“ChMC gives you enhanced credibility. It takes your career to the next level”

“They might tell me it’s enabled them to hire a new project manager or buy a piece of equipment that will help them with their project. Their achievements become your achievements, because you’ve helped them in a practical way.” 

Sometimes, their innovation is evident in the local environment too. “There’s a particular bridge, and every time I walk past, it reminds me of how I was involved in that. I know about the technical aspects, so that’s quite cool as well.” 

She has now been working in R&D for a decade and manages a team of ten consultants. Although she always knew she wanted to work in the financial sector, consultancy wasn’t part of her initial career plan. After a degree in accounting and finance, she qualified as a Chartered Accountant and started working in a bank. But, over time, she realised that a back-office role wasn’t quite right for her. 

“I wanted to be more client-facing, have more of an interactive experience and build relationships. It’s where my strengths lie. I was also attracted to the problem-solving aspect of consulting.” 

Making the complex simple

One of the biggest challenges of Rebecca’s role is staying up-to-date with constantly changing tax regulations. Keeping clients engaged with the topic can be challenging, too – the finer details of tax legislation can sometimes cause people’s eyes to glaze over, she says. 

“You need to be a strong communicator and be adaptable so you’re able to talk to people from a wide range of business backgrounds. You need to be able to explain complex tax concepts in a straightforward way, and show them how it makes sense for their business and how they can benefit.”