EY helps clients create long-term value for all stakeholders. Enabled by data and technology, our services and solutions provide trust through assurance and help clients transform, grow and operate.
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Operating Model Effectiveness and Multi-Hub Models
Our professionals help you design and implement a flexible and sustainable multi-hub model to adapt to the changing tax environment and achieve business benefits.
Ongoing worldwide implementation of global tax reforms have presented significant challenges to traditional highly centralized tax models, leading to a surge in tax controversy.
Business changes linked to economic nationalism, changes in mobility during and following the COVID-19 pandemic as well as digital and technological transformation are reinforcing the changes linked to the global tax reform. The convergence of tax and business drivers toward multi-hub models allow tax functions to lead, support and accelerate business transformation projects.
Many multinational companies are now evaluating multi-hub models as a more sustainable long-term operating model. This can create a range of business benefits, such as:
Greater operational flexibility
Improved access to talent
Reduced tax controversy
Reduced reputational risk
A more stable and sustainable tax cost
We support you to design and implement flexible and sustainable multi-hub models. A typical project can include:
Opportunity assessment and cost/benefit analysis
Transaction design
Transaction implementation
Project planning and assurance
Post implementation compliance and sustainment
When should multi-hub models be considered a priority for you or your business?
Your challenges
Your profile
Single entrepreneur models (or multiple sole-entrepreneurs in some cases) that are becoming more difficult to operationalize and/or seeing increasing tax costs
Firmwide executive leader seeking to develop a holistic cross-function future state business model: the transformation agenda overlaps multiple functional areas and defines the optimum business model of the future
High levels of tax controversy related to transfer pricing, withholding tax and/or permanent establishment risk
General counsel, risk officer or corporate relations leader: multi-hub models reduce tax controversy and reputational risk associated with many traditional sole entrepreneur structures
Reputational risk exposures related to the tax model
Supply chain leader: the scope to combine complex supply chain re-evaluation with a more aligned global tax model securing tax cost savings can fund, catalyze or accelerate the desired operational transformation
Pressure on talent optimization due to tax controls on workforce location and/or workforce mobility
M&A leader: the scale of impact of the tax changes creates winners and losers with under/overvalued tax risks which can be unlocked via M&A. Big-ticket M&A can also be a catalyst for transformation
Friction between tax and non-tax functions in the organization due to tax-based controls and restrictions affecting business effectiveness
Operational leader and talent: multi-hub models will improve access to talent and reduce controls related to location of talent and policies related to mobility/physical location of workforce supporting design of "work from anywhere" plans
Challenges related to alignment between the tax model and the location of risk control and/or DEMPE functions
Tax VP wanting to be innovative or leading edge: allow tax to play an anchor and/or funding role in the context of wider business transformation trends
Transfer pricing certainty in uncertain times
Our new survey finds that businesses are prioritizing transfer pricing certainty in an era of global minimum taxes.