A Letter from the Editor

We all know the importance of continued education, perhaps now, more than ever. Particularly in today’s rapidly shifting environment driven by globalization and technology, which are changing the face of the financial and accounting world. As Lynne Doughtie, Chairman and CEO of KPMG LLP said, “Technology may be driving transformation, but succeeding in the cognitive era requires a coherent strategy, enlightened talent management and an understanding of where an organization can create value. It’s not just technology; it’s about people and values and the ability to create an organization that can adapt to accelerating change.”

Enter sales tax compliance. In today’s everchanging world of ecommerce in the omnichannel marketplace, accounting professionals must constantly adapt to change and adopt the latest technologies, such as cloud-based automation, to not only educate and be of essential service to their clients, but to stay relevant within the accounting industry. Human Capital Leaders, Brett Walsh and Erica Volini of Deloitte LLP note, “As companies build the organization of the future, continuous learning is critical for business success.”

With over 10,000 taxing jurisdictions in this country alone, each with constantly changing laws, and the taxing jurisdictions of over 100 countries worldwide, it’s difficult to imagine one person or even one firm trying to keep abreast of all that information. And yet, as accounting professionals, we are expected to be able to serve our clients as this transformation occurs.