The Future of Professional Report highlights the significant impact of Generative AI (GenAI) on business strategies, with 94% of C-suite executives believing it will substantially alter their plans. Corporate tax leaders must embrace and integrate GenAI to succeed in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. However, effective integration requires careful planning and preparation. To leverage this technology successfully, tax organizations need the right tools, knowledge, and strategies. By following these eight actionable steps, derived from the Future of Professionals Report, corporate tax leaders can guide their departments into the future of tax and gain a competitive advantage in the digital age.
1. Conduct a comprehensive skills assessment
To ensure successful integration, it’s crucial to understand your tax team’s technological capabilities and skills. The 2024 Thomson Reuters Corporate Tax Department Technology Report revealed that many tax departments lack sufficient technology expertise, hindering their ability to adopt new technologies like GenAI. To address this challenge, begin by identifying key technology skills required for integration in the tax function, such as data analytics, programming, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. Assess your team members’ current proficiency in these skills through various methods and create a skills matrix outlining required competencies for various roles within the tax department.
Use this matrix to identify skill gaps and develop targeted training plans. Make informed hiring decisions to bring in individuals with the necessary skills to lead tax integration projects. Regularly update your skills assessment process to stay current with emerging technologies and maintain your tax department’s position at the forefront of transformation.
2. Foster a culture of continuous learning
The Thomson Reuters Corporate Tax Department Technology Report indicates that while technology training is provided, it may not meet tax professionals’ desired frequency. To bridge this gap, organizations must prioritize tailored and continuous training programs that equip employees with the skills needed to thrive in the age of GenAI. For successful integration, develop customized training programs focusing on critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Create a dynamic environment that fosters innovation and improvement. Recognize and reward employees for their commitment to ongoing learning and encourage knowledge sharing and collaboration among team members.
Technology can strengthen your corporate tax team. By investing in workforce development, tax departments can remain agile, adaptable, and well-equipped to navigate the evolving tax landscape.
3. Establish clear principles for the responsible use of AI
While GenAI offers significant potential for tax transformation, it raises ethical and legal considerations. To harness its benefits while minimizing risks, establish clear principles and guidelines for responsible AI use in tax functions. Regularly review and update AI principles to keep pace with evolving technology and regulatory requirements. Define the purpose and intended outcomes of GenAI integration in tax functions and integrate robust security measures to safeguard data and protect against potential vulnerabilities.
Establish data governance and privacy protocols to ensure compliance with relevant regulations, and test and validate GenAI systems for accuracy, reliability, and bias. By setting and adhering to clear guidelines, businesses can create a culture of responsible AI use that drives innovation while mitigating potential risks.
4. Integrate pilot projects
Despite low current adoption rates of AI in tax departments, there’s significant interest in exploring its potential (source: 2024 Corporate Tax Department Technology Report). To begin the tax transformation journey, identify specific use cases for GenAI, such as automating routine tasks, enhancing data analysis, or generating insights from unstructured data. Collaborate with technology partners knowledgeable in both AI and tax and set clear goals and success metrics for each pilot project. Involve stakeholders from across the organization, including tax professionals, IT, and business leaders.
Starting with small-scale pilot projects allows businesses to experiment, identify challenges, and refine their approach before embarking on larger initiatives.
5. Create a task force
Effective GenAI integration within the tax department requires a collaborative and coordinated approach.
The Thomson Reuters Corporate Tax Department Technology Report found that only half of the respondents had a designated point person for technology strategy, highlighting the need to centralize GenAI-related efforts. To integrate a successful task force, define its mandate, scope, and goals clearly. Identify key stakeholders and members with diverse expertise from various departments and allocate sufficient resources and support to enable the task force’s work.
Establish regular meetings and communication channels to facilitate collaboration and monitor progress and evaluate the effectiveness of the task force’s initiatives. A dedicated task force can foster innovation, drive GenAI integration and adoption, and ensure a coordinated approach to leveraging this transformative technology.
6. Develop a strategic plan
To ensure successful GenAI integration and adoption within the tax department, develop a comprehensive strategic plan. Define a long-term vision aligned with organizational goals, and set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals. Allocate necessary resources, including budget, technology, and skilled personnel. Develop a detailed timeline with milestones to track progress and ensure accountability.
Regularly review and adapt the plan based on feedback and changing circumstances. A well-crafted strategic plan enables tax departments to navigate the rapidly evolving digital transformation landscape and harness the full potential of GenAI.
7. Establishing metrics to measure success
Establishing metrics to measure the long-term impact of AI in corporate tax departments is critical, especially given that the
2024 Thomson Corporate Tax Department Technology Report revealed that 73% of departments don’t track technology success metrics. To address this gap, tax departments should develop specific performance metrics tailored to their AI integrations. These could include quantifiable measures such as time saved on routine tasks, accuracy improvements in tax calculations, or cost reductions.
Integrating a system of continuous assessment is equally important, allowing departments to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of their AI tools and make necessary adjustments. This ongoing monitoring helps identify areas for improvement and ensures that AI solutions remain aligned with evolving business needs and regulatory requirements. Furthermore, insights gained from this rigorous tracking can inform future planning, enabling tax departments to make data-driven decisions about AI strategies and investments.
8. Communicate the value of AI
Effectively communicating the value of AI to stakeholders within an organization is essential for successful digital integration. Clearly articulate the benefits of AI and its potential impact on the tax function and overall business. Showcase successful use cases and pilot projects within the organization, and regularly communicate progress, successes, and challenges related to AI initiatives.
Highlight AI’s ability to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and productivity, and emphasize how it can provide valuable insights and predictions by analyzing large volumes of data. By demonstrating AI’s positive impact, corporate tax leaders can foster a culture of innovation and drive successful AI integration and adoption within their organizations.
Prepare for the impact of new technologies
Cultivating a culture of innovation in a corporate tax department can bring numerous benefits. It can attract and retain top talent by encouraging creativity and collaboration, enhance problem-solving capabilities, and develop more effective tax strategies. This approach improves employee satisfaction and engagement while boosting the department’s reputation and credibility both internally and externally.
Furthermore, a culture of innovation can lead to cost savings and increased profitability through process improvements and new revenue streams. By fostering this culture and integrating innovations, tax departments can enhance their efficiency, accuracy, productivity, and overall success, ultimately contributing to the company’s growth and competitiveness in the digital age.
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