Why Buzzacott?
Stood out to me because of the balance between technical excellence and the strong focus on people.
The firm is large enough to offer expertise across specific areas such as private client tax but it is still small enough to prioritize meaningful relationships with both clients and colleagues.
This is something that is important to me because I want to build a career where I can develop strong technical skills whilst also building long term relationships.
Why tax?
The reason I want to work in tax, specifically private client tax, is because of the combination of technical, analytical work with building long term client relationships.
The academic experience that I have gained in Economics and Finance throughout my undergrad and postgrad degrees has been mainly numerical and technical, whereas my professional experience, in roles for Currys and the University of Liverpool, have been focused on building trust with clients. Working in personal tax is an ideal way to combine the two and utilize my skillset.
What skills do you need to be successful in this role?
Firstly, I need strong technical ability. Tax requires strong attention to detail, problem solving, and the ability to work with complex information. My academic background in economics has helped me develop these skills, especially modules such as Econometrics and advanced microeconomics.
Secondly, strong communication is needed in order to explain tax concepts such as capital gains tax and inheritance tax clearly and also to build trust with clients. In my current role as a sales colleague at Currys, I regularly explain complex product information to customers in a simple tailored way which has helped me develop confidence in using my communication skills in a professional environment.
Finally, a skill that is needed is professionalism. While working with sensitive financial and personal information, it is important to work with discretion and integrity. My experience running my own business has taught me the importance of delivering a professional service.
Difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion
Tax avoidance and tax evasion are very different in terms of legality and ethics.
Tax avoidance is where you minimise the amount of tax you pay by arranging your financial affairs in a way that is within the framework of current legislation. For example, using tax reliefs or tax exemptions, as long as they are used fairly. This is legal and ethical.
Whereas tax evasion involves misrepresenting income or assets to reduce tax liabilities. for example, failing to declare income or using undisclosed offshore accounts. This is illegal and unethical.
As a tax advisor, it is not only important to operate within the law, but also to act with integrity and professionalism as its our duty to protect the reputation of Buzzacott and our clients.
Time you solved a problem
During my time doing ecommerce admin for a local football club, I was responsible for managing online kit orders and stock through shopify and excel.
We started having issues where customers were able to order items that werent actually in stock which caused delays and refunds.
I took the initiative the review the process and found that the stock levels were being updated manually by the supplier, causing a lag. I created a more structured excel tracking system which automated the stock count for us and the supplier. I also made sure to contact the customers whose orders were affected, offering them alternative solutions.
As a result, we reduced stock errors and improved customer satisfaction. This experience showed me the importance of systems and attention to detail.
How would your friends describe you?
I think they would describe me as driven. For example, I set clear goals and consistently work towards them. This is something they have seen throughout my academic journey where I have been managing jobs alongside my studies and even managed my own business alongside my A level studies, not to mention other extra curricular activities such as captaining my football team and running the Liverpool half marathon.
They would also describe me as responsible. Often during university projects, I have been the one coordinating group work and making sure everyone stays on track.
I think on a more personal level they would describe me as approachable. People tend to come to me for advice because they know I’ll listen to them and try to help them think through problems logically.
Would you accept a gift from a client?
This is a situation that must be handled carefully whilst always following the firms policies and maintaining professional standards. From my understanding, Buzzacott operates within a strong compliance framework aligned with ICAEW guidance.
In most cases, I would imagine that gifts would have to be disclosed and recorded in order to maintain accountability and transparency. The problem with accepting gifts is that it could cause a conflict of interest problem, which could jeopardise the integrity and trust that are so important in private client work.
At the end of the day, it is our job to be responsible and to protect the reputation of the client and the firm.
What problems might come up in the role?
One of the main challenges is prioritising workload, especially while balancing client work alongside professional qualifications like the ATT and CTA. This will require good time management and planning ahead. I already have plenty of experience balancing work and studies. For example, I am currently working at Currys alongside my masters degree. Also, during my A Levels, I ran a small football coaching business on weekends and evenings. This allowed me to develop time management strategies like splitting tasks up into smaller steps and prioritizing tasks based on urgency.
In terms of challenges that may come up in the client work, I would say that the main challenge will be managing complex and changing legislation. Tax rules, especially in areas like inheritance and capital gains tax are constantly evolving so advisors need to stay up to date and make sure advice remains compliant.
