I was working in KPMG in Dublin (and fully qualified at this stage) and wanted to move to Waterford. KPMG did not have an office in Waterford or its environs. A friend of mine working in the Ernst & Young office in Dublin, put me in contact with her boss who had moved to the Waterford office some time earlier. I spoke to him by phone and emailed him my CV. He interviewed me in the Dublin office and subsequently interviewed me in the Waterford office, this time with the tax senior manager. They offered me the job - and I'm still here 4 and a half years later!
Describe a typical day?
My typical day would start with checking my voicemails, emails and drawing up a list of tasks to complete for the day - sounds boring but it is important to organise the work for the day!
The ability to be able to prioritise work is essential. I generally work in the office - performing tax reviews, coming up with tax planning opportunities for clients, assisting with clients' queries and discussing tax planning opportunities with them, assisting with Revenue audits, etc.
Often clients call up and require urgent answers to tax planning ideas. When this happens, the list of tasks for the day goes out the window - until the next day anyway!
I visit clients occasionally to collect information, to perform the tax reviews, review their new buildings for capital allowance purposes, etc. I liaise with Revenue, whether it be queries regarding particular clients upcoming Revenue audits or queries regarding refunds, or as part of my work with the Irish Taxation Institute, Branch Network.
I try to do some technical reading each day - to keep up with changes in taxation. Some days afford opportunities such as a business trip to e.g. London, assisting with awards in Waterford Institute of Technology or lecturing for the Irish Taxation Institute.
Before I leave for the day, I always try to complete my timesheet (records the clients that we spent our time on during the day - to make the billing process easier).
What's cool?
Getting to meet interesting clients/business people. When you suggest a tax planning opportunity to a client - and they get excited by it and decide to pursue it!
What's not so cool?
Timesheets - but you get used to them fairly quickly!
When you say that you're a Registered Tax Consultant - people automatically assume that: a) you work with the Revenue, or b) that you are interested in what 'payroll' did with their tax credits last month!
Collecting fees from clients!
What particular skills do you bring to your workplace?
Good communication skills - to communicate with clients/potential clients and colleagues. I.T. skills Organisational skills Work on my own initiative Work as part of a team
What are the main challenges?
The main challenges that I face in my job are:
Planning and organising my time efficiently and effectively to meet tax deadlines.
I have to stay ahead of developments and changes in tax legislation.
What are the main tasks and responsibilities?
As a Registered Tax Consultant, I have my own clients. So my responsibility is to ensure that these clients' tax deadlines are met in an efficient and timely manner. I must also provide tax efficient solutions to client's problems/issues to save them tax and keep them happy!
I must also stay ahead of taxation developments - by reading tax updates, attending courses, etc.
