A member's view: Kurun Khangura

How did you find out about a career in tax?

During sixth form, our head of careers informed me of apprenticeships available. Following this, I attended many insight evenings at professional services firms which outlined the various departments available for the school leaver route. When I was 16, I completed a two-week work experience programme at Grant Thornton, gaining experience in Audit and Tax, and in doing so learned that I was best suited to a career in tax.

Why is the ATT qualification important?

The ATT qualification indicates that the members have a strong understanding of the basic UK tax system and demonstrates our ability to provide tax advice to individuals and businesses, which often have a broad range of requirements. This is important for me, because I not only deal with tax compliance for high-net worth individuals, but I also provide tax advisory services based on my clients’ unique situations and needs.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Charismatic, resilient and dedicated.

Who has influenced you in your career?

Two partners within RSM, both of whom have given me the utmost responsibility since I joined the firm, providing me with the greatest empowerment and support. They allowed me to join client meetings within my first few weeks of starting and gave me challenging tasks which enabled me to grow and improve my technical ability. At the same time, they have supported me by showing me how they would deal with these tasks, leading me to adopt their methods as I approach day to day tasks.

What advice would you give to someone starting off in their career?

Never be afraid to ask the question. If you get stuck and are afraid to ask a colleague, this can cause delays. I would also suggest taking the initiative to do research before presenting your query to your colleague. This shows that you have put some thought into it and you can see what is missing.

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

One key prediction is that the capital gains tax rate may rise in the coming years, meaning that disposals of shares in companies and many other assets will be subject to higher rates.

What advice would you give to your future self?

To continue to broaden my tax and wider commercial knowledge, so I can better understand my clients and how to help them. In particular, I should make sure I continue to take on new and challenging technical work to ensure I continue to build on the great knowledge I have obtained from completing the ATT qualification.

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

I joined RSM at 18 years old as a school leaver straight after A Levels and was ATT qualified by the age of 21. Outside of work, I am currently studying for my CTA and enjoy going to the gym and playing five a side football in my spare time.

Contact
If you would like to take part in A Member’s View, please contact Jo Herman at:
[email protected]