What do a tax advisor, a software engineer and a… futurist have in common? The answer lies at the 9th Cyprus International Tax Conference – Navigating Reform, Regulation & the New Global Tax Order, where taxation ceases to be just numbers, forms and deadlines and becomes a living organism that evolves alongside technology.
In this dynamic setting, the presence of Nick Stobbs, CEO of Syntax AI, promises to shake things up—in the best possible way—and challenge how we think about taxation today.
Nick Stobbs does not see taxation as a “necessary evil.” He sees it as a field that can—and must—be redesigned. Having spent his entire career in the world of tax, from corporate tax roles to founding and successfully scaling innovative companies, he understands first-hand what complexity, workload and time pressure really mean. More importantly, he understands how they can change.
Through Syntax AI, he and his team are doing something that until recently sounded almost like science fiction: they are “encoding” tax law into machine-readable, deterministic logic. Put simply? They are turning law into software. The result is fewer manual processes, fewer errors, and more time for meaningful analysis and genuine advisory value. And somewhere along the way, taxation starts to become… smart.
His presentation at the conference, titled “Tax in the Age of AI: How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Compliance, Advisory Work and the Future of the Profession,” does not promise easy answers—but it does promise honesty. Stobbs describes artificial intelligence as the biggest shift in taxation since the introduction of digital filing. Automation strips away repetitive tasks while fundamentally reshaping the role of the tax professional: from process executor to strategic advisor.
With a playful tone combined with technical precision, Nick Stobbs will explore the new expectations of tax authorities, issues of governance and data quality, and the ethical questions raised by the use of AI. Above all, he will pose the most critical question of all: what skills will tomorrow’s tax professionals need in order to remain relevant in a world where machines can do more and more?
At a time when Cyprus is preparing for the most significant tax reform of recent decades and redefining its role in the international tax landscape, Nick Stobbs’ contribution carries particular weight. He is not simply talking about technology. He is talking about a shift in mindset—about how the tax profession can move from compliance to innovation, and from “must” to “can.”
The message is clear: artificial intelligence is not here to replace tax professionals. It is here to set them free. And those who understand this early will be the ones to write the next chapter of taxation.
9th Cyprus International Tax Conference
The 9th Cyprus International Tax Conference – Navigating Reform, Regulation & the New Global Tax Order has become a benchmark event for the wider tax community, bringing together leading professionals, regulators, academics and advisors from Cyprus and abroad. The conference will take place on 10 February 2026 in Nicosia and will focus on current reforms, the emerging global tax order, and the impact of technological developments on how we perceive and practise taxation.
Information
Supporters:
Baker Tilly South East Europe, Deloitte, EY Cyprus, KPMG, PwC Cyprus, STI Taxand
With the support of:
Association of Cyprus Banks, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Cyprus Bar Association, CFA Society Cyprus, Cyprus Integrity Forum (CIF), Cyprus Fiduciary Association (CYFA), Cyprus Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA Cyprus), Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC)
Organiser:
IMH
For more information and registrations, contact IMH:
Telephone: 22505555
Email: events@imhbusiness.com
