Built for forward with Forvis Mazars: achieving agility at scale in tax

2 July 2024
On 1 June, two leading professional services firms, Mazars, an international partnership operating in over 100 countries and territories, and FORVIS, a top ranked firm in the United States, launched their new global network, Forvis Mazars.

As a Country Managing Partner at Forvis Mazars in Romania, in the next period, I will focus on bringing forward the unique advantages of our new network to companies in Romania, as well as sharing even more knowledge on our service lines, and the people behind them.

My interviewee for today is Edwin Warmerdam, Partner, Head of Tax, who has an experience of more than 30 years in finance and taxation. Edwin leads the tax team in Romania since 2014, providing services to companies operating in sectors such as banking & capital markets, real estate, automotive, energy, infrastructure & environment, retail, transport & logistics, and many more.

1. Edwin, the complexities of Romanian and international rules mean companies and individuals need clear, informed, and considered guidance. You work closely with them to build transparent integrated tax-efficient solutions that help them excel in a sustainable way. With the launch of our new network, can you tell me how Forvis Mazars embodies its brand pillar of ‘agility at scale’ in tax?

The launch of our new network exemplifies Forvis Mazars' unwavering commitment to embodying the brand pillar of 'agility at scale' in our tax services. We have the extensive scale, capacity, and coverage to support our clients across the globe, ensuring that we can address both local tax issues and complex international regulations with comprehensive solutions. Our network, built on decades of collaboration and shared values between two organisations, fosters a deep understanding and synergy that enhances our service delivery.

Our leadership structure is lean and aligned, allowing us to offer a more integrated, consistent, and agile service. This structure empowers us to respond more effectively to client needs both globally and locally, acting swiftly and decisively to adapt to changes in tax regulations and market conditions. By investing collaboratively to accelerate innovation, we pool resources and expertise to develop and implement cutting-edge tax solutions, keeping our clients ahead of the curve. Locally, we supported and continue to do so many of our clients with in-house developed solutions, such as SAF-T, e-Invoice, e-Transport, and Pillar 2 tools. What sets apart our approach is that the solutions developed by Forvis Mazars in Romania represent a comprehensive and cost-effective alternative on the Romanian market, increasing accessibility and thus supporting the creation of a more compliant environment among companies in Romania faced with increased tax regulations and reporting.

Additionally, we prioritise responsiveness to both our clients and colleagues, ensuring that we are always available to address concerns, provide updates, and offer guidance. This creates a seamless and supportive client experience, further demonstrating our agility and commitment to excellence. Through these principles, Forvis Mazars delivers tax-efficient solutions that are not only effective and sustainable but also agile enough to meet the dynamic needs of our clients in a rapidly changing global environment.

2. As the Head of Tax at Forvis Mazars in Romania, you've been instrumental in providing specialised tax services to a diverse range of sectors. With our new global network, how do you anticipate leveraging the expanded resources and expertise to address emerging tax challenges and opportunities for clients in Romania, particularly in sectors impacting the economy?

As leader of the tax team, I am excited about the possibilities unlocked by our new global network, that offers a wealth of resources and expertise that will be instrumental in addressing the evolving tax landscape for our Romanian clients.

Here's how I see us leveraging this network to benefit our clients:

Deeper industry knowledge: Forvis Mazars now has a broader pool of tax professionals specialising in various sectors that impact the Romanian economy. We can tap into this knowledge to offer our clients even more targeted and insightful tax advice, tailored to their specific industry's challenges and opportunities.
Global tax expertise: Tax regulations are increasingly intertwined across borders. With our global network, we can bring international tax specialists to the table when needed, ensuring our clients navigate complex cross-border transactions and international tax issues seamlessly.
Staying ahead of the curve: The global network allows us to stay current on emerging tax trends and developments around the world. We can proactively advise our clients on how these trends might impact their businesses in Romania, allowing them to capitalise on new opportunities and mitigate potential risks.

For example: Imagine a Romanian client in the renewable energy sector looking to expand internationally. Through our global network, we can connect them with tax specialists who are familiar with the specific tax incentives and regulations for renewables in their target market.

By leveraging the combined resources and expertise of Forvis Mazars' global network, we can provide our Romanian clients with a truly comprehensive and future-proof tax service, helping them navigate the evolving tax environment and achieve their business goals.

Thank you, Edwin. My previous interviews are available below: