A Focus on the people behind: Personal Tax

At Monahans, we pride ourselves on having an extensive team of people with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets, who are passionate about helping their clients. As part of this series, we want to focus on the people behind each department, this time we speak with Private Client Tax Consultant, Jessica Hunt.

How did you get into tax?
I was always driven by a passion for mathematics so I chose to complete a maths degree at Cardiff University. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do but I knew it would be linked to numbers and problem solving in some way. During my time at university, I decided to explore career options and test a few different avenues. I spent a summer at Zurich for a placement working in actuarial science which is a field known for its heavy reliance on numbers. The experience was valuable, but I quickly realised I would prefer to have a social element in my next role.

After graduating, I started work with RSM a leading audit, tax and consulting firm, which was the first step in my professional career. I was naturally attracted to personal tax as it involves an equal amount of problem-solving and working with numbers, as it does collaborating with team members and building relationships with clients. The blend of the two felt like a perfect match for me.

In my first role as Private Client Tax Assistant, I worked on a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals. I enjoyed helping clients to navigate complex tax scenarios and providing well-rounded advice.

What do you find rewarding/challenging about your role?
After just under five years at RSM, I brought my expertise to Monahans, initially as a Tax Consultant and later as a Senior Tax Consultant in the advisory team. My role at Monahans is consultancy focussed specialising in areas such as Inheritance Tax, Trusts and Capital Gains Tax.

One of the most challenging but interesting parts of my role is keeping up to date with the ever-changing tax legislation. The UK’s tax laws are extensive and frequently updated which requires us to constantly learn and adapt.

One of the most rewarding parts of the role is supporting and building trust with the clients that I work with, and I pride myself on being someone they can rely on for advice. It might sound cliche, but no two days are ever the same in tax!

Why would you recommend that others go into this field?
For those who are interested in the combination of numbers and people-focused work, tax is a great specialism to choose. The breadth of focus areas in tax means there are countless opportunities for people to really find their niche and grow.

For me, it has been crucial to explore different routes and to have kept an open mind to any new opportunities that have been thrown at my way. If you have a passion for numbers and a desire to help people, a career in personal tax might just be the perfect fit for you.

If you are looking for a specialist in personal tax, find out more about our team of experts here.

Jessica Hunt