Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Tax Leaders Unplugged
Business

Tax Leaders Unplugged

Loctax

Welcome to the Tax Leaders Unplugged, a podcast hosted by Stevi Frooninckx (CEO & Co-founder at Loctax), where we go beyond the numbers and the rules, delving into the essence of leadership in the tax world. Our focus isn’t on tax technicalities; it’s on the people behind them. Join us for in-depth conversations with leading in-house tax professionals, exploring collaboration, team management, and career development. Stay tuned for unique insights and advice you won’t find on Google, tailored to enhance your tax leadership journey.

Play
Open in
  • 21 episodes
  • Avg 46 min
  • English

Episodes 21

NewestOldestLongest
All20Unplayed20In progress0Played0
Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.
  • September 18 · 47 min

    AI in Tax: 240 Hours Saved, with Humans Still Reviewing | Morgan Randolph, Atlassian Global Head of Tax

    Morgan Randolph, Global Head of Tax at Atlassian, joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to discuss whether AI is a threat or an opportunity for in-house tax teams. One AI-enabled workflow helped Atlassian's India tax team process thousands of airline receipts and invoices, saving 240 hours and turning a highly manual process into one that is almost instant. Morgan also shares how AI made her budget review 10 times faster and 10 times better, how her team turned a Section 382 research procedure into a working spreadsheet, and how a script removed a repetitive 25-minute step from a SOX control. In this episode: - Why experimentation turns AI fear into excitement - How Atlassian combines tax champions, broad tool access, workbook prototypes and a tax hackathon - Why tax teams should start with low-hanging fruit - Where custom tax apps create scale, version control, assurance and audit concerns - Why human review remains essential in high-risk tax processes - How Morgan progressed from Senior Tax Accountant to Global Head of Tax - What mentors, honest feedback and genuine professional relationships can do for a tax career Key lessons: - Start with a recurring manual process the team understands - Give the whole team permission to experiment - Use prototypes to make AI tangible - Keep people accountable for accuracy, controls and auditability - Design for scale before turning a personal script into a team process - The opportunity is more proactive thinking, earlier decisions and more tax with less Excel Morgan Randolph: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-randolph-cpa-91b74428 Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx Tax Leaders Unplugged: https://podcast.loctax.com/ Loctax: https://www.loctax.com/ Resources: Atlassian ShipIt hackathons: https://www.atlassian.com/company/shipit Confluence: https://www.atlassian.com/software/confluence Loom: https://www.loom.com/ Claude for Excel: https://www.anthropic.com/news/advancing-claude-for-financial-services Gemini in Google Sheets: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/14356410 Accordance AI: https://accordance.com/ Alteryx: https://www.alteryx.com/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: Morgan Randolph, Global Head of Tax at Atlassian 04:00 AI in tax: fear, excitement and experimentation 07:30 How Atlassian organises tax transformation 09:30 Why tax leaders need to test AI themselves 10:10 How to run a tax-focused AI hackathon 15:00 Vibe coding, difficult workbooks and scaling prototypes 17:30 The workflow that saved 240 hours 19:00 Tax provision opportunities and human review 20:10 Custom tax apps, audit controls and the future of tax work 21:00 More tax and less Excel 22:30 Skills for the tax professional of the future 25:40 Four practical AI use cases 29:30 How small wins turn AI sceptics into active users 30:10 Morgan's path to Global Head of Tax 36:30 Mentorship, feedback and trust in a global remote team 44:20 Career advice: build genuine relationships

  • June 17 · 48 min

    Stay Curious, Take Responsibility: AI & High-Performance Tax Teams | Christian Klein

    Christian Klein, VP Accounting, Reporting and Tax at Autodoc, joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to discuss how he is using AI to scale a finance and tax function under two-digit growth, and why culture decides whether that works. He shares: - How Autodoc moved from collecting 60 AI ideas to 5 products in development, 2 of them already live, by enabling people before buying tools. - Real outcomes, including a daily reconciliation cut from 3 hours to 5 minutes and a standing target of at least 20% efficiency gains a year. - What it took to keep a 6,000-hour year-end audit on track after losing his accounting director with one week's notice. Key Insights and Learnings: - Enable people first, pick tools second. Autodoc ran a finance-team survey, opened an AI "garage", held weeklys, teach-ins and a hackathon capped at 30 seats, then attached a business case and return on investment to each use case before going live. - Build in-house where you can. Autodoc ran 2 to 3 proof-of-concepts with an external AI vendor over 3 months, built the same thing in-house with its IT team, and got a more robust, more reliable, more steerable result with no price tag attached. - Watch the vendor pricing model. Some providers charge a transaction fee of 20% to 30% of the efficiency gain, so Christian checks every use case against its own business case. Finance and tax rarely show the euro savings that justify that. - The tax advisor qualification still pays off. AI can now pass the German chartered tax advisor exam, but Christian argues the qualification still builds the judgement to see where the obstacles and risks sit. - Resilience comes from culture. A core team of 5 absorbed the director's workload and delivered the audit faster, with no surprises, because the environment lets people step into a gap when something is burning. ___ Where to find Christian Klein: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ch-klein Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx ___ [00:00] Introduction. Who is Christian Klein, VP Accounting, Reporting and Tax at Autodoc. [00:44] Life outside tax. Family, repairing an old convertible, golf, a new mountain bike and learning guitar. [02:49] Two months in Bali and Lombok with the family, phone switched off, and not remembering which office floor he worked on. [04:56] The career path. From PwC audit in Frankfurt into industry at Home24, and why audit left him wanting ownership of the outcome. [07:23] Earning the chartered tax advisor licence, then taking on the tax team alongside accounting, and combining the finance and tax worlds. [09:10] The SAP implementation in 8 months, with end-to-end tests run through to the tax return to protect VAT across 19 million orders a year. [11:25] Is the tax advisor qualification still worth it now AI can pass the exam? A colleague's move from exams to n8n and Python. [16:19] Saving time at scale. The AR reconciliation cut from 3 hours to 5 minutes, and the 20% annual efficiency target. [18:36] How to start with AI. The survey, the AI garage, teach-ins, hackathon, 60 ideas, business cases, and building in-house versus buying. [24:42] Handling fear in the team. Taking the scary moment away and turning sceptics into the core AI team. [27:12] Where the freed-up time actually goes, and a tax leader's duty to use it well. [29:39] Tax authorities and AI. Receiving the requirements but not yet seeing the data put to use. [33:15] Audits as a learning tool. Treating findings as the basis for improving the organisation. [34:54] Unlocking budget. Working with compliance case by case, and funding an exploratory garage. [37:00] The coming AI sales funnel, where the assistant buys the spare part for the customer. [42:29] The high-performance team. Running a 6,000-hour audit a person down, and why culture is the secret. [45:43] One piece of advice. Stay curious and take on responsibility.

  • May 25 · 32 min

    AI and Data for Tax Research | Luis Nouel from IBFD

    Luis Nouel, Manager Latin America, Africa-Middle East and Bulletin of International Taxation Teams at IBFD, joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to discuss how tax research actually gets done and where AI fits in. We recorded at IBFD HQ in Amsterdam. Luis brings 33 years in tax, more than 18 of them at IBFD, and currently leads the Latin America, transfer pricing and VAT teams. We covered: - How a tax research workflow runs in practice, from mapping cross-border consequences to working country chapters before opening legislation. - Why tax authorities have been using AI for 8 to 9 years and what that means for in-house tax teams under shrinking budgets. - The compounding complexity of BEPS, MLI and Pillar Two, and why Luis is convinced the next wave will be worse. - Why IBFD's curated dataset is the foundation that makes the Loctax AI Assistant game-changing, instead of unreliable. - How the Loctax and IBFD partnership turns that dataset into an AI assistant that tax professionals can trust on the specifics, so the human work shifts to judgement, audit defence and business partnering. ___ Where to find Luis Nouel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisnouel Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx ___ [00:00] Introduction. Recording at IBFD HQ Amsterdam. Luis Nouel's background: tax lawyer, 33 years in tax, more than 18 at IBFD, currently leading the Latin America, transfer pricing and VAT teams. [02:10] Why tax research grabs you. Connecting dots across corporate income tax, VAT, transfer pricing, customs and individual taxation. [03:15] Tax is never binary, it's grey. Taking positions you can defend at audit. [05:55] How tax research actually runs. Step back to see the big picture, then work the deadline. [08:47] Worked example. Liquidating a Venezuelan subsidiary held by a Spanish parent: domestic consequences in both jurisdictions, exit taxation, treatment at the parent. [10:57] Why Luis goes to country chapters before legislation. IBFD covers 220+ jurisdictions. [11:49] Books and university tax libraries. Why hard copy can't keep up with the rate of change. [14:18] Why up to date matters. Free internet sources versus the risk you're willing to take. [16:34] Complexity is not slowing down. OECD models, then MLI, then Pillar Two, and the next wave Luis expects to be worse. [19:31] Tax authorities stepping up. AI in their hands for 8 to 9 years. Dispute resolution as the new normal. [22:10] Paper it up. Building a documentation defence so a 3 to 5 year audit gap doesn't sink you. [24:38] The AI elephant. Quality jump in the last 6 to 8 months when AI is applied to the right data and the right guardrails. [27:31] AI reshapes functions, not replaces them. PC and internet as parallels. [28:48] The Loctax and IBFD AI assistant. Full IBFD library across legislation, treaties, doctrine, journals and case law. [31:37] Joint mission. Spreading tax research to in-house, advisory and tax authorities. [32:17] Closing. "Don't be afraid of it. The sooner you embrace the new technologies, the better you're gonna get handling them."

  • April 9 · 49 min

    From Accountant to Head of Tax | Sara Spring from Oatly

    Sarah Spring, Head of Tax at Oatly, joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to share her path from finance and accounting into tax leadership, and what it takes to become a real business partner inside an international company. She explains why tax teams need to stop acting as a clean-up function and instead get involved before key decisions are made.With a team of just four, Sarah also shares how she approaches tax transformation in practice, from VAT automation to better use of existing systems. A key theme is influence. Speak business, not tax. Push for a seat at the table. She also highlights a growing challenge. Today’s filings may be reviewed years later with far more advanced AI, raising the bar for controls and data quality now. 🔑 Key Insights and Learnings: - AI will raise the standard for tax controls.Sara highlights a critical shift. Returns filed today may be reviewed years later using far more advanced AI by tax authorities. That means tax teams need stronger controls, cleaner data and more consistency now, not later.- Speak business, not tax.If non-tax stakeholders do not understand you, you will not influence decisions. Translate tax into business impact.- Get involved before decisions are made.Tax should not fix issues after the fact. It should shape decisions early, especially on funding, structuring and cross-border activity.- You have to earn your seat at the table.Do not wait to be invited. Join meetings, follow projects and proactively insert tax into discussions that may not look tax-related at first.- Broader experience makes better tax leaders.Backgrounds in finance, accounting and treasury help you understand other teams and collaborate more effectively.- Lean teams require better systems and controls.With a team of four, technology is essential. AI will also raise audit standards, so data quality and consistency matter more than ever.—Where to find Sara Spring: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraemspring/Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx__[00:00:00] Introduction and Sarah’s background[00:03:55] Career path and attraction to dynamic environments[00:07:10] Contracting vs permanent roles[00:09:19] Cultural differences across countries[00:12:27] Transition from accounting to tax[00:16:08] From tax blocker to business partner[00:17:10] Speak business, not tax[00:19:05] Earning a seat at the table[00:30:40] Tax transformation, VAT automation and AI[00:33:00] Future audit risk and final leadership lessons

  • February 16 · 45 min

    From VAT to Value: Powered by Tech and Diversity | Nora Bafrouri from Trane Technologies

    Nora Bafrouri, Global VAT and Tax Technology Lead at Trane Technologies, joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to discuss how indirect tax teams can move from compliance to measurable business value.She explains how she built a highly automated VAT operating model across 44 jurisdictions, why tax authorities are increasingly data-driven, and how a structured KPI dashboard helped her reposition VAT as a business partner. She shares:• How misalignment between VAT and technology priorities was solved by bringing the lifecycle under one leadership.• How Italy VAT refunds moved from a six-year cycle to being fully up to date.• Why tax teams must speak in business metrics if they want budget and influence.—Where to find Nora Bafrouri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/norabafrouri/Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx__In this episode, we cover:[00:00] Introduction – Who is Nora Bafrouri?Global VAT and Tax Technology Lead at Trane Technologies. Big 4 background. Belgium-based.[16:20] From VAT Compliance to Tax Technology LeadershipSpotting misalignment between indirect tax and technology. Taking ownership of the full lifecycle.[19:00] Scaling Across 44 JurisdictionsBuilding a highly automated VAT model with a small tax tech team.[27:40] Tax Authorities Shift to Data-Driven AuditsFrom legal debates to data mismatches. Real-time reporting changes the game.[31:20] From Cost Centre to Value DriverUsing technology to improve productivity, working capital and reputation.[32:12] Italy VAT Case StudyRefund cycle reduced from 6 years to fully up to date, including 2024 approval.[34:00] Measuring Value With a DashboardTracking risk mitigated, cash flow optimisation and productivity gains.[40:50] The Future of AI in TaxTraditional AI vs generative AI. Why tax teams must stay alert.[44:00] Final AdviceBe engaged. Bring stakeholders into your journey. Build for the organisation, not just tax.

  • Nov 3, 2025 · 35 min

    Inside M&A: Insights for in-house tax | Sandra Esteves from Qlik

    Sandra Esteves, Head of Tax at Qlik (previously HoT at Talend, which was acquired by Qlik in 2023), joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to unpack what it takes for an in-house tax team to get through due diligence and integration without losing control or credibility. We cover the realities of PE-backed deals, running Talend and Qlik as standalone groups until late 2023, and how to lead when sponsors and colleagues exit during the process. In this episode, she shares:• The dashboard she built within months of joining in 2021 to brief the CFO on eight core items: on-time compliance, risk positions, liabilities, controversy, cash taxes, cash opportunities, and attributes.• Why deep business knowledge accelerated structuring and integration decisions.• How to balance team morale and transparency when duplication forces tough calls.• Why compliance is strategic, not second-class, especially with Pillar Two and central oversight.—Where to find Sandra Esteves: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-esteves-33788313/Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx__In this episode, we cover:[00:00:00] From Portugal to Amsterdam: Sandra’s Tax Journey[00:05:10] The Compass Quote: Staying Focused as a Leader[00:08:42] Talend’s Acquisition by Qlik[00:12:50] The 8-Line CFO Dashboard for M&A Readiness[00:15:12] Leading Through Integration and Sponsorship Loss[00:24:25] Compliance as a Strategic Advantage[00:27:30] TEI, IBFD, and Career Lessons for Tax Leaders

  • Sep 8, 2025 · 48 min

    Building Tax Teams for Scale: Lessons from Zalando and Enpal with Mathias Hildebrandt

    Mathias Hildebrandt, Head of Tax at Enpal (also Zalando, Bauer Media, ProSiebenSat.1, British American Tobacco), joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to discuss his dynamic career path and multiple side ventures in tax media. In this episode, he shares:• His journey through 5 in-house roles in 17 years, all secured through networking rather than recruiters• How he grew Zalando's tax team from 6 to 17 people and the communication challenges that came with scaling• Building a tax podcast that reached 4,000 listeners per episode when they expected only 200• Co-founding Germany's Tax Technology Journal to bridge the gap between tax law and digital transformation—Where to find Mathias Hildebrandt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathias-hildebrandt-01b06376/Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx__In this episode, we cover:[00:02:48] Building a Tax Podcast to 4,000 Listeners[00:08:26] Creating Germany's Tax Technology Journal[00:14:03] The Evolution of Tax Technology[00:22:49] 5 Companies in 17 Years[00:26:31] The Power of Networking[00:30:31] Growing Zalando's Tax Team[00:33:47] Communication at Scale[00:35:56] Career Advice: Trust Your Gut

  • Aug 22, 2025 · 48 min

    Turning Tax Knowledge into Value and Trust | Mercedes-Benz Head of Tax and Customs

    Dominik Wellmann, Global Head of Tax and Customs at Mercedes-Benz Group, joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to discuss marketing the tax function and building purpose-driven teams. In this episode, he shares:• Why he persisted after being rejected twice by Mercedes-Benz and how starting at tax authorities shaped his leadership approach• His philosophy of "do good things and tell about it" to elevate tax's visibility in the organization• How Mercedes-Benz's tax team defined their purpose: "Turn knowledge into value and trust"• The story behind co-founding Tax Mates, a trusted circle for German tax leaders to discuss leadership challenges—Where to find Dominik Wellmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominik-wellmann-%E5%8D%AB%E6%B0%91-94804777/Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx__In this episode, we cover:[00:01:32] Rejected Twice by Mercedes[00:03:49] Tax Authority Foundation[00:14:29] Marketing the Tax Function[00:19:49] Why Tax People Stay Humble[00:25:25] Being Included from Day One[00:29:14] Measuring Tax Value Creation[00:33:32] Defining Your Tax Purpose[00:39:43] The Tax Mates Story[00:47:21] Career Advice: Do What You Love

  • Aug 7, 2025 · 54 min

    The Journey from Tax to Finance Leader | SVP Finance DraftKings

    Bill Nolde, SVP Head of Finance at DraftKings, joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to discuss his remarkable transition from tax professional to finance executive. In this episode, he shares:• The "breadcrumb" communication strategy that keeps CFOs informed and prevents career-limiting surprises• How he successfully grew a global tax team from 5 to 50 people during his 15 years at Avnet• His strategic approach to transitioning from tax leadership to overseeing multiple CFO office functions• Why building a strong compliance foundation is essential before pursuing tax planning or finance leadership roles—Where to find Bill Nolde: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williammnolde/Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx__In this episode, we cover:[00:01:41] Why Giving Back Matters[00:06:07] Bill's 10 Career Rules[00:09:58] "Work Yourself Out of a Job"[00:17:55] Tax to Finance Transition[00:22:56] Compliance Before Planning[00:27:58] Do Tax Leaders Make Better CFOs?[00:37:41] The "Breadcrumb Strategy"[00:40:18] Building Elite Tax Teams[00:47:03] Outsource vs Insource[00:51:04] "Love the Process"

  • Jul 24, 2025 · 56 min

    Secrets of Successful Tax Leadership in MENA's Tech Industry | Stuart Ramsay

    Stuart Ramsay, now Director and Group Head of Tax at AD Ports Group (note: episode was filmed while he was still at Dubizzle Group), joined us to discuss building a strategic in-house tax function from scratch in a fast-growing MENA tech company. In this episode, he shares: • A major leadership challenge (moving from a 50 000-employee logistics giant to a 5 000-employee tech scale-up with no existing tax team) and how he solved it through a “mini tax due-diligence” in his first 30 days. • Real-world results, including cutting potential compliance filings from 100 to 12 through entity rationalisation and introducing private GPT translation that saves roughly $200 and three days per Arabic tax return. • Best practices for UAE corporate tax Day 1 readiness, VAT specialisation, and low-budget tech adoption that other in-house teams can replicate. — Where to find Stuart Ramsay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-ramsay/ Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx __ In this episode, we cover: (0:00) Intro and Stuart’s journey from Glasgow to Dubai (4:03) Why the GCC moved from 5 % VAT to a 9 % corporate tax (18:25) Pillar II plus UAE CT: using one data set for both regimes (32:27) From DP World to Dubizzle: smaller company, bigger influence (40:05) The power of saying “I don’t know” to win executive trust (42:18) Mini tax due-diligence: a 30-day map of filings and risks (43:45) Filling blind spots: hiring a VAT specialist and adding AI translation (47:15) Two career rules: balance hard-soft skills and embrace change (54:02) Final advice and closing

  • Jul 4, 2025 · 35 min

    Lessons from Building a Tax Control Tower | Ex Senior Indirect Tax Director at Kraft Heinz

    Antonio Erbolato, now Global Indirect Tax Director at Reckitt (note: this role began after the recording of this episode), joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to break down his strategy for building a Tax Control Tower across 27 countries. Drawing from his time as Global Senior Director of Tax at Kraft Heinz, Antonio shares lessons in structuring visibility, governance, and audit readiness at scale. In this episode, he covers: • How he launched a global tax data visibility project starting with indirect taxes. • The phased framework he used to build and scale the Tax Control Tower. • Lessons learned from working with tax authorities in Brazil, the US, and the Netherlands. — Where to find Antonio Erbolato: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erbolato/ Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx — In this episode, we cover: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 00:43 Cultural Differences in Work Environments 04:50 Tax Perspectives Across Countries 11:50 Building a Tax Control Tower 15:31 Steps to Implementing a Tax Control Tower 16:53 Challenges and Solutions in Data Collection 20:12 Phases of the Tax Control Tower 31:22 Adapting the Tax Control Tower for Mid-Sized Companies 42:00 Final Thoughts and Career Advice

  • Jun 17, 2025 · 52 min

    VP Tax at Dell on Reputation, Risk, and Real Leadership (Lionel Nobre)

    Lionel Nobre, VP Tax Latin America at Dell Technologies, joins the Tax Leaders Unplugged podcast to explore what in-house tax leadership looks like in practice. After nearly two decades at Dell and deep involvement with TEI and academic programs across the Americas, Lionel brings a clear message: being technically strong is no longer enough. In this episode, he shares: • How he built a 100-hour international tax management program focused on leadership, stakeholder communication, and operational readiness. • Why the tax team at Dell tracks the number of “surprises” as a KPI, and how this drives trust with business stakeholders. • What it means to position tax as a function that enables growth, not just manages compliance. — Where to find Lionel Nobre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lionelnobre/ Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx — In this episode, we cover: (0:01) Intro and Lionel’s background in tax and tech (1:02) Early career: Oracle, Arthur Andersen, BDO, Grant Thornton (2:21) 18+ years at Dell and evolution of his role (3:00) TEI involvement and Latin America’s growing voice (4:59) Why TEI matters for in-house tax professionals (8:09) Dell’s approach to tax as a business partner (10:48) Building trust and internal tax reputation (14:55) Launching the International Tax Management Program (18:18) Who the program is for and what it teaches (22:10) Curriculum: leadership, ops, communication, tech (23:10) Tax KPIs and team performance evaluation (24:00) The “surprise” KPI and why it matters (26:28) Why even good surprises are a problem (28:22) ETR impact: linking C-suite access to outcomes (30:54) Teaching change management in tax teams (33:40) Partnering with CIAT to teach cooperative compliance (35:07) Risk dashboards used by tax authorities (38:39) AI, data quality, and audit exposure (42:52) Global expansion of the training program (44:50) Future skillset: 50% tech, 30% business, 20% tax — Referenced: • TEI – Tax Executive Institute: https://www.tei.org/ • International Tax Management Program – launched in 2023, hosted by universities in Brazil (Insper) and Argentina (UTDT) • Thomson Reuters Book – “Gestão Tributária no Brasil” co-edited by Lionel Nobre • Texas A&M University – where Lionel lectures on tax leadership• CIAT (Centro Interamericano de Administraciones Tributarias) – partner on cooperative compliance module

  • May 15, 2025 · 48 min

    Transforming Tax Processes: Insights from Jelger Buitelaar, Head of Tax at RHI Magnesita

    In this episode of Tax Leaders Unplugged, we sit down with Jelger Buitelaar, head of tax at RHI Magnesita, to discuss his unique career transition from a tax partner at EY to leading in-house tax roles, the importance of solid processes, the role of data in ensuring compliance, and best practices for legal entity management. Jelger shares his insights on improving tax processes, the importance of direct communication, and how to foster a collaborative environment across various departments for better compliance and efficiency. — Where to find Jelger Buitelaar: • https://www.linkedin.com/in/jelger-buitelaar-0090b31/ Where To Find Stevi Frooninckx: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx — In this episode we cover: 00:00 Introduction to Jelger 00:43 Jelger Buitelaar's Career Journey 01:11 Transition from Advisory to In-House 02:04 Challenges of In-House Tax Leadership 03:21 Importance of Practical Advice 06:29 Joining RHI Magnesita 07:57 Improving Tax Processes 11:52 Automated Master Data Controls 14:01 Ensuring Data Quality 20:05 Training and Monitoring for Compliance 25:13 Identifying and Collecting Process Issues 27:12 Addressing Compliance Challenges in Brazil 30:17 Improving Relationships with Tax Authorities 34:34 Strategies for Legal Entity Management 46:34 Advice for Aspiring Tax Leaders

  • Mar 26, 2025 · 51 min

    How NN Group’s 14-Person Tax Team Manages €1.3B in Tax Contributions

    Peter Paul Boon, Global Director Group Tax at NN Group, joins Tax Leaders Unplugged podcast to discuss how a 14-person tax team manages tax strategy and compliance for a multinational insurer with 19,000 employees. In this episode, he shares: - Why NN Group prioritizes strategy over technical tax knowledge - How to scale a tax function without increasing headcount - The 80/20 rule of tax leadership—why tax is mostly a business function - How NN Group trained non-tax teams to take accountability for tax risks - Why NN Group publishes a Total Tax Contribution Report—and how it -changed their governance approach Key Insights & Learnings ✔ Tax is 80% business understanding, 20% technical knowledge "Most business leaders don’t care about tax memos. They need solutions, not explanations." ✔ Train your tax team to speak business, not tax "If you can explain tax to an 8-year-old, you can explain it to your CFO." ✔ Decentralize tax responsibility across the company "With 19,000 employees, tax risks can’t sit with 14 people. We train the business to take ownership." ✔ Be transparent: Why NN Group publishes its tax contribution report "We started tracking our total tax contribution internally in 2013. Now, it’s a public report and a governance benchmark." ✔ The secret to influencing the CFO: Speak in cash impact, not regulations "Your CFO doesn’t want surprises. Show them the numbers and the risks—without the jargon." 📍 Full conversation breakdown: [00:00:00] Introduction – Peter Paul Boon’s journey from Dutch tax authorities to in-house tax leadership [00:01:42] Why NN Group’s tax team is deeply involved in social innovation and financial literacy programs [00:04:40] The Tax Elevator Pitch Test – Why explaining tax to an 8-year-old is the best stakeholder training [00:05:28] Why Peter Paul Boon has stayed at NN Group for 25+ years and how he’s kept the job interesting [00:08:54] Encouraging tax team members to rotate into other roles in the business [00:09:54] How long does it take to reach full speed in an in-house tax role? [00:11:36] The 80/20 rule – Why tax leadership is 80% business, 20% technical knowledge [00:13:33] The difference between advisory tax work vs. in-house tax leadership [00:19:00] How NN Group trains 19,000 employees to be tax-aware without overwhelming them [00:20:36] 14 people managing tax for 19,000 employees – How they make it work [00:22:13] Why tax teams should bring solutions, not problems – making tax advice business-friendly [00:25:06] Letting Other People Do the Work (LOPDTW): How NN Group decentralizes tax risk [00:26:31] How to make tax the co-responsibility of the entire organization [00:29:03] How NN Group trains its tax team beyond technical knowledge [00:31:17] The CFO-Tax Relationship – How to communicate risk and value [00:34:21] Why tax teams should stop doing recurring compliance work [00:35:40] How NN Group absorbed Pillar Two compliance without hiring more staff [00:37:01] What Peter Paul Boon looks for when hiring: Eagerness, creativity, and being a team player [00:39:10] Total Tax Contribution Reports – Why NN Group made tax transparency a priority [00:47:00] Why NN Group started tracking total tax contribution internally in 2013 [00:51:05] Final advice: Be creative. Challenge everything. Think bigger.

  • Jan 9, 2025 · 47 min

    How to build a convincing business case as in-house tax | Katharina Herzog (Hugo Boss)

    In this episode of Tax Leaders Unplugged, host Stevi Frooninckx speaks with Katharina Herzog, Senior Vice President of Group Finance & Tax at Hugo Boss. Katharina shares insights into her role overseeing strategy for the finance and tax divisions and leading a team of over 80 professionals. She discusses her vision for closer collaboration between tax and finance, and the importance of senior leadership understanding how these functions drive revenue. In today’s conversation, we talk about the following: Why Hugo Boss integrates tax and finance teams The long-term costs of outsourcing tax expertise Building a compelling business case that resonates with CFOs and shareholders Key quantitative and qualitative KPIs Tips on "speaking the language" of both the core business and tax functions — Where to find Katharina Herzog: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharina-herzog-b81950ba/ Where To Find Stevi Frooninckx: • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ — In this episode, we cover: (01:14) Welcome Katharina (01:54) Katharina’s hobbies and interests outside tax (02:54) How Katharina made the switch from finance to tax (03:43) Katharina’s tax strengths and weaknesses and how she filled in her knowledge gaps (06:25) Why Katharina is equally passionate about tax and finance (07:24) The pros and cons of combining tax with finance (09:33) Why tax and finance team members are seated together (10:54) How rotations work at Hugo Boss (11:25) The pros and cons of outsourcing—and what Katharina would never outsource (14:26) An example of technology that aids in compliance (15:05) Building a convincing business case by showcasing the value in tax (19:55) How Katharina shares monthly wins with her CFO (21:55) The challenges in promoting tax and finance (24:00) Why tax teams tend to be smaller than finance teams (26:53) The value of tax at Hugo Boss (27:28) First steps for building a successful business case (30:01) More in-depth explanations for illustrating the business value of tax (32:32) An ambitious goal at Hugo Boss (35:30) Qualitative business drivers (37:30) Some general ‘dos and don’ts’ of tax (39:14) The core in-house tax responsibilities and how local taxes are managed (44:47) Why you should be multilingual—speaking the language of both core business and tax (45:40) Katharina’s parting advice — Referenced: • Hugo Boss: https://www.hugoboss.com/us/home • T-Systems: https://www.t-systems.com • KPMG: https://kpmg.com/ • Net promoter score: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_promoter_score • ESG (environmental, social, and governance): https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/environmental-social-and-governance-ESG

  • Nov 4, 2024 · 36 min

    Navigating the path to tax leadership | Denise Bee (Figma, Slack)

    There are multiple paths to becoming a Tax Leader, but have you ever thought about a CFO program or diversifying your experience in an adjacent area, such as finance? In today’s episode of Tax Leaders Unplugged, host Stevi Frooninckx is joined by Denise Bee. Denise is the Head of Tax at Figma. She has decades of experience in tax and has worked for a few years in finance. Before joining Figma, Denise was Head of Tax at Slack. In our conversation, we discuss: • Tax teams and the C-Suite • The transformative impact of living abroad and why it’s worth considering • What does a CFO program entail and why it might be right for you • Key tips for starting as the first in-house tax professional • Denise’s tech stack and how she utilizes these tools • The importance of building a strong network and how to do it • Advice for building a solid foundation in tax and taking control of your career path — Where to find Denise Bee: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-bee-95a148/ Where To Find Stevi Frooninckx: • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx⁠⁠⁠⁠ — In this episode, we cover: (01:44) How exposure to diverse cultures broadened Denise's perspective and empathy (04:50) How Denise's finance background sharpened her strategic thinking (07:08) Why Denise chose a CFO program over an MBA (10:50) How to relate to the CFO and how to advocate for your budget (13:08) The importance of risk management (16:12) Why Denise enjoys working in tech companies (18:54) Denise’s tool stack and how she utilizes each of the tools for Tax (22:44) A typical first week for a new Head of Tax (24:10) Tips for first-time in-house Tax professionals (26:21) How to frame things to get the least amount of pushback (28:00) The tax channel at Slack (28:44) How Denise builds and maintains her network (30:51) The pros and cons of using Excel (33:36) Denise’s parting advice for Tax professionals growing their careers — Referenced: • Figma: https://www.figma.com/ • Figma Slides: https://www.figma.com/slides/ • Notion: https://www.notion.so/ • Dropbox Paper: https://www.dropbox.com/paper/start • Fig Jam: https://www.figma.com/figjam/ • Slack: https://slack.com/

  • Oct 24, 2024 · 43 min

    Navigating Buy vs. Build: Unlocking Tax Technology Solutions | Sara Mendiola (LyondellBasell)

    In this episode of Tax Leaders Unplugged, host Stevi Frooninckx interviews Sara Mendiola, the Tax Technology Manager at LyondellBasell, to explore the critical decision-making process of buying versus building tax technology solutions. Sara shares her unique professional journey, insights on evolving tax technology, and a real-world project involving the standardization of audit files across different jurisdictions. The conversation dives deep into considerations for choosing the right strategy, such as skill sets, resources, stakeholder involvement, and total cost of ownership. They also discuss the importance of executive sponsorship, documentation, and change management strategies. Additionally, Sara emphasizes the innovation potential through hackathons, highlights the benefits of embracing failure, and advises tax professionals on advocating for tech transformation. This episode provides invaluable insights for tax and IT teams aiming to optimize their tax solutions and navigate the complexities of technological integration. In this episode, we cover: 02:17 The Evolution of Tax Technology 03:28 Importance of Processes in Tax Technology 06:42 Buy vs Build: Analyzing Tax Technology Solutions 09:07 Case Study: Implementing Standard Audit File for Tax 15:11 Pros and Cons of Building Tax Technology In-House 20:18 Cost Considerations in Tool Replacement 20:43 Employee and Customer Experience 21:03 Time and Compliance Constraints 21:28 Vendor Solutions and Tax Expertise 22:14 Internal vs. IT Team Development 24:02 Examples of Build vs. Buy Decisions 26:25 Change Management in Implementation 30:34 Next-Generation Technologies and AI 36:16 Hackathons and Innovation Challenges 40:12 Key Takeaways and Final Advice

  • Aug 13, 2024 · 44 min

    The Importance of Process Excellence in Fortune 500 Tax Operations | Don Maher (Head of Tax, Mohawk Industries)

    In this episode of Tax Leaders Unplugged, host Stevi Frooninckx sits down with Don Maher, Global Head of Tax at Mohawk Industries. After discovering litigation was not for him, Don returned to school to obtain his LLM in Tax. Don began his tax career working for KPMG and Deloitte, but moved on to in-house roles at Koch Industries and The Dow Chemical Corporation before accepting his position at Mohawk Industries. In today’s conversation, we discuss: The importance of developing efficient processes The five steps in an integrated approach of Lean Six Sigma How global companies maintain compliance and stay on pace with rapidly changing regulations How good processes impact employee retention The current top challenges in the tax field And so much more! — Where to find Don Maher: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donald-maher-9526353/ Where To Find Stevi Frooninckx: • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx⁠⁠⁠ — In this episode, we cover: (02:06) Don’s interests outside of tax (03:10) How Don got involved in tax (04:32) Why Don was attracted to working in global companies (05:50) Don’s tips on best practices for building processes (06:52) The Five steps in the process of Lean Six Sigma (09:24) Who owns the operationalization of process improvements (11:22) An explanation of the processes at Mohawk (16:22) The benefits of processes and how efficiency drives talent retention (21:35) Don’s philosophy on compliance (25:50) The importance of good communication and strategic partnerships (31:32) Why Don empowers local teams to choose their own advisors (36:01) Top challenges in tax today (40:00) The importance of good public relations (40:44) The recruitment process at Mohawk and what types of talent they seek (43:00) Don’s parting advice — Referenced: • Six Sigma vs Lean Six Sigma: What’s the Difference?: https://www.purdue.edu/leansixsigmaonline/blog/six-sigma-vs-lean-six-sigma/ • Integrating Lean and Six Sigma: https://www.bpminstitute.org/resources/articles/integrating-lean-and-six-sigma • Workflows: https://www.loctax.com/workflows • Pillar Two rules: https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/topics/policy-sub-issues/global-minimum-tax/pillar-two-model-rules-in-a-nutshell.pdf

  • Jul 17, 2024 · 44 min

    Lessons On Adding Value as Head of Tax | Tom Borec (Dermavant, eBay, PwC)

    Could an MBA help unlock new opportunities in your tax career? In this episode of Tax Leaders Unplugged, host Stevi Frooninckx is joined by Tom Borec, Head of Tax at Dermavant Sciences. Tom has worked in tax for the past two decades in senior roles at top companies, including Deloitte, eBay, and PwC. Although he had already worked as a Head of Tax, Tom recently obtained his MBA. In today’s conversation, we discuss: • The milestones to becoming Head of Tax and different paths you can take • How an MBA broadens your perspective and improves your ability to communicate with shareholders • The difference between adding value and creating value in an in-house tax context • Why your relationship with your boss matters—and actionable advice on building a better relationship • And much more — Where to find Tom Borec: • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomborec/ • X: https://x.com/tomborec • Website: https://tomborec.com/ Where To Find Stevi Frooninckx: • LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx⁠⁠ — In this episode, we cover: (02:22) Why Tom decided to pursue an MBA (08:40) The paths to Head of Tax (10:39) The experience and soft skills needed to become a Head of Tax (14:21) Why your relationship with your boss matters, and how openness facilitates growth (17:31) Tips on earning your boss’s trust (21:15) Value protection vs. value creation and how to communicate to stakeholders (25:08) Why compliance is important, but not sellable as ‘adding value’ (28:04) How to add value by stepping outside of traditional tax roles (33:59) Communicating with the core business team (36:00) How to improve your relationship with finance (38:10) An example of incremental improvement from Tom’s rucking journey (41:08) Tom’s final advice — Referenced: • A Path to Head of Tax: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tomborec_tax-finance-leadership-activity-7165271773431676928-w6xs/ • What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School: Notes from a Street-smart Executive: https://www.amazon.com/What-Teach-Harvard-Business-School/dp/0553345834 • GoRuck: https://www.goruck.com/ • Jocko Podcast: https://jockopodcast.com/ • The Tim Ferriss Show: https://tim.blog/podcast/ • Huberman Lab Podcast: https://www.hubermanlab.com/podcast • Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win: https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250183863

  • Jun 5, 2024 · 59 min

    Scaling Tax Teams & Breaking Down Silos: Insights from Booking.com's Head of Tax

    Have you ever considered that broadening your perspective might be the key to excelling in tax leadership? In this episode of Tax Leaders Unplugged, host Stevi Frooninckx is joined by Karine Halimi-Guez, the Head of Tax at Booking.com, to discuss why generalists often have the upper hand. With over 25 years of experience in international taxation, Karine is a respected leader known for managing multicultural teams and navigating complex tax landscapes across various jurisdictions. As a sought-after speaker at international conferences and a former lecturer at the University of Paris-Dauphine, she brings a wealth of knowledge and unique insights to our discussion. In our conversation today, we discuss: • The pitfalls of learning in a tax consultancy environment • The value of generalists in tax leadership, and how to broaden your perspective • Why challenging your employees leads to growth and retention • Building your brand as a strategic thinker • Selling tax as a value driver • And much more — Where to find Karine Halimi-Guez: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karine-halimi-guez-0515511 Where To Find Stevi Frooninckx: LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx⁠ — In this episode, we cover: (03:07) Karine’s hobbies and interests outside of tax (06:20) Why Karine decided to become a tax professional (08:30) What sets Karine apart as a tax professional (15:24) Karine’s team at Booking.com (16:10) The problem with siloed thinking in the tax community (20:00) Karine’s thoughts on the book Range (25:15) Why Karine likes to challenge her employees with new tax roles (31:14) Challenges employees face when expanding skills, and why it’s worth it (34:20) How Karine supports her team in a rapidly changing international company (36:50) The structure of tax at booking.com (40:05) Tips for unlocking value for business and environments that value tax professionals (47:11) Selling the value of tax using a collaborative approach (53:15) The importance of building a network and participating in stakeholder events if relevant (55:12) How Karine pushed for the work-from-home agenda at the UN (58:11) Karine’s top advice for tax professionals — Referenced: Booking.com: https://www.booking.com/ FedEx Express: https://www.fedex.com/ University of Paris Dauphine: https://dauphine.psl.eu/en/ Georges-Eugène Haussmann: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges-Eug%C3%A8ne_Haussmann American Revolutionary War: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War A Brief History of VAT: https://www.taxually.com/blog/brief-history-of-vat Come-to-Jesus moment: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/come-to-Jesus%20moment Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World: https://www.amazon.com/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/0735214484

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes