Avalara, Inc., (www.avalara.com), a leading provider of cloud-based global VAT and other indirect tax software announced the appointment of Richard Asquith as Vice President of Global Tax Compliance.

Asquith joins Avalara’s global tax team based in the UK, and assumes responsibility for helping businesses understand and manage their tax compliance obligations as they enter or expand into new markets. As a pioneer in transaction tax management, Avalara provides a suite of solutions ranging from registration and calculation to reporting, filing and remittance, assisting businesses to become compliant in each new country they enter.

Previously, Asquith was with TMF Group, where he founded and led its global VAT practice for nearly 10 years. Whilst there, he conceived and successfully brought to market the insurance sector’s first global premium tax engine now used across the world as the industry standard. He began his career at KPMG in the UK and later joined Ernst & Young, working in Russia, Hungary and France, assisting companies entering new markets. Richard is a frequent contributor to discussions on global tax issues in the media, and serves on Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) tax committees.

Avalara’s hiring of Asquith is the company’s latest move to broaden and deepen its transactional tax compliance offering internationally. It follows Avalara’s acquisition of Zytax, a suite of automated compliance solutions for the motor fuels, petroleum products, and natural gas industry in the US and Europe. As a result, the company has expanded its global capability to include VAT and excise duty determination and compliance in Europe.

“We are delighted to have Richard join Avalara,” said Kevin Riegelsberger, Chief Strategic Initiatives Officer at Avalara. “His breadth of global VAT and other transactional tax experience is a powerful resource and will play an important role in Avalara’s international services to its global client base.”

Richard Asquith commented, “Avalara is well established in North America and has made great progress internationally. Its simplified tax computation and reporting services is something the global market is demanding, and I am excited to help Avalara fulfil that need around the world.”