A recent study by Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting reveals that Spanish professional firms stand out among those with the best performance in the field of advice worldwide. In Spain, 95% currently offer advisory and consulting services, above the world and European average, while 76% consider advice as a fundamental service, one of the highest proportions in Europe, only behind Denmark (77%).
«Spanish companies are redefining what it means to be an advisor. They understand that compliance alone is no longer enough and are accelerating Europe’s move towards an advice-first approach,” said Bas Kniphorst, EVP & Managing Director of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting Europe. “The urgency now is to turn that vision into revenue, expand and monetize advice through technology, data and artificial intelligence so that advice goes from an expectation to a differentiator.”
Planning with business and tax strategy
In Spain, the greatest demand for advisory services focuses on business and tax planning and strategy, which is offered by 73% of firms. There is also strong demand for support in business transitions such as succession planning and mergers and acquisitions (60%), along with wealth management and financial planning (61%).
Technology and data drive an advisory-focused relationship
Technology is a key factor for the transformation of the sector. Globally and in Europe, proactive use of client data to identify advisory opportunities is now the norm, with only 13% of consultancies saying they do not use client data in this way. In Spain, adoption is even higher, as only 7% of firms do not proactively use client data to discover advisory opportunities.
Spanish firms are also strengthening their role as trusted technology advisors. Two-thirds (66%) say they have a strong influence on their customers’ technology decisions.
“In Spain, the relationship between the advisor and the client is becoming much more proactive and collaborative,” added Kniphorst. “Customers expect regular, informed conversations that help them plan for the future, make better decisions and navigate change with confidence. Consulting is no longer an additional service. “It is how modern firms build trust and establish long-term relationships with their clients.”
Adoption in the use of AI accelerates
The adoption of artificial intelligence is also accelerating and consultancies are already seeing benefits: 53% say they have achieved better results than expected when using AI to improve the advisory service, above the European and global averages, which stand at 47% and 43%, respectively.
Spanish firms are also strengthening their role as trusted technology advisors
This growing importance of advisory services in the sector is reflected in a new global chapter of the Future ReadyAccountant (FRA) study by Wolters Kluwer: “Advisory-firstengagement: FromCompliancetostrategic partnership”. Based on responses from more than 2,700 professionals across 14 countries, the study shows how tax and accounting firms around the world are moving beyond compliance to deliver strategic, advisory-focused client relationships. Globally, 93% of firms offer advisory services, up from 83% just a year ago, and almost two-thirds (65%) view advisory services as a core service rather than an optional add-on.
