1. Resume - Richard Cornelisse
Phone : +31 6 5399 4874
E-mail : richard.cornelisse@key-group.nl
Website : www.globalindirecttaxmanagement.com
Blog : www.richardcornelisse.com
LinkedIn : https://nl.linkedin.com/in/globalindirecttaxmanagement
Richard is a tax lawyer with more than 22 years experience in advises multinational businesses in improving the efficiency and
effectiveness of their Indirect Tax Function and Tax Control Framework.
Richard started his career working as manager at Arthur Andersen and then became a partner in EY where he led the indirect
tax performance team for Netherlands and Belgium. He specializes in the tax aspects of financial transformations, shared
service centre migration, and post merger integration work. He has acted as client coordinating partner on a variety of key
accounts and is experienced in managing large/international projects.
Professional background
2015 - current Managing director, Tax Engine Consulting BV. Providing support to a Big4 organization with their
SAP VAT add-on implementation and maintenance
2014 - current Managing Director, Phenix Consulting. Phenix Consulting BV is the joint venture company of
LiNKiT Consulting GmbH and the KEY Group Beheer BV based in Germany and the Netherlands.
2012 - current Managing Director, KEY Group, a Phenix Consulting company
2012 - current Senior editor of Global Indirect Tax Management. The editorial board is composed of editors with
areas of expertise of Information Technology, International Supply Chain, Tax Performance and
Business Control. Their primary responsibility is to write editorials, which represent the voice of
this initiative (Indirect tax and TP)
2012 - 2015 Director Strategy & Sales and co-owner of Taxmarc BV. PwC acquired the IP of this SAP VAT add-
on solution for automated incoming and outgoing invoices with automated VAT controls and it now
set in the market as PwC Taxmarc
2004 - 2011 EY Partner heading the Indirect Tax Performance Practice for Netherlands and Belgium
2002 - 2004 Senior manager at EY: The Andersen team continued when we moved to EY
1997 - 2002 (Senior) manager at Andersen: real estate practice leader of the Amsterdam office for VAT and
transfer taxes and setup and led a business unit focusing on ERP and VAT
1993 - 1997 VAT Consultant at Deloitte
Academic background
• Leiden University, Tax Law, 1987 - 1993 (LL.M)
• IMD (International Institute for Management Development) - Business Programs
• EY Market & Client Leadership Program - Ernst & Young A three-year summer course program to improve (change)
management skills for multinational companies.
Authoring
Publisher and author of various articles in specialist publications and co-author of the study performed on behalf of the
European Community on VAT and immovable property. All those articles are also (re)published on the website:
www.globalindirecttaxmanagement.com.
Recommendations
Marcel van den Berg (Global Head of Tax of Liberty Global):
“Richard was our Ernst & Young European Tax Account Leader. Although Richard’s key expertise is Indirect Tax our
working relation went beyond indirect tax as he proactively addressed (planning) ideas regarding other tax areas (income
tax, transfer pricing and human capital). He set up brainstorm sessions in order to work these ideas out to mutually between
us and EY ensuring that the ideas fit our business. He introduced the right EY champions from various disciplines. Richard
is practical and has always focused on understanding my business, goals and our tax priorities and challenges me which is
critical for a tax advisor as this ensures an optimum working relationship.”

2. Frans Van Driel (senior manager indirect tax & customs of Starbucks):
“Richard coordinated as Ernst & Young Indirect Tax Partner our European Indirect tax issues (e.g. VAT legislation change
or new business priorities re markets) From a Tax Control Framework perspective we performed a look back review via
statistical sampling/data analysis and the outcome facilitated that I could as Starbucks Indirect tax function focus on the
improvement/remediation areas that matter. Richard provided also support re our Vertex European roll out and provided
flow mapping, VAT determination support and practical feedback re possibilities and configuration.”
Fred Lawson (International Controller of Biogen Inc.):
“Our working relation started when my company was audited by the Dutch tax authorities and a potential VAT assessment
issue arose. Because Richard was not focused only on our written agreements but took into consideration the overall aim of
our business model implementation we could at the end convince the tax authorities and also set up successful negotiations
re horizontal monitoring. Richard is a real troubleshooter and understands my position and internal reporting lines and
supports that in an effective way. From that time Richard lead any business model change from Ernst & Young indirect tax
perspective and we set together the right key priorities important as our internal resources are scarce and we have many
other priorities beyond indirect tax, which Richard takes into consideration. Monitoring of whether indeed the right
priorities are set takes place via risk assessment via data analysis on a annual look back review basis. Richard has set up an
excellent EY team to provide ongoing support.”
Remco van der Zwan - EY Indirect Tax partner:
“An involved supporter, that description fits Richard well. I worked with Richard for more than 8 years. In providing
coaching he is good in giving overviews of various scenarios and/or circumstances and let people take positions without
giving his personal opinion first. This facilitates the team creativity and learning curve. Coaching people, support them and
bring people to the next level is important to him. As tax adviser he also believes in a broader approach; not only the tax
technical issues, but always looking at the why question and processes within a company.”
Ronnie Dassen - Deloitte Indirect Tax partner:
“Richard is a natural leader, the type of person people follow, not because they have to but because they want to. The tax
consultancy profession is a “people’s business” and Richard always finds ways to balance the interests of clients, his team
and the rest of the organization. Richard’s greatest skill is his strategic insight and ability to think ahead. This has made
him very successful in the market place. One of the things I value most in Richard is the fact that he is always there for his
team, to make sure they are successful and to make sure they are having fun in what they do.”
Daniel Kroesen - EY Indirect Tax partner:
“Richard is a person with a vision as to how his profession, co-workers and clients should approach indirect taxes. This
vision is clear, transparant and shows that Richard is able to think ahead and adapt to that future situation. In my view that
is critical to be succesful in the market place in respect of indirect taxes. Furthermore, Richard takes care of his people and
pro-actively manage their career paths (stewardship) even if certain career steps may not be in his best personal interest.
For example he was my main sponsor for my 2-year stay for EY in New York. He is open/transparant in respect of his own
goals, achievements, KPI’s and shares openly the credits for the work with the people he works with. This creates a nice
working relationship allowing to share different views.”
Folkert Gaarlandt - EY Indirect Tax partner:
“Richard is a good manager and has a broad and strategic vision. He has helped clients as well as myself on numerous
occasions. Richard has the ability to let people and teams grow and excel.”
Ted Braakman - Retired EY Indirect Tax partner:
“Richard is an advisor with an in-depth knowledge of risks and processes in indirect taxes (vat). He worked as an adequate
advisor for many years for several multi national companies. His way of thinking around the risks and processes of vat is
both of an analytical and a strategic nature. We worked together on advices in relation to the management of risks in vat,
resulting in an increased level of internal control. It has always been a pleasure to hear his strategic view when we were
working together on engagements.”