Taxsearch Thought Leadership Library

Thought Leadership: Illuminating the Path Forward

Welcome to TaxSearch’s Thought Leadership Library — your gateway to expert insight at the intersection of tax, talent, and strategy. In a profession marked by rapid change and rising complexity, staying informed isn’t optional — it’s essential. Our library brings together timely articles, in-depth reports, and interactive webinars that translate complexity into clarity. Whether you’re navigating regulatory shifts, rethinking your tax team’s structure, or planning for future growth, our content is designed to equip tax professionals and business leaders with the foresight to lead confidently.

Crafted by seasoned practitioners and led by TaxSearch founder Tony Santiago, our insights go beyond headlines. We analyze trends, decode implications, and provide practical guidance to help you anticipate challenges and seize opportunities. Explore our latest thought leadership below, and stay ahead of the curve in a world where tax touches everything.

TaxNotes - Beyond Technical: The Skills Tax Chiefs Must Master

The Future of Tax Is Strategic, and it Starts Now Today's most effective tax leaders are translating complexity into strategy, influencing decisions beyond the code, and mentoring a new generation of talent. Whether you're in the C-suite or just building your career, this article outlines what the future demands and how to grow with it.

TaxNotes: Can Tax Experts Thrive in Private Equity’s Evolving World

Efficiency vs. Trust: Can Tax Survive the Private Equity Model? Private equity is remaking the accounting profession, one acquisition at a time — and it’s not just CPA firms that will feel the impact. In-house tax leaders could soon face inflated costs, continuity risks, and a labor market too thin to support rebuilding domestic capacity if offshoring falters. In Can Tax Experts Thrive in Private Equity’s Evolving World?, we unpack these hidden ripple effects and how forward-looking tax professionals can protect what matters most while seizing new opportunities.

TaxNotes - Fractional Tax Leaders: A Smarter Way to Fill the Gap

Scaling Fast? Don’t Let Tax Be Your Blind Spot Scaling your business brings opportunity — and a minefield of tax risk. Structuring deals, navigating compliance, and mentoring internal talent all require executive-level leadership. But what if you’re not ready to hire one full-time? Our latest article, Fractional Tax Leaders: A Smarter Way to Fill the Gap, explores why more growth-stage companies and private equity firms are turning to fractional tax leaders: Agile, experienced professionals who deliver high-impact results exactly when and where they’re needed most.

TaxNotes - Breaking Down Finance Silos: A New Era for Tax Leadership

Breaking Down Finance Silos: Is Tax the New Strategic Connector? In this conversation with Tony Santiago, senior executives from Disney, Perrigo, and Carrier explore how tax is reshaping its role, forging stronger cross-functional ties, and creating enterprise-wide impact — with leadership development at the center. Is this the beginning of a more integrated finance function, one where responsibilities blend and collaboration becomes the norm? Will the next generation of finance professionals be cross-trained across all functional areas such as tax, treasury, FP&A, and others—earlier in their careers? If so, the future of finance may be more connected, agile, and resilient than ever before.

TaxNotes - Remote Interim Talent: Redefining Tax Department Success

Tax leaders face mounting complexities — managing evolving regulations, data transformation, and sustainability reporting — while navigating constrained staffing models. The need for specialized tax expertise has never been greater, yet traditional hiring approaches remain limited by geography and outdated structures. Advancements in remote work technologies and secure collaboration platforms now offer a transformative solution. Organizations no longer must choose between permanent hires or costly consulting firms. Rather, the interim remote-talent model provides a flexible, cost-effective alternative, delivering specialized expertise without long-term commitments.

TaxNotes - Spoiler Alert: Tax Leadership Must Educate Finance and HR

Tax leaders are retiring faster than companies can replace them. Now what? It's the conversation Finance and HR aren't prepared for: Your tax department faces a leadership vacuum that external hiring can't solve. Senior leaders are retiring, and the next generation is unprepared — not because they lack talent, but because no one has invested in their growth. In Spoiler Alert: Tax Leadership Must Educate Finance & HR, we reveal why talent development timelines have collapsed, how "efficiency" initiatives are making the problem worse, and the critical steps tax leaders must take now. The leadership gap isn't coming — it's here. Are you ready for the conversation that will determine your tax department's future?

TaxNotes - Tax Talent Landscape 2025: Navigating New Complexities

Mounting Pressure, Leadership Gaps, and Remote Shifts: Tax’s New Reality ? Mounting workload pressures ? An unprecedented generational leadership vacuum ? A fundamental shift in how and where work gets done. These aren't just trends — they're the realities reshaping tax departments in 2025. The stakes have never been higher. Mid-sized companies are suddenly competing for—and winning—elite talent previously locked into major firms. The remote work revolution has created two distinct career trajectories, each with its own opportunities and trade-offs. Meanwhile, the window for strategic transitions to corporate roles is narrowing, making timing more critical than ever. Discover how forward-thinking tax leaders are navigating these changes and positioning their departments for success in Tax Talent Landscape 2025: Navigating New Complexities, our comprehensive analysis of the upcoming tax talent landscape. The question isn't if change is coming: It's whether you're prepared to harness it.

TaxNotes - Tax Succession Planning: The Critical Changes You Need Now

Corporate tax departments stand at an unprecedented crossroads. A confluence of demographic shifts, workplace evolution, and rapidly accelerating retirement timelines is unraveling even the most meticulously crafted succession plans. As a tax recruitment specialist who speaks daily with leaders across the country, I’m seeing what once seemed like a manageable transition become an urgent challenge to the stability of tax departments nationwide. The data tell an alarming story: Baby boomers still hold 39 percent of head-of-tax positions and 36 percent of second-tier roles. While these numbers might suggest a natural succession path, they mask serious challenges ahead.

TaxNotes: A Tax Leader’s Guide to Navigating Uncertainty After the 2024 Election

Tony’s Take: Navigating Tax Uncertainty After the 2024 Election The Republican sweep of 2024 has reshaped the tax landscape overnight. From potential TCJA extensions to evolving OECD compliance requirements, tax leaders face unprecedented strategic challenges. In his latest analysis, Tony provides a practical roadmap for success. Discover how to translate complex policy shifts into actionable insights, build confidence with your CFO, and position your tax department as a strategic asset. Learn the four critical areas demanding immediate attention and specific approaches to guide your organization through accelerated change. Don’t miss this essential read for staying ahead in today’s unpredictable tax environment.

TaxNotes - Why Tax Succession Planning Might Have a New Twist

The Tax Leadership Crisis No One Saw Coming As baby boomers retire from corporate tax leadership, many organizations assume Gen X will naturally step into their roles. But the reality is far more complex — and potentially problematic. Shrinking generational talent pools, shifting career priorities, and the rising "blocker effect" are just some of the challenges threatening the traditional succession model. Discover why the next wave of tax leaders might make dramatically different choices than their predecessors, and what this means for your organization's future. Are your assumptions about the leadership pipeline putting your department at risk? Discover how to adapt your strategy to this generational crossroads.

TaxNotes - Tax Department Leadership: Effective Succession Strategies

Succession planning isn't just about preparing for the next person in line; it's about shaping the future of your tax department. The stakes are high, but effective stakeholder engagement is the game-changer. Engaging key players — CFOs, HR, corporate cross-functional tax leaders, and even external auditors — adds layers of insight that can unlock surprising opportunities. But beware, unexpected preferences and hidden priorities can emerge from these conversations, making the decision far from straightforward. Timing is crucial. Delaying the transition could cost your organization dearly in both time and talent. The key to a seamless transition lies in understanding your internal talent, aligning stakeholders early, and remaining open to strategy-shifting surprises. Choosing between an internal rising star or an external game-changer could shape your company's tax strategy for years. Some forward-thinking organizations are quietly 'talent mapping' the market, even with promising internal candidates. In today's competitive landscape, the next great tax leader might emerge from unforeseen places. As companies navigate this complex transition, they're discovering that succession planning is not just about filling a position – it's about ensuring the continued growth and success of the entire organization.

TaxNotes: Transitioning From Professional Services To Corporate In-House Tax

Rewrite Your Career Script True success isn’t just about reaching the top — it’s about choosing the right mountain. What if your next career move isn’t just another step up within a large professional services firm but a bold pivot into a new and exciting arena? Picture being able to focus on projects that genuinely inspire you in a company you truly respect. This isn’t about falling into the next opportunity: It’s about making a deliberate, well-planned choice. For tax professionals at any level, transitioning from public accounting to an in-house role is more than just a job change; it’s a chance to play a different game entirely. Tony Santiago’s latest Tax Notes analysis uncovers the hidden upsides of this career shift — from improved work-life balance to reshaped compensation packages. But, with opportunity comes challenges. “Transitioning From Professional Services to Corporate In-House Tax” provides a clear, objective list of pros and cons to help you make an informed decision about your future. We delve deep into the unexpected perks, the potential pitfalls, and why timing could make all the difference in your transition.

TaxNotes: Best Practices for Recruiting Critical Tax Roles

In today's competitive tax talent market, securing top professionals for critical roles requires a strategic approach. Candidates hear what they want to hear, employers see what they want to see, and in between lies a chasm of misunderstanding. With candidates holding more power than ever, how can you ensure your recruitment efforts don't unravel at the last minute? Our latest article, "Best Practices for Recruiting Critical Tax Roles", delves into the complexities of modern tax recruitment. This article isn't just informative; it will teach you how to prioritize and effectively recruit for pivotal positions that drive your organization's success.

TaxNotes - Optimizing Tax Talent in Challenging Times

In the next few years, the tax profession is bracing for an unprecedented storm of staffing challenges, where increasing workloads and budget pressures are just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine a world where tax departments are always a step ahead, navigating the complexities of staffing with ease. What if every tax professional could see their career trajectory clearly and align it perfectly with their organization's goals? It's not just a dream — it's the power of strategic talent management. Learn how to harness this power and turn today's challenges into tomorrow's successes. Join us for a deep dive into the essential strategies that can revolutionize your tax department's approach to talent.