As ETL GLOBAL celebrates 10 years of empowering SMEs, the spotlight turns to the people and firms who have shaped its path. In this interview, Clas Ramert, founder of Skattepunkten AB in Sweden, reflects on more than a decade of collaboration, the early years even before the global network took form, and how his firm continues to support international clients today.
Skattepunkten: Serving Individuals and Businesses in Sweden since 2007
Skattepunkten is located in Göteborg’s historic fishermen’s harbour, with offices overlooking the sea and the peaceful movement of working boats. From there, the team supports a diverse mix of clients, providing tax advice, compliance oversight, accounting, and payroll services.
The expertise behind the firm reflects Clas Ramert’s long career before becoming an entrepreneur. He spent more than two decades at Volvo’s head office, thirteen of them as Group Tax Controller, overseeing corporate structure, transfer pricing, tax litigation, and public policy. He also advised the Federation of Swedish Industries and served on the West Sweden Chamber of Commerce’s tax committee. This experience gave him both technical mastery and a clear understanding of how businesses operate in practice, shaping the way his firm still works today.
In 2007, after a period in consultancy that exposed him to the day-to-day challenges of smaller companies, Clas founded Skattepunkten. What began as a tax-focused practice has grown into a trusted partner for foreign companies and individuals doing business in Sweden.
Joining ETL GLOBAL
Skattepunkten’s connection to ETL began in 2012 with a phone call. “A lady asked if I would be interested in working with ETL,” Clas recalls. At the time, the firm was already part of another international network, but the idea of cooperating with a group focused on Germany and Europe was interesting to them. ETL’s flexible approach made it easy to test the relationship without committing to a full switch and, for a while, the firm remained active in both alliances. “It gave us a chance to see how it functioned in practice,” Clas explains.
Over time, the connection deepened, as the client base was a strong match and the collaboration proved successful. Eventually, Skattepunkten decided to leave the previous network and fully align with ETL. “We have received a lot of new clients through ETL,” Clas says. “But beyond that, we’ve built real working relationships with people we trust. That’s what makes international cooperation easier; knowing who’s on the other side.”
ETL didn’t just expand the firm’s international reach but also led to internal changes. In 2014, during an international ETL meeting initiating the ETL GLOBAL network as it is known today, a conversation with other members led to a shift in direction. “Originally, my company only focused on tax law,” Clas says. “But after that event, I was inspired to launch an accounting service.”
By the end of the year, a new branch of the company (Skattepunkten’s Office Services AB) was up and running, offering accounting, payroll, and reporting. “The accounting side grew faster than I expected,” Clas says. “Today, it actually generates more revenue than the tax side of the business!”
The Company Today
Skattepunkten currently consists of seven full-time employees, five part-time staff, and eleven subcontractors, working within a flexible structure that spans generations. “We are not fixed to special rules about age,” Clas says. “Many of us have a background as auditors and controllers, and although now retired, we continue working from home. That way, we benefit from their experience while also adapting to modern ways of working.” Clas leads by example, remaining an active part of the company at 76, while the deputy managing director, at 31, brings a younger perspective. This mix has become part of the company’s identity, and it offers their clients the best of both worlds.
Clas and his team continue to attend ETL GLOBAL’s annual conferences, which they see as great opportunities to stay connected and exchange ideas. “You meet people. You learn how they work. And that helps everyone do a better job,” Clas says.
Looking ahead, the focus remains the same: grow at a sustainable pace, maintain high standards, and stay grounded. As Clas puts it, simply: “Be good!”
A look back at Skattepunkten
