TaxPulse Podcast

Jake

Welcome to The TaxPulse Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of both U.S. and global tax markets from a staffing, retention & development perspective.

Episodes

  1. May 20

    Effectively Managing Outside Service Providers In The Current Market

    🎧 Episode Description In this episode of the Tax Pulse Podcast, Tony Santiago and Jake Tuchmann sit down with Emily Whittenburg, Vice President and Chief Tax Officer at Nike Incorporated, to discuss the evolving landscape of managing outside service providers in the tax function. Emily shares her extensive experience and insights on navigating the complexities of co-sourcing, outsourcing, and managed service models.  The conversation delves into the challenges tax leaders face in evaluating these services, the critical importance of thorough due diligence, and strategies for effective negotiation. Emily emphasizes the need for tax leaders to clearly define their needs, involve internal stakeholders, and advocate for contractual terms that drive year-over-year efficiency and protect the company's interests, moving beyond traditional cost-saving approaches to truly strategic partnerships. 🔑 Key Discussion Highlights  •Evolution of Service Models: Tracing the shift from basic compliance outsourcing to comprehensive managed services and co-sourcing arrangements.  •Defining Internal Needs: The necessity for tax leaders to clearly articulate their specific requirements and objectives before engaging service providers.  •Internal Alignment and Buy-in: Strategies for involving key internal leadership and ensuring team buy-in for new operating models with external partners.  •Strategic Negotiation: Leveraging legal and procurement teams, establishing guiding principles, and maintaining a professional distance during contract negotiations.  •Driving Contractual Efficiency: Implementing terms that require service providers to demonstrate year-over-year efficiency gains without sacrificing scope or quality.  •Mindset Shift for Tax Leaders: Encouraging tax leaders to take a proactive, driver-seat approach in managing external relationships.     📌 Top Quotes  •Bread and Butter: "When these came onto the scene, these arrangements, everyone talked about them as outsourcing. Let's just get rid of the stuff that seems mundane and routine and repeatable so that your team can get focused on the more strategic." - Emily Whittenburg  •Worth Weight in Gold: "That is worth its weight in gold to take the time up front. This advice is grateful and you guys are listening. Ladies and gentlemen, this is where you put your time in." - Tony Santiago  •Guiding Principles: "I sat down, and I just took out a pen and paper and wrote down, what are the guiding principles that I want to achieve here? And I had a list of those. And I walked through those with my legal team and my procurement team and said, hey, these are the kind of the boundaries on which we should approach this so that we get out of this what we need." - Emily Whittenburg  •Find the Quotes: "If you're going to have done these returns for me for five years, you should get faster and better every year. And so we actually came up with a way to bend the curve and require an efficiency indicator now year over year. So their fees actually get reduced year over year..." - Emily Whittenburg    ✅ Key Takeaways  •Proactive Management: Tax leaders must take a proactive stance in defining their needs and managing relationships with outside service providers, rather than passively accepting vendor offerings.  •Thorough Due Diligence: Beyond contractual terms, it is crucial to conduct in-depth due diligence on the actual personnel and operational models of service providers.  •Internal Collaboration: Engaging legal, procurement, and internal tax leadership teams is vital for successful negotiation and implementation of managed service arrangements.  •Contractual Innovation: Negotiate contracts that include provisions for year-over-year efficiency gains from service providers, ensuring continuous improvement and value.  •Relationship over Transaction: While contracts set parameters, fostering strong working relationships with service providers is key to long-term success.    👤 About the Guest Speaker  Emily Whittenburg is the Vice President and Chief Tax Officer at Nike Incorporated. With 28 years of experience in the tax business, Emily has a diverse background that includes public accounting firms (Arthur Andersen, EY), a law firm specializing in M&A and corporate real estate, and 18 years in-house at companies like Waste Management, Shell Oil, and, for the last six years, Nike. Her expertise lies in effectively managing external service providers and driving strategic value within tax functions.    ▶️ Next Steps for Listeners  •Assess Your Needs: Clearly define what your tax department needs from external service providers before engaging in discussions.  •Involve Your Team: Bring in key internal stakeholders, including legal and procurement, to collaborate on service provider evaluations and negotiations.  •Question Everything: Don't hesitate to ask detailed questions about personnel, processes, and expected efficiencies from potential partners.  •Negotiate for Value: Advocate for contractual terms that ensure continuous improvement and cost-effectiveness from your service providers.  •Build Relationships: Focus on fostering strong, collaborative relationships with your chosen external partners.    📬 Connect With Us  •Follow us on LinkedIn or Visit TaxTalent.com  •Connect with Tony Santiago and Emily Whittenburg on LinkedIn.

    28 min

  2. Mar 31

    Training, Technology & Talent: Building the Future of In-House Tax

    🎧 Episode Description  In this episode of the Tax Pulse Podcast, Tony Santiago sits down with global tax executive Lionel Nobre to explore one of the most urgent challenges facing the profession today: how to properly train and develop tax professionals in an era shaped by AI, automation, and rising global complexity.  Lionel shares why the common narrative that “AI will replace tax professionals” misses the bigger picture. While technology may automate calculations, the true value of in-house tax teams lies in judgment, business partnership, cultural intelligence, and leadership.  Drawing on his experience building global development programs at Dell Technologies, Lionel explains how structured rotations, mentorship, and blended technical and human-skills training can transform tax departments from compliance centers into strategic business partners. He also addresses the shrinking talent pipeline, reduced training in public accounting, and why organizations—especially those without large tax teams—must rethink how they develop future leaders, highlighting his work with the Tax Leadership Academy at Tax Executives Institute to create scalable leadership solutions for mid-sized tax departments.  🔑 Key Discussion Highlights  • AI Myth Busting: Why automation handles calculations—but not judgment, strategy, or leadership  • The 80/20 Shift: How technology changes the nature of tax work without eliminating it  • Technical Skill Erosion: The impact of offshoring and reduced Big Four training models  • Global Rotation Programs: Building in-house development models that mirror public accounting exposure  • Cultural Intelligence: Why cross-border communication and change management are now core tax skills  • Scalable Leadership Training: How the Tax Leadership Academy supports smaller tax departments  📌 Top Quotes  “AI may do 80% of the calculation—but it can’t replace judgment.” – Lionel Nobre  “Tax has never been more complex, and that means leadership has never been more important.” – Tony Santiago  “We love change in the tax code—but we don’t always love changing ourselves.” – Lionel Nobre  ✅ Key Takeaways  • Automation will elevate tax roles—not eliminate them—by shifting focus to higher-value work  • Technical training gaps are widening, making structured development programs essential  • Cultural awareness and change management are critical skills for global tax teams  • Smaller tax departments must leverage centralized programs to compete for talent 👤 About the Guest Speaker  Lionel Nobre is a global in-house tax executive at Dell Technologies with more than two decades of international experience across Latin America and the United States. An attorney by background and longtime educator, he has published extensively in international tax and transfer pricing and is a leading advocate for modern tax leadership development through his work with the Tax Executives Institute.  Lionel Nobre Contact Information  TEI Website ITMP Website ▶️ Next Steps for Listeners  • Evaluate whether your tax team has a structured development roadmap  • Invest in mentorship and rotational exposure—regardless of department size  • Balance technical depth with leadership and communication training  • Reframe AI as a tool for elevation—not replacement  📬 Connect With Us  • Follow us on LinkedIn or Visit TaxTalent.com

    29 min

  3. 11/05/2025

    Pros and Cons of Private-Equity Acquisitions of Public Accounting Firms

    Guest Speaker: Tim McDonald, Former VP of Global Taxes, Procter & Gamble Duration: 26 minutes  Release Date: November 5th, 2025 🎧 Episode Description In this episode of the Exposed Podcast, host Tony Santiago sits down with Tim McDonald, retired VP of Global Taxes at Procter & Gamble, for a timely fireside chat on one of the most rapidly developing trends in the profession — the rise of private equity acquisitions in public accounting firms. Tim brings decades of experience managing global tax operations and shares a unique insider’s view of how productivity pressures, outsourcing models, and talent dynamics are converging under private equity ownership. Together, Tony and Tim unpack what this means for corporate in-house tax leaders, especially those leveraging co-sourcing, shared service centers, or outsourcing arrangements. The discussion goes beyond theory — highlighting contract considerations, talent retention risks, and the ripple effects of offshoring and labor arbitrage as private equity reshapes the accounting landscape. 🔑 Key Discussion Highlights Productivity Pressure: How PE’s drive for scale and efficiency mirrors internal productivity initiatives in corporate tax.Contract Readiness: Why in-house leaders must revisit co-sourcing and outsourcing agreements for change-of-control clauses.Shared Service Vulnerability: How private equity firms may poach skilled talent from shared service centers as they expand offshore.Plan B Preparedness: Why companies must develop contingency plans if key external providers become PE-owned or cost-prohibitive.Training & Succession: The long-term risk of losing data fluency and mentorship opportunities as more tax work is outsourced.Talent Competition: How shifting business models could create a labor crunch and spawn a “next generation” of boutique CPA firms.📌 Top Quotes “Productivity is a double-edged sword. You either own it—or it’s imposed on you.” – Tim McDonald “When private equity steps in, you need to make sure your agreements let you step out.” – Tony Santiago “Outsourcing can save money, but if you lose control of your data and your people, you lose leverage.” – Tim McDonald✅ Key Takeaways Reassess your outsourcing and co-sourcing contracts for ownership and continuity protections.Protect shared service talent through stronger engagement, visibility, and training.Start succession planning early to preserve institutional knowledge as automation and offshoring expand.👤 About the Guest Speaker Tim McDonald is the former VP of Global Taxes at Procter & Gamble, where he led a global team across 30+ countries for nearly two decades. With prior leadership roles at Baxter International and in public accounting, Tim brings deep experience in tax strategy, transformation, and operational execution across complex, multinational environments. ▶️ Next Steps for Listeners Review your firm’s outsourcing agreements for potential private equity exposure.Begin mapping contingency plans for key tax functions.Stay tuned for future Exposed episodes exploring how private equity is reshaping the professional services landscape. 📖 TaxNotes Article on Private Equity  For access to the TaxNotes article, click here ➜  https://bit.ly/3TQPjkU 📬 Connect With Us Follow us on LinkedIn Visit TaxTalent.com

    27 min

  4. 07/17/2025

    Tech, Talent & Transformation: Rethinking the Future of Tax

    Guest Speakers: Jed Larkin, SVP, Head of Tax, ModernaDoug Cronin, VP of Corporate Tax, Boston ScientificDuration: 30 minutes Release Date: July 17th, 2025 🎧 Episode Description In this episode of the Exposed Podcast, Tony Santiago moderates a dynamic conversation with two tax leaders navigating large-scale transformation at two very different organizations: Jed Larkin of Moderna and Doug Cronin of Boston Scientific. They dive into the evolving role of technology in tax, from process automation and data flow optimization to the practical limits of AI. Drawing from real-world implementation experiences, Jed and Doug shed light on the gaps between industry hype and operational reality, and what it takes to modernize a tax department. The episode also explores the growing concern around training the next generation of tax professionals as automation accelerates, and what leaders must do now to avoid knowledge gaps in the future. 🔑 Key Discussion Highlights Reality vs. Hype: What tax tech can really do today—and where it still falls shortProcess First, Then Tech: Why understanding internal processes is the foundation for successful transformationData Complexity: The unique challenges of integrating clean, actionable data across ERPs and systemsAI & Indirect Tax: How both companies are using AI to validate VAT and withholding transactionsFuture-Proofing Talent: The risk of losing institutional knowledge as automation replaces manual tasks📌 Top Quotes "You can't automate a bad process—fix the foundation first." – Jed Larkin "AI is powerful, but it won’t replace judgment. We still need tax professionals who understand the 'why.'" – Doug Cronin "Governments will soon tell you what you owe. Are we ready for that?" – Tony Santiago ✅ Key Takeaways Optimizing tax technology starts with mapping and modernizing core processesAI and automation are best applied in repeatable, high-volume areas like indirect taxTraining the next generation must evolve to ensure expertise doesn’t disappear with retiring talentCompanies must balance innovation with controls, visibility, and adaptability👤 About the Guest Speakers Jed Larkin is SVP and Head of Tax at Moderna, where he brings a forward-thinking approach to tax technology, data integration, and strategic planning. His background includes senior leadership at 3M and a focus on scaling global operations. Doug Cronin serves as VP of Corporate Tax at Boston Scientific and brings over two decades of experience in driving transformation, automation, and compliance across a highly regulated, rapidly growing business environment. ▶️ Next Steps for Listeners Audit your current tax processes—before applying new techStart small with automation—target high-volume, repeatable workBegin building a knowledge-transfer plan for your team’s future📬 Connect With Us Follow us on LinkedInVisit TaxTalent.com

    30 min

  5. 05/28/2025

    CFO Expectations: The Tax Leadership Playbook

    Guest: Heath Mitts  Title: Chief Financial Officer, TE Connectivity  Duration: 31 minutes  Release Date: May 28th  Episode Description In this insightful episode of the Exposed Podcast, Tony Santiago sits down with Heath Mitts, CFO of TE Connectivity, to explore the evolving relationship between the CFO and the tax function. Heath shares his perspective on how CFOs are navigating today’s complex global tax environment, the expectations they have of tax leaders, and the key traits he values in a Chief Tax Officer. The conversation also touches on strategies for balancing aggressive tax planning with risk mitigation, the challenges of maintaining compliance in a shifting regulatory landscape, and what CFOs should consider when hiring or promoting their first tax leader. Key Discussion Highlights 🔹 The CFO-Tax Leader Dynamic: Heath discusses the critical role tax leaders play in shaping business decisions and the need for consistent communication. 🔹 Anticipating Global Change: Insights on how TE Connectivity’s tax function plans ahead for regulatory shifts and manages risk in over 100 countries. 🔹 Telescope Thinking: The importance of a tax leader who can switch between granular technical detail and big-picture strategy. 🔹 Talent Development: Why building and retaining a strong, adaptable tax team is essential for long-term success. 🔹 Balancing Compliance and Planning: How CFOs can work with tax leaders to integrate risk management and proactive planning. Top Quotes 📌 “Our tax leader is not buried in layers—they have a seat at the table.” — Heath Mitts 📌 “Scenario planning wasn’t even a thing years ago in tax, but today it’s essential.” — Heath Mitts 📌 “Telescope thinking is critical—the ability to zoom in on the technical and then quickly zoom out to communicate with the business.” — Heath Mitts Key Takeaways ✅ The CFO and tax leader must maintain open, proactive communication to navigate today’s evolving global landscape.  ✅ Tax functions need to integrate risk management, scenario planning, and adaptability into daily operations.  ✅ Building a culture of development within the tax team fosters loyalty and long-term business success.  ✅ Hiring or promoting a tax leader requires prioritizing skills and fit over chasing the elusive “unicorn” candidate. About the Guest Speaker: Heath Mitts Heath Mitts is the Chief Financial Officer of TE Connectivity. With over two decades of financial leadership experience across manufacturing and technology sectors, Heath brings a unique perspective on how tax functions can create value, manage complexity, and align with broader business objectives. Next Steps for Listeners  🔹 Evaluate your tax team’s readiness for rapid regulatory changes.  🔹 Foster a culture of development and adaptability within your tax function.  🔹 Stay tuned for more Exposed episodes exploring leadership, compliance, and corporate strategy. Connect With Us LinkedIn TaxTalent.com

    31 min

  6. 04/03/2025

    Leading Through Uncertainty: How to Navigate Risk, Compliance, and Market Volatility

    Episode Information Guest: Jared Dunkin Title: Senior Partner, Global Advisory Firm Duration: 29 minutes Release Date: April 3rd  Episode Description In this compelling episode of the Exposed podcast, Tony Santiago sits down with Jared Dunkin, VP of Tax, at a leading global advisory firm, to discuss the evolving role of leadership in a rapidly shifting business landscape. This episode delves into the key forces shaping corporate decision-making, risk management, and the growing need for agility in today’s competitive environment. Key Discussion Highlights: The Leadership Evolution: Jared shares his insights on how the expectations for corporate leaders are shifting, and what executives must do to stay ahead in an era of economic uncertainty.Navigating Risk and Compliance: With increasing regulatory pressures, businesses are being forced to rethink how they approach compliance and governance to avoid costly missteps.Strategic Agility in a Volatile Market: Jared explores how organizations can build resilience and adaptability into their long-term strategies to remain competitive amid global uncertainty.Top Quotes: On leadership transformation: "Companies that embrace a proactive approach to leadership will outmaneuver those who remain reactive." — Jared Dunkin On risk and compliance: "Regulatory frameworks are only getting more complex—leaders need to anticipate and prepare, rather than simply respond." — Jared Dunkin On strategic agility: "The companies that thrive will be those that embed flexibility into their core strategy." — Jared Dunkin Key Takeaways: Business leaders must be more proactive in navigating regulatory and market challenges.Companies that fail to incorporate adaptability into their leadership structures will struggle to compete.Understanding and preparing for regulatory trends is critical to maintaining compliance and avoiding financial pitfalls.About the Guest Speaker: Jared Dunkin Jared Dunkin is a seasoned tax executive with over two decades of experience.  Jared is Vice President, Senior Tax Counsel at FTI Consulting, a publicly traded business advisory firm. Prior to FTI, Dunkin led the global tax and treasury function at VICE Media and was the global head of tax at CEB Inc. He also served as VP of global tax planning and M&A at Discovery, worked in EY's national tax group in Washington, D.C., and was an associate at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Jared lives in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area with his wife and five children. Next Steps for Listeners: Assess your company’s leadership readiness for the evolving business landscape.Implement proactive risk management strategies to stay ahead of regulatory challenges.Stay tuned to Exposed for more expert insights on leadership, compliance, and corporate strategy.Jared’s New Book “The Cat’s Meow” We have the great privilege of announcing Jared's new book, “The Cat’s Meow”! It is an old phrase for something wonderful or remarkable, which is exactly what he hopes this book will be for those who read it. It’s a collection of short musings from his journey to be better, offering insights on mindset, leadership, relationships, decision-making, and wisdom. Jared’s hope is that it sparks reflection and growth, helping you on your own journey.   The book is now available on Amazon, and all profits will go to charity in memory of his late mother. https://www.amazon.com/Cats-Meow-Musings-Journey-Better-ebook/dp/B0F19GWS61?ref_=ast_author_dp  Connect With Us LinkedIn TaxTalent.com

    29 min

  7. 02/11/2025

    Navigating the Future of Tax Policy and Leadership with Tim McDonald

    Episode Information Guest: Tim McDonald Title: Former VP, Global Taxes Procter and Gamble Company Duration: 36 minutes Release Date: February 11th  Episode Description In this insightful episode of Exposed, Tony Santiago speaks with Tim McDonald, former Global Head of Tax at Procter & Gamble, about the critical challenges facing tax functions in 2025 and beyond. As the second installment of the podcast, this episode dives deep into tax policy shifts, workforce development, and succession planning amid global tax reform pressures. Key Discussion Highlights: Macro-Level Tax Policy Challenges: McDonald explains why upcoming tax reforms will be more difficult than expected due to debt concerns and exhausted revenue-generating strategies from previous reforms.Generational Workforce Shifts: The tax profession is experiencing a leadership transition as baby boomers retire, with Gen X professionals facing unique challenges that may prevent them from stepping into top roles.The Future of Tax Structures: Insights into the potential introduction of GST-like tax systems and the critical need for balanced spending controls. Top Quotes: On tax reform challenges: "The current macro condition we have is such that tax reform is going to be much more difficult than people think." — Tim McDonaldOn debt & policy dynamics: "Tax executives must bring these debt and policy dynamics to their management and board's attention before it's too late." — Tim McDonaldOn workforce development: "Tax leaders need to bring their management and boards up to speed on these debt dynamics, or they'll be blindsided by policy changes." — Tim McDonaldKey Takeaways: Companies must rethink their tax strategies and leadership pipelines amid generational and fiscal challenges.The need for proactive communication with financial and HR leadership is critical to staying ahead of regulatory and workforce changes.Educating tax professionals on indirect tax exposure, such as GST, will be vital as global tax trends evolve.About the Guest Speaker: Tim McDonald Tim McDonald is a distinguished tax expert with a 40-year career spanning corporate leadership and tax policy. He recently retired as Global Head of Taxes at Procter & Gamble after 19.5 years and previously led tax functions at Baxter International. He began his career at General Motors Tax Counsel, contributing to the modeling of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, followed by 12.5 years in Big Four accounting. A CPA with a BSA from the University of Michigan and a JD from Wayne State Law School, Tim has served as an advisory board member for the University of Chicago Tax Symposium for 23 years, Co-Chair of the Alliance for Competitive Taxation for 15+ years, and member of PwC’s Tax Study Group for 25 years. His unparalleled expertise makes him a trusted voice in tax leadership and policy. Next Steps for Listeners: Evaluate your team’s leadership pipeline and skills readiness for potential tax system changes.Open proactive conversations with your board and management about the political and economic challenges highlighted in this episode.Continue following Exposed for more expert insights and actionable advice.Connect With Us LinkedIn TaxTalent.com contact@taxtalent.com Tags #TaxLeadership #CareerDevelopment #TeamManagement #CorporateTax #Leadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #TaxPolicy

    36 min

  8. 12/19/2024

    Leading the Way: Insights from Sonia Hollies

    Episode Information Guest: Sonia Hollies Title: Senior Vice President, Global Treasurer, Tax and Corporate Finance Head at Perrigo Duration: 30 minutes Release Date: December 19th Episode Description In this inaugural episode of Exposed, host Tony Santiago sits down with Sonia Hollies, a dynamic tax leader who has expanded her role far beyond traditional tax boundaries. Together, they explore the evolution of tax leadership, the importance of relationship-building in a post-COVID world, and strategies for developing and retaining top tax talent. Key Highlights Sonia's journey from accounting to tax leadershipBuilding relationships across organizational boundariesInnovative approaches to team development and retentionManaging multiple stakeholders effectivelyAdapting to remote/hybrid work environmentsNotable Quotes "Every time I talk to Sonia, they add something else onto her title." - Tony Santiago "Tax is a way for accountants to be creative." - Sonia Hollies "There is no such thing as 'it's not your job.'" - Sonia Hollies "I think relationship building is even more important in this COVID, post-COVID environment." - Sonia Hollies Topics Covered 1. Career Development Journey from accounting to taxExpanding responsibilities beyond taxBuilding cross-functional relationships2. Leadership Insights Managing diverse stakeholdersImportance of agility in leadershipBalancing technical and soft skillsCommunication strategies at all levels3. Team Management One-on-one engagement strategiesPerformance evaluation approachesCareer development conversationsSuccession planning4. Organizational Development Building transparency in organizationsCross-functional collaborationWorking with HR effectivelyManaging remote/hybrid teams5. Future Challenges Preparing for regulatory changesManaging global tax complexityDeveloping next-generation leadersResources Mentioned Leadership in Action programAchievers program360-degree feedback assessmentsAbout the Guest Sonia Hollies serves as the Senior Vice President, Global Treasurer, Tax and Corporate Finance Head at Perrigo, a life sciences consumer products company. With headquarters in both Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Dublin, Ireland, Sonia brings over 30 years of experience in tax and finance leadership. She served as the Vice President and Chief Tax Officer at Conduent, leading the tax function during the organization's spin-off from Xerox. Sonia has also held senior tax roles at Xylem Inc., MasterCard, United Technologies, Purdue Pharma, and Crane Co. Throughout their career, Sonia has demonstrated expertise in tax compliance, reporting, and strategic planning, successfully managing tax functions and providing valuable insights to senior management and board members. Next Steps for Listeners Connect with Sonia Hollies on professional networksExplore implementing one-on-one career discussions in your organizationConsider developing cross-functional relationships within your companySubscribe to Exposed for more insights from tax industry leadersConnect With Us LinkedIn TaxTalent.com contact@taxtalent.com Tags #TaxLeadership #CareerDevelopment #TeamManagement #CorporateTax #Leadership #ProfessionalDevelopment #Tale

    34 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Welcome to The TaxPulse Podcast, where we dive deep into the world of both U.S. and global tax markets from a staffing, retention & development perspective.

Information

  • Creator
    Jake
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 TaxPulse Podcast
  • Show Website
    TaxPulse Podcast

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