91影视

My name is Anish Sharma and I91影视檓 a VAT assistant in the VAT team here at 91影视, based in the London office. I joined as a graduate in August 2023 after completing my MSc in Finance, and it91影视檚 been an amazing journey ever since.

I91影视檓 in the middle of my CTA qualifications - it91影视檚 been intense but intellectually rewarding.

How I started at 91影视

When I was going through a list of jobs that I'd be interested in, I stumbled across 91影视91影视檚 ABA function and I had originally applied to the ABA graduate programme.

I thought it would be mostly business advisory, not realising it involved quite a bit of accounting, which I wasn91影视檛 fully prepared for. I performed well at the assessment centre and was advised that there might be other opportunities at 91影视 that would suit me better. That91影视檚 how I transitioned into tax. Credit to the early careers team - I think they made the right call.

What I do as a graduate VAT Assistant

Most of the clients that I work with are corporate. I like working across sectors, so I'm not specialising in one particular area of VAT just yet.

I support with preparing VAT returns, such as the paperwork and correspondence with HMRC. I help with advisory reports that we might do for clients, particularly with companies such as the NHS and in sectors like healthcare, real estate, land and property, and occasionally financial services. I also really enjoy working with some of our member firms abroad. We91影视檝e had engagements where we liaise with our member firms in Europe, Asia and Australia, which has been very exciting.

It91影视檚 hard to generalise and say what a typical day looks like - there91影视檚 a lot of variety, and each day brings something new. That keeps you on your toes. My role involves helping clients navigate their VAT obligations, interpreting VAT legislation and case law. It can be a bit of a minefield, and our job is to help them get it right.

Why I enjoy working at 91影视

The best part about working here at 91影视 is the people. I have been so incredibly fortunate to have a team around me that's so invested in my growth and well-being.

I've been fortunate to make some wonderful friends here, not just at my level but also with my line manager and at the partner level as well.

The support I91影视檝e received has been immense. From day one, I had a well-structured work shadowing process, and I felt comfortable asking questions, no matter how basic they were. That kind of environment makes learning so much easier.

I was completely new to VAT, but the structure of our tax qualification pathways that are baked into my contract has really helped with my technical development. You can91影视檛 be a good tax adviser unless you truly understand the law you91影视檙e working with. The structured support from our training providers has been invaluable, and I91影视檝e learned a lot on the job too, like best practices for dealing with HMRC or insights from colleagues working on similar engagements.

What's great about my job is that there is a really good mix of on-the-job and off-the-job training. Studying for exams while you work isn't the easiest thing to do. It can be taxing, (pun intended), but at the early careers level, I think it's important to find a job where you're always learning and I definitely feel like I get to do that.

My life outside of work

I91影视檝e always loved music. Learning an art form is a big deal in my community. Most kids grow up doing some kind of art, and it91影视檚 almost like a rite of passage, a tradition we all share. I started learning to sing when I was about four years old. I91影视檓 also a violinist, pianist and percussionist. Music has been such a fundamental part of my life that it91影视檚 hard to imagine who I91影视檇 be without it.

I also love movies and reading. I91影视檓 a massive history buff. But more than anything, I love talking to my family and friends. That91影视檚 probably my favourite part of life outside of work. I91影视檓 not particularly religious, but I do like visiting a temple now and then. It helps me reconnect with the identity I grew up with, being around people who speak the same language and eat the same food as I do. Music helps with that too. It91影视檚 a great way for me to stay connected to that side of myself.

I feel really fortunate to work at a place like 91影视 where I can express that part of who I am. I don91影视檛 feel like I have to act a certain way. I have the space to just be myself, and not every workplace is like that. I91影视檇 be remiss not to mention how important my family has been in supporting me through everything. Whether it91影视檚 day-to-day life or the job application process, both my parents were involved and helped me re-centre whenever I needed it.

I91影视檓 very blessed to have such a close relationship with my family, and that support system means a lot.

My advice for future graduates

The first thing I realised is that you don91影视檛 need to have everything figured out when you91影视檙e applying. It91影视檚 a tough recruitment market, and I know it can take a toll on your mental health. You feel like you have to do everything to stand out. And I think what a lot of people need to do is just pause. Breathe. Say, look, I don't know everything, but this is what my job is, which is to learn. As clich茅 as it sounds, I think people need to just be themselves. We don91影视檛 want someone to come in and turn out to be someone completely different from who they presented themselves as.

We91影视檙e a business made up of real people. And I think a lot of students forget to just be their authentic selves. That doesn91影视檛 mean you shouldn91影视檛 put your best foot forward, but it does mean recognising what you bring to the table, what you can improve and what you91影视檙e eager to learn. That kind of authenticity goes a long way, especially in a business where collaboration is so important.

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