IKPI and RAD Indonesia Strengthen Tax Consultant Competencies Through Certification

The Indonesian Tax Consultants Association (IKPI), in collaboration with PT RAD Indonesia, held an international certification webinar titled ‘Investing in Competencies for Professional Tax Consultants’ on Friday (3/7/2026). The event addressed the evolving landscape of the profession, driven by regulatory changes, digital transformation, economic globalisation, and the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Representing the General Chairperson and the Central Board, IKPI Secretary General Assoc. Prof. Dr. Edy Gunawan stated that a strong professional organisation is built not merely on the number of members, but on the quality of their competence, integrity, and professionalism. He emphasised that enhancing competence must be viewed as an investment rather than a cost, describing it as an intellectual asset whose value grows with experience and continuous learning, unlike physical assets that depreciate.

Edy explained that the tax consultant profession is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Companies now require consultants who understand business models, corporate strategy, financial statements, Good Corporate Governance (GCG), and risk management, moving beyond a narrow focus on tax provisions. This necessitates a shift in role from a Tax Advisor to a Strategic Business Advisor, where technical tax expertise is strengthened by broader business, financial, and technological insights.

In this context, IKPI views international professional certifications as a strategic investment. The Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification was highlighted as particularly relevant, offering six key benefits: expanding understanding of client business activities for more comprehensive tax analysis; improving the ability to design tax planning that ensures legal compliance and corporate efficiency; enhancing professional credibility through international recognition; strengthening the consultant’s position as a strategic business partner; broadening knowledge of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, Sustainability Reporting, and Good Corporate Governance (GCG); and improving data analysis and decision-making capabilities in the digital era.

Edy, a tax law academic, also linked professional development to Gustav Radbruch’s three objectives of law: certainty, justice, and utility. He argued that competence ensures legal certainty, integrity guarantees justice, and professionalism delivers utility for taxpayers, businesses, society, and the state. He stressed that the greatest challenge for modern tax administration is building a culture of voluntary tax compliance, which arises from understanding rights and obligations rather than fear of sanctions. In this ecosystem, tax consultants serve as a strategic bridge between the state and taxpayers, providing education and solutions within the legal framework. Edy concluded by urging all IKPI members to embrace continuous learning as an organisational culture.