CIOT speaks to its first candidate to complete the Diploma in Tax Technology

Tristan’s career started at KPMG Bristol as a school leaver in the private client tax team, completing trust tax returns and accounts. Initially, this was a gap year before starting university but he stayed on at KPMG for over ten years. Tristan currently works as Director and Group Head of Tax for B-FLEXION, an international investment firm, where he has worked for 13 years and has successfully completed ATT, CTA and ADIT assessments.

What area of tax do you work in and how will the Diploma in Tax Technology help you in your day to day job?

I had recently completed the ADIT qualification when I saw the DITT advert and thought it sounded interesting. B-FLEXION is currently undertaking a financial transformation project to help increase efficiencies and better incorporate technology in our finance team. I wanted to make sure the tax team got the most out of that project.

We have been hiring IT consultants and technical people and I thought that studying the DITT would help me to speak more knowledgeably with colleagues whilst working on this project. The syllabus was very pertinent to what I was doing in the format that time.

What motivated you to undertake this qualification?

The DITT was launched at the right time for me when I was looking to learn more about tax technology. I liked the syllabus, and the modular nature of the programme allowed me to study when I was on holiday and on the train during my commute to and from work. I found it useful to fit in my learning around my job and my life.

How do you think this programme will benefit the profession?

Technology is coming. Making Tax Digital is already in place, so anyone working in tax must get on board with it and get in front of it, or else you will be dragged behind. Studying the DITT course helps tax professionals to embrace technology and see where it can be incorporated into their existing or new processes. Also, the Diploma encourages us to pursue further learning in this area.

What kept you motivated throughout the programme?

The immediateness of receiving a score from the module assessments kept me motivated. As I was using the information on the course in my day job at work, it was really useful when having conversations with the tech team members. It is pertinent to the work I am doing right now.

Would you recommend this programme to others?

Yes, I would. You can study relatively leisurely, so it doesn’t feel like a massive investment of time. The learning material is digestible and manageable.

I feel I got a lot out of it for the amount of investment I put in. The cost isn’t prohibitive and all of the learning resources (the Learning Dashboard and assessment Centre) are all found in the one place online.

Read Tristan’s DITT story in full at: www.tax.org.uk/case-studies-tristan-noyes