.avif)
.webp)
Schedule an appointment for a personal demo, tailored to your needs.
Expense management
Company credit cards
Employee benefits
Key Take-Aways
How OEHMANN Tax Consulting takes responsibility through proactive software recommendations – and helps clients move forward both administratively and strategically with Circula.
Many tax firms identify inefficient processes at their clients' companies but hold back from making concrete software recommendations. Stefan Oehmann consciously chooses a different path: For him, part of modern tax consulting is to openly address identified process issues and recommend field-tested solutions. Circula is a prime example of this.
Consulting goes beyond numbers and deadlines
OEHMANN Tax Consulting primarily supports small and medium-sized limited liability companies (GmbHs). Short decision-making paths, dedicated points of contact, and a well-coordinated team create the foundation for a personal working relationship. Their commitment goes well beyond fulfilling tax obligations: regular meetings also cover business models, financing, corporate structures, succession planning, personnel costs, and attractive compensation models.
With this mindset, the processes behind the numbers inevitably come into focus. After all, when receipts are missing, expenses are recorded manually, or Excel lists can no longer keep pace with a company's growth, it doesn't just create unnecessary administrative overhead—it also undermines the foundation for sound business decisions.
Choosing not to recommend is also a decision
Stefan Oehmann understands why many firms are cautious about recommending software. After all, when you recommend a solution, you are also measured by its success. However, for him, the responsibility toward the client outweighs this: If the firm identifies a specific problem and knows of a suitable solution, it cannot afford to stay on the sidelines of process design.
Clients will make digitalization decisions even without input from their tax firm. Without professional guidance, they often research on their own—and may choose a solution that doesn't fit their company size, existing workflows, or collaboration with the firm. Proactive recommendations thus become an essential part of forward-looking consulting.
Trust is built through personal experience
For Stefan Oehmann, recommending software does not mean following every digital trend. A solution must solve a real problem without creating new friction elsewhere. Key factors include appropriate scaling, intuitive operation, GDPR-compliant data processing, accessible support, and, in particular, a seamless interface with DATEV. Duplicate data entry would negate the very benefits of digitalization.
The ultimate litmus test is real-world practice. As a rule, Stefan Oehmann only recommends solutions whose implementation he has personally overseen for clients. This turns a general product recommendation into a reliable assessment—and transforms trust in the firm into a concrete decision-making tool.
Circula delivers impact beyond accounting
Circula typically addresses pain points like complex credit card receipts, paper-based travel expenses, scattered email attachments, or manually entered expenses and benefits. The firm has already initiated the rollout for several clients. Stefan Oehmann primarily expected administrative relief. He was particularly surprised that the first positive feedback in a project didn't come from the accounting department, but directly from the staff.
As part of a salary optimization strategy, tax-free benefits were easily processed via the app. Employees saw a noticeable increase in their take-home pay, while the company optimized its personnel costs and gained an additional advantage in the competition for talent.
More room for the conversations that really matter
Administrative effort drops after implementation: receipts are captured and verified digitally, while queries and accounting errors decrease. For the firm, however, the shift in collaboration is what matters most. Instead of chasing down missing receipts, the existing fee budget can be used more effectively for optimization, future planning, and HR strategy.
This also changes how the firm is perceived: it is no longer just responsible for tax returns and financial statements, but becomes a problem-solver for digital processes and a partner in strategic development. This is exactly where the core of proactive tax consulting lies.
Start small, take responsibility
For firms that haven't yet recommended digital solutions, Stefan Oehmann advises a manageable start: select one or two tools, test them with a trusted client, and gain your own experience. It is also important to take the initial skepticism of staff seriously. The goal isn't to overhaul the entire firm overnight, but to take well-founded responsibility for the next logical step.
"If I realise that inefficient processes are holding a client back and I don't address it, I haven't done my job properly. Because only when we no longer have to talk about missing receipts is there room for the topics that truly matter to the business."
Stefan Oehmann, Tax Advisor and Firm Owner
{{travelexpense}}
Disclaimer
We would like to point out that the contents of our website (including any legal articles) are for information purposes only and do not constitute legal advice in the strict sense. The content of this information cannot and should not replace individual and binding legal advice that addresses your specific situation. In this respect, all information provided is without guarantee of accuracy, completeness and topicality.
.avif)
