Rachel, who is based at our Biggleswade office, joined George Hay in March 2020 as a Tax Assistant. She is AAT and ATT qualified, and is now looking to gain her CTA qualification, having developed a preference for taxation as her career has progressed.
Prior to joining us, Rachel had worked for both larger and smaller firms supporting businesses with year-end accounts, corporation tax returns, VAT and management accounts, and undertaking some personal tax work.
Now a member of our tax department, she will assist with the provision of tax compliance services for private clients, including the preparation of tax returns and calculating liabilities for Income Tax, National Insurance and Capital Gains Tax.
Q1. Describe yourself in three words?
Friendly, eager and talkative.
Q2. Bearing in mind your varied experience, what is it that made you want to specialise in tax?
People always want to know what can be done to reduce the amount they pay!
Q3. Now is about the time many of us would be taking summer holidays, under normal circumstances. Do you have a favourite travel destination (at home or abroad) and is there anywhere you’ve never been but would love to visit?
I tend to go to different places every year, but I would love to visit the Maldives or Australia – anywhere sunny really!
Q4. If you could take up a new hobby, or learn a new skill, what would you choose?
Either cooking or baking. I can cook basic things and I can make a good sponge, but that’s about it.
Q5. What do you enjoy most about your job?
Things are always changing and I’m learning every day. I’ve always enjoyed problem solving and there can be a lot of that in my role.
Q6. Having had a little bit of time to settle in, albeit remotely, what one word would you use to describe George Hay?
Friendly.
Q7. What’s your favourite cuisine?
A tough question as I love my food! I’d have to say Indian.
Q8. If you could interview one famous person (dead or alive) who would you choose and why?
Karren Brady – I’d like to ask her what it was like working her way up to the top in a ‘man’s game’ and dealing with the heavy criticism she faced. I think she should be more of an inspiration to young women than she perhaps is.
Q9. Your profile tells us you hope to study gain your CTA qualification – what do you think are the benefits of working whilst also studying?
Some aspects of tax returns can be repetitive, which I find is the best way for me to learn and when you know it at work, day in day out, you don’t have to learn it outside of the office. I think putting your studying to use in your job is so beneficial – practical too.
Q10. Can you tell us one interesting fact about yourself, that we wouldn’t already know?
I like sport and support West Ham…
