The 7th-largest network, RSM International, is launching an academy which will focus on intensive tax training for senior professionals within the network.
The firm - which lost its UK presence in August when Baker Tilly bought the beleaguered RSM Tenon in the UK in a pre-pack deal - says that its RSM ITAX Academy was created as a two-year programme run for the network's future leaders in international tax and will ensure that its top leaders in cross-border tax have the very best technical and client advisory skills.
The two-year course will include two residential weeks at NH Koningshof, Eindhoven, together with regular webcasts and extensive home study, and is led by members from the RSM Centre for Excellence for Tax in partnership with academics from the University of Amsterdam.
The programme has been launched at the same time as global regulatory bodies and governments across the world revise global tax rules, which have been criticised for not keeping pace with the changes in business catalysed by the digital era.
Cross-border tax rules are particularly under scrutiny and have been criticised for allowing multi-national companies to seek lower tax regimes for their profits while avoiding large tax bills within the jurisdictions in which most of their profits are made.
The very first week of the programme has just been completed in NH Koningshof, and covered a broad range of themes from cross border income and capital gains to hybrid entities and the OECD Model Tax Treaty.
Jean Stephens, CEO of RSM International, said: 'We launched the RSM ITAX Academy to give the future leaders of international tax a very special opportunity to learn not just from the very best tax professionals in RSM, but also from one of Europe's best academic institutions for tax - the University of Amsterdam.
'This rigorous programme will be a symbol of excellence in international tax and build on RSM's place as a world leader in tax and advisory services. We are delighted to welcome the inaugural class into this challenging two year programme and wish them every success as they progress through their studies.'
Next year the class of 2013 will take their second residential week that includes EU Law and tax treaty anti-avoidance provisions. At the same time a fresh group of tax professionals will enrol and cover the first year programme.
