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Smarter Tax Tech: What’s Next for Global Compliance

Global Compliance

Global tax departments are at a crossroads. The pace of regulatory change, the complexity of compliance mandates and the pressure to modernize tax operations are converging in ways that demand strategic action. On September 23, I’ll be joining experts from SAP for a live webinar to unpack the findings from the latest SAPinsider Benchmark Research Global Tax Management report and explore how leading organizations are responding to these challenges.

This blog previews what we’ll cover in the session and why the SAPinsider report is essential reading for tax, finance and IT professionals navigating global compliance.

The Strategic Imperative for Tax Modernization

The SAPinsider report makes one thing clear: tax is no longer a back-office function. It’s a strategic lever for risk mitigation, operational efficiency and digital transformation. The data shows that 45% of tax leaders cite integration with global tax engines as their top challenge, while only 3% have fully implemented tax controls.

These gaps expose organizations to compliance risks and inefficiencies that can no longer be ignored.

What to Expect in the Webinar

During the webinar, we’ll explore four key themes drawn from the report and our conversations with tax leaders:

  • Investment priorities for corporate tax departments.
  • Regulatory obligations and audit readiness.
  • Technology adoption for automation and analytics.
  • Future regulatory developments expected to shape the next one to three years.

These topics reflect the real-world pressures facing tax teams and the strategic decisions they must make to stay ahead.

Highlights from the SAPinsider Report

The report is grounded in survey data from SAPinsider’s global community and offers a comprehensive view of the tax landscape:

  • Brazil’s 2026 tax reform is a major concern, with only 27% of respondents feeling prepared
  • Cloud adoption is gaining traction, but 28% of organizations are still evaluating their options
  • Workforce challenges persist, with 32% citing skills gaps and 29% struggling with unreliable tax-sensitized data

These findings underscore the need for integrated, intelligent tax solutions that can adapt to regulatory change and support business growth.

Join the Conversation and Explore the Insights

To dive deeper into these findings and learn how to translate them into action, I encourage you to join us on September 23. We’ll discuss how tax departments can align transformation efforts with ERP strategy, implement tax control frameworks and prepare for jurisdictional shifts like Brazil’s dual VAT rollout. Click here to register for the webinar.

If you’re looking to benchmark your strategy or identify areas for improvement, the full SAPinsider report is available now. It offers detailed insights, technology trends and strategic recommendations for SAP-centric tax teams. Download the full report here.

Disclaimer

Please remember that the Vertex blog provides information for educational purposes, not specific tax or legal advice. Always consult a qualified tax or legal advisor before taking any action based on this information. The views and opinions expressed in the Vertex blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or opinion of Vertex Inc.

Blog Author

Michael J. Bernard, Chief Tax Officer – Transaction Tax at Vertex Inc. Vertex's Chief Tax Office (CTO) provides insight regarding the impact of tax regulations, policy, enforcement, and emerging technology trends on global tax department operations.

Michael J. Bernard

Vice President and Chief Tax Officer

See All Resources by Michael

Michael Bernard is the Chief Tax Officer of Transaction Tax. In his role, he provides insight and thought leadership around tax department operations, U.S. indirect tax, tax risk management, and tax policy, as well as emerging tax trends. He is also responsible for influencing emerging technologies which meet the continuing regulatory changes of the corporate tax community. He is an executive-level tax attorney with a diverse portfolio of experience in corporate tax, administration, and finance, including a substantive knowledge of U.S. and international tax laws.

Prior to joining Vertex, Michael was in various tax leadership roles at Microsoft Corporation for 28 years, the most recent being General Manager & U.S. Tax Counsel. He led teams in the following functional areas: direct and indirect tax controversy, sales and use, business license, property, tax IT, SOX, and telecommunications. He also co-led a corporate taxpayer advocacy group with the Washington Department of Revenue and was a Director on the Board of the Washington Research Council. He has also testified before administrative and lawmakers at both the federal and state level.

Michael earned both a J.D. and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Creighton University. He is a part-time lecturer of Law in the LLM program at the University of Washington School of Law. He also served on the board of directors, executive committee, and chaired committees for The Tax Executives Institute (TEI) for nearly 25 years.

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