It’s already been a decade since I first walked through the doors at Dafferns. What started as a role in admin and reception after finishing my A-levels has grown into a fulfilling career in personal tax.
I joined Dafferns in July 2014 as one of the firm’s first apprentices. At the time, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I’d studied Business and Economics, but university didn’t feel like the right path for me. Instead, I took a chance on an apprenticeship and I’m so glad I did.
After completing the apprenticeship a year later, I found myself drawn to the personal tax team. Back then, we were still typing letters and managing lots of hard copy admin, with frequent in-person client meetings. Working closely with the team gave me a glimpse into the world of tax, and I realised that admin wasn’t where I wanted to stay. With technology evolving and some of the team retiring, an opportunity opened up to join the tax department as an assistant.
I enrolled onto the ATT qualification, and like many journeys, mine wasn’t without its bumps. I failed a couple of exams, took on some small clients, and focused on gaining practical experience before returning to my studies. Then came Covid, which paused exams and disrupted plans. But in 2022, I proudly completed my ATT – later than planned, but richer in experience and resilience.
Throughout those years, my client portfolio grew, and so did my confidence and technical knowledge. I’ve been lucky to work in a team that’s incredibly supportive, collaborative, and always willing to share expertise. That environment helped me progress from semi-senior to senior, and now to assistant manager.
I’m getting involved in more complex work, client onboarding, advisory conversations, and networking.
I’ve developed specialisms in:
- Income Tax
- Capital Gains Tax
- Trust Registration
- Rental Properties
- Sole Traders
I didn’t set out to specialise in these areas it just happened naturally. I enjoyed the work, got good at it, and became a go-to person within the team. That’s one of the great things about working at Dafferns, we play to each other’s strengths and grow together.
As assistant manager, I’m now focusing more on advisory work alongside compliance – things like 60-day CGT reporting, MTD (as it evolves), and supporting non-resident clients. There’s always more to learn in tax, and that’s part of what keeps it exciting and challenging.
Looking back, the last 10 years have flown by. I didn’t know this would be my career path, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge and I’m excited for what’s next whether that’s deepening my expertise, expanding my network, or mentoring others starting their own journeys.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it’s okay not to have it all figured out after school. University was seen as the only route back then, but thankfully that’s changed. We’re all different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all path to success.
Here’s to the next 10 years!
Private client and personal tax 
Video Games Tax Credits 
Trusts, IHT and estate planning 
Corporate tax 
