The future of tax and assurance consulting at a glance – An interview with Antoinette Hiebeler-Hasner and Jan-Menko Grummer from the Advisory Board at Afileon

The tax, assurance and legal consulting industry is facing far-reaching changes: digitalization, more stringent regulatory requirements and skills shortages demand innovative solutions. This is exactly where Afileon comes in – with the aim of building a forward-looking tax services provider with the best possible solutions for SMEs.

To strategically drive this change, the corporate alliance is supported by seasoned experts on its Advisory Board: Antoinette Hiebeler-Hasner and Jan-Menko Grummer bring decades of experience in the industry and are accompanying Afileon on its way to becoming a "Tax Firm 2.0". In this interview, they talk about their fascination with the industry, the challenges of transformation, and their roles in the further evolution of Afileon.

What fascinates you about the tax consulting, assurance and legal services industry?

Jan-Menko Grummer: The advice we provide helps companies to be commercially successful in an increasingly complex world. And successful companies are the basis for prosperity and freedom in our society. Without auditing, there would be no functioning capital market, and without tax advice, there would be no fair and functional financing for the state.

Antoinette Hiebeler-Hasner: I have often been asked why I chose tax consulting – wasn't that boring? For me, never! The work allows me to implement tax structuring with entrepreneurs, to reorganize companies, and to meet fascinating individuals and families. In addition, the state is constantly issuing new regulations that offer tax advisors fresh opportunities to support clients with up-to-date services. Boredom? Not a chance!

Why did you decide to work with Afileon?

Antoinette Hiebeler-Hasner: To have the opportunity to help shape a modern, innovative and technologically well-equipped tax consultancy in a completely new way – I found that such an exciting challenge.

Jan-Menko Grummer: Tax consulting is undergoing massive changes due to digitalization, increasingly complex regulatory requirements, and recruitment bottlenecks. This necessitates the transformation of the entire profession. Afileon is taking on this challenge and building Tax Firm 2.0, which is an exciting and invigorating task. This is where I can contribute my decades of experience in an agile and innovation-ready environment. The opportunity to help shape a sustainable, leading tax consultancy here is unique.

Your professional careers have included numerous exciting challenges – which experiences have had the most impact on you?

Jan-Menko Grummer: It's hard to say what exactly has influenced you most, because so many impressions contribute to the process. In addition to exciting mandates, the responsibility for employees in this demanding sector has been a major aspect. Tapping the potential offered by an open, agile working atmosphere was particularly seminal. I think Afileon can set standards here right from the start.

Antoinette Hiebeler-Hasner: Every stop along my career path has shaped me in some way. At KPMG, I learned how to perform tasks for clients in a structured and efficient way. When I was self-employed, I wanted to work more closely with clients and develop creative solutions. In an expanding firm, I realized that many partners were advancing commercial goals, but that coordinating the content was often arduous. After its sale to an international consulting firm, I was responsible for its German operations and gained an insight into corporate working life. I can now bring the learnings from all these phases to Afileon.

What specific areas of expertise or industry knowhow distinguish you, and how do they contribute to Afileon's strategic direction?

Antoinette Hiebeler-Hasner: I worked with partners to develop a fairly large auditing firm which we sold subsequently to an international consulting firm that was financed with private equity. I have therefore had similar experiences to our affiliates. My greatest ambition is to avoid the mistakes of the international consulting firms – especially the restriction of entrepreneurial freedom that comes with centralization and standardization.

Jan-Menko Grummer: After almost 30 years of Big4, you know the assurance and tax consulting industry very well. Its competitors, clients and employee concerns are more than familiar – and precisely these experiences are helpful for Afileon's strategic orientation – and the operational implementation of the digital transformation. In my experience, a transformation is only successful if it is understood and supported by the entire workforce. And this requires communication, leadership and trust.

How do you define your main tasks and responsibilities within the Advisory Board?

Jan-Menko Grummer: We contribute our experience and perspectives to developing the best solutions for Afileon based on creative input and proven knowledge. At the same time, we are responsible for the successful growth of the alliance and serve the management as a strategic sparring partner.

Antoinette Hiebeler-Hasner: We and the management bounce ideas off each other; we know the practical problems facing the firms as well as how their owners think. We put the strategy to the test and evolve it further in cooperation with the Management Board. 

In which areas do you see the greatest need for consulting services / the greatest challenges for Afileon, and how are you supporting the alliance in this regard?

Antoinette Hiebeler-Hasner: The specific challenge for Afileon is to be perceived as an independent tax consulting firm. We want the market to appreciate us for our professional excellence and our strong dedication to serving our clients.   

Jan-Menko Grummer: Right, the first step is to build the platform with all its functionalities and to drive digitalization, while at the same time implementing the many tasks of building such an organization. At Afileon, we are pursuing an ambitious agenda, and there are challenges to overcome every day; here is where we provide management with support in word and action.

How do you work with the management and the affiliates to ensure effective decision-making?

Jan-Menko Grummer: The workstreams at Afileon are defined in such a way that the management, affiliates and we as the Advisory Board can contribute our viewpoints and solutions at any time. This agile structure ensures the integration of all participants on the one hand and speed in decision-making on the other – making us superior to many established competitors.

Antoinette Hiebeler-Hasner: The members of the Advisory Board are involved in all the work initiatives with management. When decisions are being taken, we always try to factor in the perspectives of both the affiliates and the Afileon management. After all, finding a consensus is crucial to everyone proceeding in the same direction.

Which trends and developments in the consulting industry do you consider particularly relevant, and how should Afileon respond to them?

Antoinette Hiebeler-Hasner: The digital transformation will fundamentally change the work of tax firms. Some tasks are being eliminated, while new ones are gaining in traction. As a result, qualifications need to be adapted; moreover, not all of the employees can keep up. While young clients demand change, older clients are skeptical about it – here it is important to find a balance that satisfies both sides.

Jan-Menko Grummer: I see it the same way: the most far-reaching differences will derive from the growing technical potential of digitalization. Automated processes and the use of AI will change ways of working, structures and requirements to an extent never experienced before. Our declared aim as a modern tax service provider is to be one step ahead in this area – to facilitate optimal results for our clients, employees and thus our industrial society as a whole.