A member’s view: Jasmine Kaur

How did you find out about a career in tax?

When I started working at HM Treasury. I joined on the graduate scheme which provides the opportunity to do rotations in different groups, such as business and international tax, personal tax and welfare, spending, fiscal, economics, etc. Business tax seemed really interesting and there were lots of interesting high-profile issues I’d seen in the news at the time, so I applied to do a rotation in the Corporate Tax team, and I’ve worked in business tax ever since! HM Treasury also has a great tax professionalism offer which appealed to me, as it provided the opportunity to take a wide range of professional qualifications.

Why is the CIOT qualification important?

It allows you to gain a much sharper understanding of the tax system, and it gives you greater confidence in any technical aspects of your role and with problem solving. It also provides you with a great platform for a career in tax and opens many options.

Why did you pursue a career in tax?

I’ve always been interested in economics and business, and tax seemed like a great mix of the two. I also really enjoyed the problem solving and technical elements of my job, as well as the amount of responsibility we get here in HM Treasury to develop tax policy that impacts the whole of the UK.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Analytical, calm and supportive.

Who has influenced you in your career so far?

I’ve been lucky enough to have had some amazing managers and leaders around me at HM Treasury, to whom I am grateful. In particular, I worked for Tim Power and Mike Williams for many years and learnt an enormous amount from them both – not just their excellent technical tax knowledge, but also about how to manage teams, handle difficult meetings and approach problems.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of doing the CIOT qualification?

If you have a job in tax, bite the bullet and do it. The CTA qualification will help you become a real expert and be better at your job. When it comes to the exams, my advice would be to revise lots from the point that you start your course and look into recent cases in the areas that you’re studying.

What are your predictions for tax advisers and the tax industry in the future?

Digitalisation and technology will change the way we work dramatically, and we’ll gradually shift to a real-time system. I think there’ll also be a much greater focus on tax transparency in the corporate tax world.

What advice would you give to your future self?

Carry on learning and expanding your knowledge, as it can be easy to get lazy as you progress further in your career.

Tell me something about yourself that others may not know about you.

I am a big DIY enthusiast and have spent the last year working on my doer-upper – I’ve managed to do the bulk of electrical, plumbing, building and decorative work myself with the help of YouTube!

Contact

If you would like to take part in A member’s view, please contact: Melanie Dragu at: mdragu@ciot.org.uk