One firm, many opportunities: the partner track at RÖDL
Anna, how did you actually come to tax consulting?
Actually by pure chance. I needed a third focus in my studies and thought: taxes are practical – everyone needs them. I quickly realized that this combination of law and mathematics suits me.
The second coincidence was that Christian Rödl gave a lecture at our university and thus both Rödl and I became aware of each other. I had previously only done internships in controlling or accounting, but somehow knew that tax consulting was exactly what I wanted to do. And I was right!
In which area do you work at Rödl and what does your team do exactly?
I work at Rödl in the area of International Tax Law / Tax Structuring. My team has three main focus areas: We provide traditional tax structuring advice. This is, so to speak, the nucleus of the team, i.e. the advice on restructurings nationally and internationally. From this the two other areas have developed. Because many of these mandates are in the machinery and plant engineering sector, another part deals intensively with international tax law, especially permanent establishments and withholding taxes. Since 2021 I also lead the Pillar‑II practice group at Rödl. This currently makes up a very large part of my work. The third area also developed from classic structuring advice, namely family‑office consulting. Since we have always advised both the company and the entrepreneurial family in structuring, consulting for entrepreneurial families and private clients was a logical addition. In all areas digitalization is insanely important and a driver, therefore since the beginning of the year I am also responsible for the Digital Tax Transformation area.
My team has grown and developed over 20 years and is simply great!
What are, for you, the most important skills to lead a successful team?
This may surprise, but it is less the tax‑technical competence – it definitely does not hurt to understand it. Much more important is a mix of empathy, communication skills as well as decisiveness, conflict‑handling ability and willingness to learn.
My team is a large part of my life: I spend more time with it than with my family. Therefore it is extremely important to me to create an open and good working atmosphere. The key is communication – in my experience, 90 % of all conflicts arise from missing or poor communication, especially on the part of the leader. I make an effort to take time for each individual person in my team, get to know them and coach them to promote their individual strengths as best as possible. I have an open ear for worries and concerns, help solve things, and try to steer everyone in the right direction. A good leader stands in front of, beside or behind their employee – wherever it is needed at the moment. It is important to me that we are not a group of solo fighters, but see ourselves as a team. So far this has worked quite well, but I am not perfect either. Therefore self‑reflection and willingness to learn are an essential building block for the leader.
It is not always easy, especially when working part‑time, but it is well‑invested time because it makes us long‑term and sustainably successful.
I make an effort to take time for each individual person in my team, get to know everyone and coach them in order to develop their individual strengths as best as possible. I keep an open ear for concerns and problems, help solve issues, and try to steer everyone in the right direction.
Certified Tax Advisor
Which programmes/opportunities have you come to appreciate in your career at Rödl to develop further in tax consulting?
So many – for me Rödl offers all possibilities, you just have to use them! I have always been very curious and followed my instinct to try new things. This is also visible in my team development. In the first three years, i.e. up to the tax advisor exam, every winter, I spent about two months working as an audit assistant. I realized early that it is incredibly helpful in tax consulting to be able to read financial statements, understand how they are created, and of course have an understanding of the work of our Audit & Assurance service line. At Rödl it was easy to fulfil this wish. I am firmly convinced that we cannot book facts we do not understand. I still benefit today from the knowledge I acquired there.
Since I had already worked internationally during that time, after the tax advisor exam I really wanted to gain international experience at Rödl. One of my biggest mandates had a very strong link to our branch in Atlanta, and so a year after the exam I was given the opportunity to spend two months in the team there and thus work “on the other side” of the mandate. Apparently I did a good job, because two years later I returned as a parental‑leave replacement for a colleague for three months in Atlanta and from then on became a regular part of the team. So every year during the busy phase I was there for two to three months. Only when I had children myself and we could also work remotely across the Atlantic did I stay in Nuremberg.
These were each great and educational experiences that I would not want to miss. Also the network of colleagues and friends that arose during this time still helps me today in many areas. That is what makes Rödl special!
Rödl offers every opportunity to try things out – purposefully and for the benefit of the company. I have always had positive experiences voicing ideas and actively pursuing them.
Certified Tax Advisor
You are now a partner, what or perhaps who was essential for your career?
Two aspects come to mind spontaneously.
The first is my mindset. I had already mentioned above that I am curious about new opportunities and challenges. And I also believe that you simply have to “just do it”. I have a quote stuck on my desk that fits quite well: “Doing is like wanting, only better.” Rödl offers all possibilities to try things out – purposefully and for the benefit of the company. I have always had good experiences voicing ideas and actively pursuing them. We must not wait for someone to read our thoughts and set things in motion for us. This often requires a bit more engagement and the willingness to leave our comfort zone. For me it has always paid off.
I can only encourage young colleagues to be courageous, invest in their ideas, and put them into practice.
The second aspect is a very specific person: Isabel Bauernschmitt. She has been my manager since day 1 at Rödl, and together we have already mastered many highs and lows. She has accompanied me on my whole path and supported me in every respect. She has reinforced my ideas and helped me implement them when I perhaps could not go further. She is my sparring partner, coach and someone to vent to when needed. She complements me – brakes when necessary and pushes where needed. A very present example for me is when I returned from parental leave for the second time: there was the possibility to go directly into the partner nomination process. I was very hesitant, because no one before me had dared to do it – in part‑time and after seven months of parental leave. For me unimaginable. At that moment she took my hand and convinced me to take the step now – and it worked! I am still grateful to her for that.
A good leader stands in front of, beside, or behind their employee – wherever it is needed at the moment. It is important to me that we are not a group of solo fighters, but see ourselves as a team.
Certified Tax Advisor
Have you ever stood before the decision “family or career”?
No, that thought never came to me – why should it be “or”? It was always clear to me that I want both and that both are possible. I never even thought that it might not work. I also did not spend long thinking about it, I simply “did it”. Of course family and career are demanding, but that was clear from the start. Building a career is exhausting – raising children is too. Then it is logical that doing both together does not make the situation easier. But it is worth it, both parts.
Two things have helped me here, and still do:
First, my husband and I have the same understanding of the compatibility of family and career. Part‑time was better compatible with my work than with my husband’s, so I reduced my hours. Otherwise we share everyday life equally. From the beginning we were both replaceable. If I am away, my husband takes over, and vice versa. And that is still the case today. Coordinating our calendars is still the biggest challenge; again communication is key.
Career & Family
We focus on compatibility. The aim is to create the conditions for an optimal combination of professional and family commitments.
Second, Rödl also made it easy for me. I could always say what I needed to combine work and family, and it was made possible. It started with a childcare centre on site with superb opening hours, where I automatically got a place. It continued with flexible working time and the possibility to work from home, long before home‑office was common. Over the years I could repeatedly adapt my working hours and days to the needs of my children; that was also completely normal.
Therefore I can now, after twelve years, say: family and career are possible – you just need to clearly communicate what you need!
Dear Anna, thank you for this enriching interview!