How can tax and finance leaders build agile functions that thrive?
In collaboration with EY (Ernst & Young)
Building continuous transformation into tax and finance functions can equip them to use AI, adding rich, deep insight and value to businesses.
Businesses operate in a world of constant and interconnected change. Geopolitical tensions are reshaping global dynamics and escalating supply chain complexity. Tax and trade policy is undergoing large-scale change, especially the implementation of Pillar Two global minimum taxes in many jurisdictions and changing scope in others. And technology change is exponential, propelling the world into an unprecedented intelligence renaissance powered by data and artificial intelligence (AI).
The 2025 EY Tax and Finance Operations survey was conducted from July to September 2025 to learn how these critical functions are transforming, exploring the processes and challenges facing them as they deliver tax compliance and reporting obligations. It included more than 50 questions to 1,600 tax and finance executives (most of them heads of tax and chief financial officers) in 30 jurisdictions across 22 industries. As part of the survey, qualitative interviews were also conducted with nine tax and finance executives.
The experts behind the research
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Maximilian Douglas Carl VickersResearch Manager
Max is based in the London office and supports the Thought Leadership team across business sectors and disciplines. Max graduated from the University of Warwick with a BA in Politics, International Studies and Quantitative Methods and an MSc in Behavioural and Data Science.
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John ReinersManaging Editor, EMEA, Thought Leadership, Oxford Economics
John oversees Thought Leadership projects with EMEA-based clients. He works across business sectors and disciplines, but specialises in issues relating to strategy and business operations, such as sustainability, digital transformation, employment and skills, finance, and performance management. He has directed the Thought Leadership contribution on some of Oxford Economics’ largest and most complex research programmes, for global consultancies and corporates, including Accenture, the Adecco Group, Cognizant, EY, Fujitsu and YouTube. Often this is in collaboration with his economist colleagues to blend qualitative and quantitative analysis, and to explore the impact of corporate actions at a business, industry and economy level.
John joined Oxford Economics in 2014, after 25 years as a Financial Controller, financial management consultant and, most recently, a thought leadership expert for IBM’s Institute for Business Value, focused on global public sector issues. John then worked on the independent Digital Government Review as input to the UK General Election. He is an Economics graduate from Sussex University and a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA).
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Jamie SnowdonSenior Research Analyst, Thought Leadership
Jamie Snowdon oversees data capture and analysis for Oxford Economics’ Thought Leadership group. Leading a dedicated team, Jamie ensures the provision of robust data input for evidence-based thought leadership programmes, delivering in-depth data analysis, impactful visualisations and intuitive analytical tools.
Jamie joined Oxford Economics in 2022, bringing over 25 years of experience in the IT and Business Services industry. During his career, he has held senior research and management roles at leading technology research companies, including PAC, IDC, HFS Research and Market Prescience. Jamie’s analyst career has largely been spent conducting data analysis, including developing market size/forecast models, conducting quantitative/qualitative survey analysis and performing competitive analysis.
Jamie holds bachelor's degrees in Computer Science and Law.
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