Hi, my name is Sarah,

I have been working as a Tax Trainee at Old Mill since August 2022.

Prior to Old Mill, I attended the University of Reading, where I graduated with a degree in Business Economics. I didn’t have a clear vision on the type of job I wanted but knew I wanted to work with numbers. I had studied Accountancy at A-level and decided a role in that area would be most suited. When I initially applied to Old Mill, it was for an account’s role, but they asked if I would be interested in joining the Tax team and I haven’t looked back since!

One of the perks about working in Tax, is that you can tailor the role based on what interests you most. Whether that’s working in corporation tax, personal tax, compliance or even advisory. Old Mill are very open-minded with allowing you to determine the direction of your career, and even if you decide to go down one route and change your mind at a later date, they are more than happy to support you.

I have chosen to work within the Private Client team, with a focus of providing advice on various taxes including Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance tax, and even Trusts. I also help individuals meet their compliance requirements, whether that’s preparing tax returns or P11Ds.

I have completed a large proportion of the apprenticeship so far, having gained the ATT qualification (Association of Taxation Technicians) and am in the process of studying for the CTA qualification (Chartered Tax Adviser), with only two exams remaining.

When entering a technical world, the apprenticeship provides a good balance between giving you enough support so you can develop in your role whilst not pushing you into the deep end. You have the hands-on experience offered by Old Mill which is supported by the technical knowledge learnt via the professional qualifications. This mix is the perfect way to develop as you can see the theory and understand how this applies in real-life scenarios.

On top of this, the apprenticeship also provides skills days, with the focus on improving your soft skills. These days involve completing various tasks with individuals from other firms who are also studying a professional qualification. This can sometimes seem quite daunting but is a great way to meet likeminded people and build a support system with those who are going through the same situation.

I must also give credit to my team here at Old Mill, who have provided continuous guidance and support in my professional development. The team are extremely passionate about Tax which is shown via the vast technical knowledge that I get to witness every day. I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity and to work alongside some brilliant minds has strongly motivated me to become a better advisor.

Like what you see? Take a look at our current vacancies or apply speculatively at careers@om.uk.