Protection, Acquisitions) create revenue stability and cross-selling opportunities.
- **Strong Financial Ratings**: A focus on conservative risk management and a large asset base ($142B) provides market confidence.
- **Scale and Distribution**: A massive in-force block ($1T life insurance) and a large, established customer base.

## Strategic Focus
- **Organic & Inorganic Growth**: Continues to acquire blocks of policies and companies (61 in history) while expanding its core product lines.
- **Virtual Workforce Expansion**: More than half of employees are now remote, signaling a commitment to a flexible, distributed workforce. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
- **Digital Transformation**: Investments in technology and data to improve customer experience and operational efficiency.
- **Talent Development**: Strong focus on internal mobility, continuous learning, and career enrichment programs.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasizes a "protector" mindset, focusing on service to customers, colleagues, and communities. Recognized for workplace engagement and inclusivity. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
- **Hybrid/Remote Work**: Over 50% of the workforce is remote/virtual. Three core sites in Birmingham (HQ), Greater Cincinnati, and St. Louis offer hybrid options. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
- **Benefits**: Comprehensive package including medical/dental/vision with HSA/FSA, a pension plan funded by the company, 401(k) with employer match, paid time off, paid parental leave, short- and long-term disability, adoption assistance, and life insurance. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
- **Career Development**: Company-sponsored education courses, tuition reimbursement, scholarship opportunities for dependents, and a semi-annual "Pulse Survey" to shape culture and learning opportunities. [protective.com](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
- **Notable Perk**: Pension plan remains a differentiator in the current job market.

## Sources
1. [protective.com - Company Overview](https://www.protective.com/about-us)
2. [protective.com - Careers Page](https://www.protective.com/about-us/careers)
3. [investor.protective.com - Company Overview](https://investor.protective.com/Company-Overview/default.aspx)
4. [linkedin.com - Protective Life](https://linkedin.com/company/protective-life)
5. [jobs.lever.co/protective - Job Listings](https://jobs.lever.co/protective)

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