A member's view: Zivile Parr

How did you find out about a career in tax? 

The first time I heard of a career in tax was when I spotted an advert in a local paper for positions in accountancy and tax at a private practice based in Harold Wood, Essex. I was thinking about working in accountancy at the time, but I took a chance and applied for both roles (accountancy trainee and tax trainee). This was when my career in tax began.

What do people outside the sector not realise about a career in tax?

When people ask me about what I do, and I tell them that I work in tax, many tend to say that it must be boring. They are so wrong! I guess unless you work in tax, it is hard to appreciate what this job actually entails and what it takes to become good at it. I think it deserves as much credit as the top jobs in accountancy.

What skills have you developed since starting the CTA? 

When I started studying for my CTA exams, my confidence to advise my clients on tax-related matters grew significantly. It also enabled me to see the broader picture, e.g. when a particular transaction may require consideration of more than one type of tax. Preparing for the CTA exams involves a lot of writing; therefore, studying also improved my writing skills.

What benefits does your CTA qualification bring to your employer?

The greatest benefits that my CTA qualification brings to my employer are my tax technical knowledge and my ability to spot issues that our clients rely on us, as their tax advisers, to identify and advise on.

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Meticulous, analytical and dedicated.

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

Studying for the CTA exams is hard work and requires a lot of commitment, but it is so worth it in the end. Passing the CTA exams does really feel like a major achievement.

I would also recommend that the gap between getting the ATT or accounting qualification and starting to study for the CTA qualification is kept to a minimum. The longer the gap, the harder it may be to get yourself back into the mood of studying.

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

I believe that there will always be a need for tax advisers, despite technological advancements and the government’s plans for Making Tax Digital. No technology will ever be able to provide all the answers due to the complex and ever-changing nature of tax legislation.

We are yet to see if radical simplification of the UK tax system, that the government has been promising for years, is going to shift in the right direction any time soon.

What advice would you give your future self?

Don’t be afraid to try something new, even if it is outside of my comfort zone!

Tell me something about yourself that others may be surprised to know about you.

I can play the piano, I don’t like spiders and I love baking for my family.

Contact
If you would like to take part in A Member's View, please contact Jo Herman at jherman@ciot.org.uk