Inside M&A: Insights for in-house tax | Sandra Esteves from Qlik

Sandra Esteves, Head of Tax at Qlik (previously HoT at Talend, which was acquired by Qlik in 2023), joins Tax Leaders Unplugged to unpack what it takes for an in-house tax team to get through due diligence and integration without losing control or credibility. We cover the realities of PE-backed deals, running Talend and Qlik as standalone groups until late 2023, and how to lead when sponsors and colleagues exit during the process. In this episode, she shares:• The dashboard she built within months of joining in 2021 to brief the CFO on eight core items: on-time compliance, risk positions, liabilities, controversy, cash taxes, cash opportunities, and attributes.• Why deep business knowledge accelerated structuring and integration decisions.• How to balance team morale and transparency when duplication forces tough calls.• Why compliance is strategic, not second-class, especially with Pillar Two and central oversight.—Where to find Sandra Esteves: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-esteves-33788313/Where to find Stevi Frooninckx: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevifrooninckx__In this episode, we cover:[00:00:00] From Portugal to Amsterdam: Sandra’s Tax Journey[00:05:10] The Compass Quote: Staying Focused as a Leader[00:08:42] Talend’s Acquisition by Qlik[00:12:50] The 8-Line CFO Dashboard for M&A Readiness[00:15:12] Leading Through Integration and Sponsorship Loss[00:24:25] Compliance as a Strategic Advantage[00:27:30] TEI, IBFD, and Career Lessons for Tax Leaders