Sophie Foran

Executive summary

Sophie is a Director, Transfer Pricing based in BDO's Brisbane office. Sophie has over 7 years of experience in providing transfer pricing advice and compliance services for medium to large private, public, inbound and outbound multinational groups. She is commercially focused with a pragmatic, client-centric approach, and continues to build a client portfolio spanning various industries.

Sophie has particular interest and expertise advising large multinational groups with annual turnover exceeding $1 billion, businesses with valuable intellectual property and intangible assets, as well as the mining and resources sector. She has a strong track record of leading complex transfer pricing engagements, including Australian Taxation Office (ATO) reviews, cross-border restructuring projects, transfer pricing governance programs and compliance matters. 

With a thoughtful and solutions-driven approach to engagements, Sophie is able to proactively identify opportunities to add value and support clients’ strategic objectives.

Expertise

• Transfer pricing planning and structuring advice for Australian outbound businesses across industries such as manufacturing, retail, software and technology, biopharmaceuticals, construction, mining and resources, and commodities 
• Advising inbound and outbound multinational groups on Australian transfer pricing, with a focus on identifying and assessing key value drivers within the business, and implementing defensible pricing frameworks to manage risk and optimise tax outcomes 
• Establishing transfer pricing policies for medium to large businesses and corporations 
• Preparation of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Australian transfer pricing documentation
• Driving compliance obligations and advisory for businesses and corporations that are Significant Global entities i.e. part of a Group that has consolidated revenue of over AUD $1 billion. 

Experience

Transfer pricing advisory and governance

• Leading the design and implementation of transfer pricing policies across multiple jurisdictions and industries, including documentation, governance support and alignment of commercial arrangements with operational activities 
• Assisting with operational transfer pricing support, ATO engagement activities and reviews relating to cross-border related party arrangements 
• Leading compliance engagements aligned to OECD and Australian requirements for medium to large multinational enterprises, including those with turnover exceeding $1 billion
• Leading coordination with overseas advisers and internal stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions, to ensure global governance and compliance objectives are met. 

Intellectual property and intangibles advisory

• Advising clients on the transfer pricing treatment of intangible assets, including development, enhancement, maintenance, protection, and exploitation (DEMPE) analysis, IP ownership structures and cross-border licensing arrangements 
• Preparation of risk assessment frameworks, benchmarking analyses and other compliance work streams 
• Assisting clients to design and implement cross-border policies, aligning outcomes with broader commercial and business strategies. 

Qualifications and affiliations

• Bachelor of Economics (International Trade and Finance).