How has your career developed since
joining the firm?
I’ve enjoyed non-stop development since
joining the Birmingham tax practice as a graduate trainee. I wanted
a career in tax, but was also keen to get an ACA qualification. The
Birmingham team was very accommodating. Not only did they allow me
to study for that qualification, they arranged for me to have a
six-month placement with the assurance department.
This was followed by a long stint with the
corporate tax team, where I cut my teeth on a whole range of
projects. It was there that I discovered my passion for advisory
work. This led to my permanent transfer to the tax advisory team.
Once my professional studies were complete, I was promoted to a
managerial position. Considering I’ve only been here four years, I
feel I’ve come a long way.
What’s been your best
experience?
Preparing the firm’s response to the Budget
has been my best experience so far. I helped write articles that
were posted overnight on our corporate website. It was really
quite thrilling! Obviously, being part of the tax practice, we’re
subject to a lot of rumour and speculation before every Budget. But
even so, there was a genuine newsroom buzz in the office that day.
Everyone was either busy making calls or writing up copy.
What’s the working culture
like?
Although we work hard here, the firm believes
in maintaining a strong work-life balance. Unlike some firms, we
don’t believe in doing overtime for overtime’s sake. Those pursuing
professional exams are given the time to do their studies.
Obviously, this cuts both ways. If the whole team is working to a
tight deadline, you need to be flexible too.
Tell us about the team you work with.
How would you describe the kind of person who succeeds
here?
My team deals with complex and often highly
technical tax issues. Each one of them is a strong problem solver
in their own right. That said, they’re always willing to pull
together to find the best solution for the client. That’s why you
need to be a good communicator to succeed here. You also need to be
a good networker. By building a good set of internal contacts,
you’ll be able to draw on the right expertise when a project
demands it.