Emily Caine is the Tax Operations Director at BHP, overseeing the internal operations of the department, including people, finance, technology, and process improvements. She’s passionate about making life easier for her team by driving innovation and efficiency, ensuring they can focus on delivering the best strategic advice for clients. We caught up with Emily to learn more about her role, how tech is shaping the future of tax, and what’s in store for the months ahead.
Can you tell us a bit about your role and what you’re working on at the moment?
I am the Tax Operations Director, which broadly means that I oversee the internal operations of the department, including people matters, finance, technology and process improvements. One of the more exciting projects we are working on at the moment is the use of AI and robotic process automation in the preparation of personal tax returns. The aim is to help us service our clients better, with our knowledgeable team more able to focus on providing strategic advice rather than manual processes.
What does innovation mean to you in your role?
To put it very simply, I see my role as attempting to make the members of the tax team’s lives easier by implementing efficiencies and improvements. Innovation is one of the key ways I can do this, and so I see it as intrinsic to my role.
Have there been any moments where you’ve felt especially proud of the impact you’ve made?
I am very new to the role, so I haven’t had much time to reflect on my impact thus far, but I would say that the best experiences for me so far are seeing the teams get excited about the changes we are implementing because they know they will allow us to work smarter. That team spirit is a big driver for me.
What advice would you give to other women looking to lead or drive change?
I would say be bold with your ideas! Get everything on the table before you start to challenge and dismiss options. And be inclusive – I think it is so important to listen to everyone’s ideas and thoughts (especially where they are the ones doing the actual job day in day out) as you will be more likely to get buy-in to any change you decide to make.
What does being part of a Great Place to Work mean to you?
BHP’s culture is all about the employees, and it really is different to any other place I have worked in that regard. It’s great to see that reflected in the Great Places to Work certification, and I like how that keeps us accountable and innovative in that space.
