Client Overview
Industry: Medical device and supply manufacturing
Challenge: Japanese Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) at risk after sudden leadership departure
Scale: Global operations with complex cross-border tax matters
The Challenge: Three Years of Work, Two Months From Collapse
For three years, this global medical device manufacturer had been working toward a Japanese APA: a critical initiative to reduce transfer pricing uncertainty in one of its most important international jurisdictions.
Then, just two months before the final deadline, the project was thrown into turmoil. The Director of Transfer Pricing — the lead architect of the APA — resigned without notice, leaving a technical and leadership vacuum. The Vice President of Tax and Senior Director of Tax Planning were left with an urgent decision: find a qualified replacement immediately or risk jeopardizing years of work.
After evaluating options, including their Big 4 partner, the company turned to TaxForce.
The Client’s Critical Needs
- Niche Expertise: An interim expert with deep experience in Japanese APAs and international transfer pricing
- Immediate Deployment: The ability to assess, onboard, and begin contributing within days — not weeks
- Strategic Leadership: A seasoned professional who could manage high-stakes deliverables while stabilizing the team
- Cost Efficiency: A solution that delivered Big 4-caliber experience at a more sustainable rate
How TaxForce Tackled the Challenge
- Rapid Needs Assessment: TaxForce quickly aligned with the VP of Tax and Senior Director of Tax Planning to define qualifications, constraints, and project deliverables
- Elite Talent Sourcing: Leveraging a 30+ year network, TaxForce identified and placed an associate within one week: a seasoned attorney with extensive APA experience and a strong track record in Fortune 500 environments
- Seamless Integration: The associate immediately stepped in, advanced the APA to completion, and took on other high-impact projects
- Built-In Knowledge Transfer: As new permanent hires came onboard, the associate proactively trained and supported them, ensuring continuity without disruption
The Results: Project Rescued, Team Rebuilt, and Budget Preserved
- APA Success: The associate led the successful completion of the Japanese APA ahead of the looming deadline
- Wider Impact: Contributed to additional high-profile projects while maintaining delivery excellence
- Mentorship & Continuity: Provided effective knowledge transfer and onboarding support for incoming permanent staff
- Cost Advantage: Provided high-caliber expertise with an estimated 66% cost savings compared to Big 4 alternatives
The TaxForce Difference
At TaxForce, we do more than fill seats: We empower tax departments to stay resilient in the face of change. Whether facing sudden vacancies, project-based surges, or structural constraints like hiring freezes, we deliver senior-level expertise on demand. Our rapid-response model connects companies to the right professionals, at the right moment, for impact that lasts far beyond the engagement.
