Expansion of tax & legal consulting

Let’s not beat around the bush: payroll is a complex matter, with country-specific legislation changing at an ever-increasing pace. What’s more, few things have a more direct impact on personnel (policy) and – consequently, business operations – than payroll. It’s only logical for customers to seek support and advice in this area. After all, their businesses are also changing faster and faster, an increasing number of companies are doing international business – and it’s most convenient when you can always turn to the same reliable and experienced partner.

We’re rolling out this Tax & Legal Consulting offering in all the countries where we operate. As Consulting requires plenty of hands-on local expertise, a multi-year plan is in place. Claudine Weyn and Greet Joos from our Strategy Team are among those drawing up this roadmap. Specifically, in 2023, they guided the international expansion of our Tax & Legal Consulting offering.

Claudine: “In the Benelux, we’ve been running a very successful Tax & Legal Consultancy for years now. Customers highly appreciate the added value of us going beyond payroll. It’s a strength that sets us apart from our competitors. But you cannot simply copy-paste this service into another country. You need experts who know all the ins and outs and who work in close connection to the market and our customers.”

Customers highly appreciate the added value of us going beyond payroll. It’s a strength that sets us apart from our competitors.

Claudine Weyn
Portfolio Director Europe Knowledge & Consultancy Services at SD Worx

“That’s why we didn’t go full blast immediately but started with the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Finland. First, we’ve investigated all relevant legislation for each country in partnership with an external law firm. To highlight a legislative difference, we are allowed to give general information on tax and legal matters, but there are often legal restrictions on giving personal advice in specific situations. Sometimes you can give personal advice on legal matters but not on tax matters. In some countries, you can work with local subcontractors, while you can’t in other countries… The list of examples goes on.”

All roads lead to payroll

Greet: “As soon as we had a clear picture of this puzzle, we defined our offering by country, from general webinars via our SD Worx Academy to personalised advice. These elements fall within three domains: labour law, income tax & withholding tax, and social security. And of course, there should always be a link to payroll.

At times it felt like a rollercoaster, but that’s how innovation works.

Greet Joos
Portfolio Manager Expertise & Consultancy Services at SD Worx

“We also defined all operational flows. How will the invoicing process work? What kind of marketing support is required? In some countries, for example, we are still perceived as a payroll provider only, which requires a different marketing approach. The playbooks are in place, and now the countries are implementing them further themselves, for example, by creating webinars or e-books on general HR topics. It has been an interesting journey to coach this internal change, where colleagues from many departments work together. At times it felt like a rollercoaster, but that’s how innovation works.”