Strengthening the tax control framework:
Armacell's approach to Pillar Two readiness

Insights from Simone Berdelmann

Simone Berdelmann manages the Pillar Two compliance process directly, supported by her manager who retains a review role. Currently, she is the sole active user of the Alphatax Pillar Two platform within Armacell, although the team is considering decentralising access as local filing obligations increase.

Both Alphatax Provisioning and Alphatax Pillar Two integrate seamlessly as part of Alphatax’s global tax compliance platform, allowing Armacell to establish a single source of truth for their tax compliance data and strengthening their tax control framework.

Customer priorities

While Armacell is a B2B manufacturer, internal stakeholders—particularly senior leadership and auditors—care deeply about timely, accurate, and defensible tax reporting. With new regulatory frameworks like Pillar Two coming into force globally, reliability, transparency, and audit readiness are top priorities. As Armacell falls under Pillar Two compliance, it is essential the company assesses how they meet the requirements of the new rules.

Alphatax products used

• Alphatax Provisioning – Implemented in 2016 for managing consolidated financial statement compliance. The solution automates time-consuming tax accounting tasks like data gathering and monitoring, allowing the team to focus on tax position analysis. Suitable for organisations of all sizes, it plays a key role in Armacell’s direct tax control framework.
• Alphatax Pillar Two – Recently adopted to manage compliance with the OECD’s Pillar Two regulations. This cloud-based SaaS solution calculates top-up tax in line with OECD model rules, automates XML-based GIR and QDMTT filings, and enhances efficiency through built-in references and automation.

Previous process & challenges

Before Alphatax Pillar Two, Pillar Two compliance planning relied on manual data manipulation in Excel, which posed a high risk of oversight. Simone highlighted the complexity of interpreting global rules without contextual support tools and the difficulty in managing structured compliance across 26 jurisdictions. Armacell was looking for a Pillar Two solution that offered structure, reduced compliance risk, and simplified interpretation of evolving international tax rules. The ability to stay within a familiar ecosystem and leverage existing data from Alphatax Provisioning made integration and continuity a major advantage. Built-in references to OECD guidance, a structured checklist for regulatory components, and an intuitive interface enabled faster onboarding and more confident audit readiness.

“Compared to Excel, Alphatax Pillar Two reduced the risk of missing key components and provided a structured checklist—even for items that might not apply. That overview added real value.”

Onboarding & support

The onboarding experience with Alphatax Pillar Two was smooth. Familiarity with Alphatax Provisioning enabled a fast-learning curve. Initial setup required only basic training, and support from the team—particularly Gerwin and Nic—was rated highly.

“I’d rate the support a 9 out of 10. Having someone who understands our structure already is a huge plus.”

Key improvements & outcomes

Implementing Alphatax Pillar Two delivered tangible benefits for Armacell’s tax team, streamlining what was previously a complex and sometimes risk-prone process. The tool’s structure, intuitive design, and regulatory alignment directly impacted both the speed and quality of their Pillar Two compliance work. Key improvements shown by the solution were:

• Speed: Pillar Two data was finalised within four days of completing tax provision and consolidation.
• Audit Success: No changes were required by auditors during review—highlighting accuracy and reliability.
• Efficiency: Excel-based risk was reduced significantly. Integrated OECD references helped with interpretation and ensured completeness.
• Professionalism: Output from Alphatax Pillar Two was visually clean, clear, and easy for non-technical reviewers (like auditors) to understand.

“The tool made reporting feel professional and structured… Even those unfamiliar with the system could understand our approach.”

These outcomes reflect Armacell’s proactive approach to compliance and demonstrate how the right technology choice can enhance both operational confidence and audit readiness in a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

What’s next

With the first reporting cycle completed successfully, Armacell is already looking ahead. As Pillar Two obligations evolve and local compliance requirements grow across jurisdictions, the team is focused on strengthening integration, collaboration, and forward-looking capabilities.

As Pillar Two obligations expand globally, Armacell plans to:

• Explore integrating Alphatax Provisioning data into Alphatax Pillar Two for future cycles.
• Open access to additional team members as more jurisdictions require local filings.
• Track more advanced areas such as Global Minimum Tax Losses.

These next steps reflect Armacell’s commitment to continuous improvement and staying ahead of regulatory demands with scalable, technology-driven processes.

Why Armacell recommends Alphatax Pillar Two

“It gives structure to a complex topic and helps ensure we don’t overlook anything… Yes, I would recommend Alphatax Pillar Two to other companies.”

Key takeaways

Armacell’s experience with Alphatax Pillar Two highlights the practical benefits of adopting a purpose-built solution for Pillar Two compliance. The following outcomes stood out as particularly impactful:

• Single source of data truth – One of the most valuable benefits was having a unified platform for both tax provisioning and Pillar Two compliance. With Alphatax Provisioning and Alphatax Pillar Two operating within the same environment, data can be shared seamlessly between the two, reducing duplication and ensuring consistency across tax reporting processes.
• Seamless onboarding – Familiarity with the Alphatax environment, combined with intuitive system design and guided onboarding sessions, enabled a quick and confident start with minimal training required.
• Significant time savings – The team was able to finalise Pillar Two data within just four days of completing tax provision and consolidation—far faster than manual Excel-based approaches.
• Audit-ready outputs – Structured workflows, built-in regulatory references, and clear, professional reporting formats made it easier to meet auditor expectations with minimal follow-up questions or revisions.
• Strong customer support – Access to knowledgeable support staff who understood Armacell’s tax structure contributed to a smooth implementation and ongoing confidence in using the tool.
• Scalability for future growth – As Pillar Two rules evolve and compliance requirements increase across jurisdictions, the platform provides a scalable solution that can support decentralised access, new data integrations, and more advanced features.