Omaar Jiwani has built a career at the forefront of tax strategy, shaping approaches to compliance and automation in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment. As Head of Direct and Indirect Tax at Britvic, he has led teams through complex legislative shifts, most recently focusing on the impact of Pillar 2 and the increasing role of technology in tax functions.
With a career spanning Deloitte and leadership roles in private and FTSE-listed companies, his expertise offers valuable insight into the pressures facing tax professionals – from managing rising compliance burdens to ensuring tax strategies align with commercial objectives.
Pillar 2 has been one of the most significant developments in recent tax policy, presenting new challenges for in-house tax teams. “There’s a huge compliance burden attached to it,” Omaar explains. “Whenever there are new rules or regulatory changes, it doesn’t necessarily mean we pay more tax, but it does mean more work for the team. The challenge is that businesses aren’t always in a position to keep growing the tax function, especially in a high-cost environment. So, the existing team ends up carrying the additional workload.”
With rising costs across labour, raw materials, and supply chains, maintaining efficiency has never been more important. “High interest rates and tax rate increases have only added to the pressure. Businesses need to be smarter about how they manage compliance without simply expanding headcount.”
With increasing regulatory complexity, the natural question is whether automation can ease the burden. “We’ve dedicated significant time to assessing automation opportunities, particularly around Pillar 2,” Omaar notes. “We’ve also worked with external advisors to ensure we’re making the right decisions. It’s an ongoing process, and I’m sure it will continue to evolve.”
While automation can streamline certain tax functions, the role of tax professionals is also shifting. “Compliance tasks will inevitably become more automated, which means tax teams need to develop stronger technology skills. The focus is moving towards data accuracy – ensuring clean inputs for automation – rather than just processing transactions.”
Tax teams will also need to collaborate more closely with IT. “The future of tax will involve far greater alignment with the business technology function. The ability to integrate tax knowledge with broader business systems will be a key differentiator.”
Staying ahead of legislative updates remains one of the biggest challenges in tax. “Like most finance professionals, I rely on industry webinars, seminars, and technical updates from accountancy firms,” Omaar says. “Attending events is useful – not just for the technical content, but for hearing how other businesses are approaching similar challenges.”
Ensuring the whole team stays informed requires a tailored approach. “Not everyone is at the same stage in their career, so the way information is delivered has to reflect that. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.”
As businesses embrace automation and new compliance frameworks, the skill set required in tax is evolving. “The future will demand a more hands-on approach to applying tax knowledge,” Omaar explains. “It’s not just about understanding the rules – it’s about implementing them effectively within business systems.”
Businesses are increasingly looking for tax professionals who can bridge the gap between technical expertise and commercial understanding. “A good tax advisor doesn’t just understand tax – they understand the business they’re advising,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate to work for companies where I’ve been involved in commercial discussions. At Britvic, my boss ensures I’m always aware of the wider business strategy, so we can align our tax approach accordingly.”
For those entering the profession, Omaar advises taking a broad view of career development. “Early in my career at Deloitte, I worked across multiple disciplines – M&A, compliance, international tax. That gave me a strong foundation, but if I were to do it again, I’d go deeper into each area before moving on. The more experience you gain, the better equipped you’ll be.”
He also encourages tax professionals to explore the wider commercial landscape. “It’s important to understand the roles beyond tax. A strong commercial perspective can open up more opportunities, whether you stay in tax or move into a broader finance role.”
Omaar’s perspective highlights the challenges and opportunities facing tax teams – from managing compliance under increasing regulatory pressures to ensuring technology is leveraged effectively.
Looking ahead, tax professionals will need to integrate automation into their workflows, align more closely with business functions, and focus on the commercial impact of tax strategy. As regulatory complexity grows, the ability to bridge tax expertise with business insight will be more valuable than ever.
