Ian Boccaccio, a veteran in the field of tax advisory, has carved out a unique path in the tax industry, marked by a commitment to client success and a passion for impactful tax solutions. Beginning his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ian quickly recognized the potential to make a greater impact, leading him to establish his own firm before ultimately joining Ryan. Today, Ian specializes in federal and international income tax, with a particular focus on green energy incentives. In this interview, he shares his journey, insights into his areas of expertise, and what he finds most rewarding about working with clients in the tax industry.
Q: Can you tell me about your background and how you got started in the tax industry?
A: Out of school, I was recruited by PwC and joined the international income tax practice. It was a great learning environment, but within five years, I realized that it wasn’t a pure meritocracy. I saw people getting promoted who weren’t working as hard or producing the same results for our clients, so I decided to leave and launch a firm in New York City to compete directly with PwC. People at the time thought I was crazy to leave my leadership role at PwC, but I was absolutely certain that I could service my clients more effectively outside the confines of a Big Four audit firm. Looking back, I sure was right.
Fortunately, it went very well, and I grew that business for nine years. In 2014, Brint Ryan approached me and showed me how much farther and faster I could go by combining my team with Ryan. I joined Ryan in December of 2014 and became the income tax practice leader shortly after, and it’s been a fantastic journey since.
Q: What specific areas of tax do you specialize in, and what led you to focus on these areas?
A: I began my career in international income tax, which was my sole focus for the first 15 years. I found that understanding and implementing solutions on a global tax landscape could yield significant benefits. I have made a career in interpreting and building executable strategies to optimize cash tax related to legislative changes. When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed in 2017, many international tax strategies were muted in favor of federal incentives, naturally my focus shifted to helping my clients implement federal tax strategies, where more opportunities existed.
These days, I’m especially focused on green energy, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022.
Q: What is the proudest moment in your career?
A: Surprisingly, it’s not about how much tax I saved my clients or any numbers-based metric. It’s really the human side of the business. When a client is under pressure and needs something done quickly, and I can step in to make it happen—that’s a proud moment for me. I’ve had instances where clients call me on a Sunday night, and we pull an all-nighter to deliver by Monday. That level of trust from my clients is something I value greatly.
On the people side, my proudest moments come from watching my team grow. Seeing someone I hired out of undergrad make it all the way to partner is incredibly rewarding. Being part of their development and success is something I’m very proud of.
Q: How do you measure the success of your work with clients?
A: Success with clients often comes down to the “no surprises” factor. In compliance, that means ensuring everything aligns with the provision so that there are no significant adjustments. On the tax planning side, it’s all about effective communication with all stakeholders—whether that’s the tax department, treasury, risk, financial planning and analysis, or up to the chief financial officer. Well-communicated strategies lead to smoother implementations and fewer surprises, which is something we strive for.
Q: What do you find most rewarding about working in the tax industry?
A: For me, it’s connecting complex legislation with a practical optimization strategy. I love being an advocate for corporate America, especially for the vice presidents of tax who sit within these organizations. Tax is often one of the largest expenses for a multinational organization, so when I help my clients reduce that cost, we’re effectively putting cash back into the company for investment, growth, and success. That’s incredibly rewarding.
You can find out more about Ian Boccaccio here.
