What attracted you to Deloitte?

Deloitte is a world-wide company, known for their inclusivity, their diversity and the training programmes they offer. I had attended some of the Deloitte open days while in school and everyone I met gave me a warm welcome which made me feel comfortable. I knew that it was a company with really good people.

What do you think your industry will look like in future?

The actuarial industry seems to be growing quite a bit. Since joining I’ve heard stories about how big our teams have become in the past couple of years and it doesn’t look like it will be slowing down. Also, due to the effects of COVID and other legislative, economic and demographic changes, there’s a lot of work to be done on the existing actuarial models that we use to value pension liabilities. The world is constantly changing around us. We are regularly seeing advancements in medicine extending the average lifespan, whereas Covid-19 has shown us that unpredictable events could be just around the corner. I think the future of pensions and actuary as a whole will always be unpredictable.

What’s the best thing about working with your team?

It sounds cliché but the best thing about working with my team is all the truly brilliant people. I learn so much every day and can see myself developing as the months go on. I’m also seeing how other new starts and placement students are becoming big assets to the team and it reminds me of the type of company Deloitte is.

How do you explain your role to others?

In a nutshell, everything I do is centred around people. As an analyst, the bread and butter of my role is processing visa applications to help people from across the globe to move to the UK. Unlike at other immigration law firms, the actual casework only makes up a fraction of what we do. We do a huge amount of account/project management, which includes compliance work, reporting, data, finance, risk, technology and much more. For me, this is perfect, because I think it turns you into a well-rounded professional. My favourite thing about the immigration work is that it’s very personal – you handle a lot of sensitive data, so you have to work on building that rapport with the client. Plus, when you get someone’s visa approved, it’s such a great feeling. You have to remember that the work you’re doing is contributing to a huge change in someone’s life. I almost cried with happiness when the first visa application I submitted was approved!

What do you think your industry will look like in future?

The immigration world is constantly changing and there isn’t one day the same as another. Most recently, the impact of Brexit has considerably increased the number of applications we process. Clients had to review their projects and more visas were needed. When the pandemic started, people didn’t really get as many opportunities for secondments or permanent moves to new locations. Now, as restrictions have eased, many firms are empowering employees to make the move by introducing “work from anywhere” policies. After years of lockdowns and restrictions, I think so many people are keen to make a big change which will increase our workload. Finally, the immigration authorities are increasing reliance on digital strategies and that will impact the way we process applications in future.

How does Deloitte foster an inclusive environment?

I suffer from a chronic health condition and I live with agonising pain which affects all aspects of my life. As someone who is fiercely independent, I can’t even begin to describe how this makes me feel. One thing that comes with my condition is fear. Fear that I’m a burden to the people around me. Fear of not being able to give 100%. Fear of being perceived as weak. This is definitely something I brought with me to the workplace when I started. But once I opened up about it, my managers made me feel so comfortable and helped me to overcome my fear and start looking after myself. I’ve felt so accepted and supported to work flexibly and remotely when needed so that I can better manage my condition.

What attracted you to Deloitte?

I was looking for a graduate scheme where I could continue my learning and education alongside working, which is something Deloitte offers. I was also very impressed by the breadth of work in Tax Management Consulting, which combines tax, technology and consulting into one role. There’s also a focus on giving back to society, which really appealed to me. You get the opportunity to work on charity projects and use your skills to help others.

What’s the best thing about your team?

The best thing about working in my team is the people. My colleagues come from more than 25 different countries, which, as someone from an ethnic minority background, I really appreciate, because it gives me a sense of belonging. We have a great dynamic and the team feels more like an extended family. Deloitte is always looking for new ways to improve inclusion in our teams and we have a Diversity and Inclusion committee on my team to help us to do that. The best part is that we can highlight any improvements needed to the team, and we do see a difference being made. We have cultivated an environment where we’re proud to be ourselves.

Tell us about your progression at Deloitte

At Deloitte your learning goes beyond revising for your professional qualifications - there are so many different opportunities for me to grow and develop. Signing up to an internal learning course, or helping to deliver projects to clients so early on in my career, is only a taster of what I’ve experienced. Seniors in the team are constantly looking for chances help me improve my skills in a variety of areas which I really appreciate. During my first few weeks at Deloitte I was working with software which helps to automate tasks. This is not something I ever thought I’d be able to do at this stage in my career, especially with no prior technology knowledge.

How did you get your job at Deloitte and what advice would you give others?

I applied to Deloitte through the Summer Vacation Scheme, after my second year of university. The internship helped me to learn a lot about my current role in tax early on. When I started in September, I knew what to expect, which was nice. I would highly recommend applying for an internship, as it will provide you with a better glimpse into your future and help you figure out if it’s the right job for you. In terms of the application process, my advice is to be yourself. Your individuality and unique experiences are what will make you stand out from the crowd.

How do you explain your job to friends and family?

I work for Deloitte’s Global Employer Services. Our clients are companies who are taking advantage of having a global network by sending employees on secondments or short-term business travel to different countries or inbound into the UK. It’s our role to provide tax advice to the assignees directly.

What surprised you about working here?

I was told that I would learn everything I need to know on the job, but when I started I was still worried that I wouldn’t be taught enough. The reality is that Deloitte goes the extra mile to make sure you have the information you need. They create a safe environment to be open about the help you require, just like the support you receive in school.

Can you tell us more about what you do?

I work as a Senior Analyst in Mergers and Acquisition tax, with clients who want to buy or sell a business. For a buyer, we do due diligence on the company that they want to buy, as well as structuring the deal to make sure the company fits into their structure effectively. For a seller, we do diligence on their company to make sure they will get a fair price when it goes to market. We help to project manage the transaction process and act as the point of contact for the lawyers and buyers in some cases.

What do you enjoy most about working with your team?

The best thing about working with my team is the people themselves. I really appreciate the fact that everyone is sociable, friendly, and no matter how senior, very approachable. Everyone helps each other out as best they can, and we try to make the environment a great place for learning. I joined during the pandemic and I would say the proudest moment was when we all finally got to meet each other at a face-to-face work social.

How have you grown since joining Deloitte?

I have grown a lot whilst working at Deloitte. There is a particular focus on deployment here, from making feedback part of our culture to ensuring a high quality of learning. We also have to sit professional qualifications, which mean that we develop ourselves alongside our learning on the job.

How was the application process and what advice would you give to others?

The application process took some time but it was enjoyable and interesting. I found that hiring managers were keen to get to know me as a person and wanted to see what drives me, rather than simply relying on test results. The best advice I would give to anyone is to just be yourself throughout the whole process as that is far more authentic and is what attracts us. We want to work with a mix of people from different backgrounds, so being true to yourself really matters.

What’s been your greatest challenge since joining and how did you overcome this?

As a new Analyst I was worried that I might not understand certain aspects of the job and that it could become overwhelming. However, I just kept reminding myself that I am still learning, and so is everyone else. We’re hugely supported in this learning journey at Deloitte and there’s a wide range of opportunities to grow and develop through both training sessions. Nobody expects you to know everything straight away.

How do you feel Deloitte supports diversity and inclusion?

Deloitte prides itself on its inclusive environment, and the continuous work of our teams to improve the way we work together. Within my team there are two committees that support the drive towards inclusivity. These include the Wellbeing committee and the Diversity and Inclusion committee, which I’m part of. As an ethnic minority, I find comfort in knowing that others from an ethnic minority background face the same day to day issues that I do. The groups and networks offer a safe space for us to discuss things, share ideas and listen to the experiences of others.

What attracted you to Deloitte?

I wanted to be part of a graduate scheme where I could continue my learning and development alongside working, which is something that was on offer at Deloitte. It’s also an influential place and they take care of the people who work here. In terms of the role I applied for, I was impressed by the breadth of work that the Ventures team covers and the drive towards experimentation.

How do you explain your job to friends and family?

I think the easiest way to explain what we do at Ventures is to say that we are constantly innovating to ensure that Deloitte stays ahead of the curve as a firm. We want our clients to get the best service possible, and the Ventures team is responsible for experimenting with the newest market trends to find out what works and what doesn’t, before we introduce it more widely. We are constantly on the lookout for new start-ups we can work with and new experiments we can try out.

How do you feel Deloitte fosters an inclusive culture?

I am a part of the Gender Balance Network, which is a network of individuals working towards gender balance and promoting gender equality. I also attend monthly Women in Tax Ventures sessions where the women from my team come together to discuss important topics such as communicating in the workplace as a woman. Deloitte also fosters an inclusive culture within its teams, where people feel they can be themselves. In my team everyone is very supportive, and we always celebrate each other’s wins!

What do you do? And what's the most exciting thing about it?

I work with individuals who are being sent to work in a different country and we advise them on the tax implications of their move. Our main goal is to make sure the individual and company are both being compliant with the UK and local laws.

We work with global businesses and international employees, which means there are many different opportunities, including working abroad. Be that with another Deloitte office or on secondment with a client.

My most exciting project so far is one I’m working on right now: the Business Traveler tool. This allows employees to complete a pre-travel assessment to see if they’re ok to take a business trip to a particular country, looking at the tax, immigration and social security implications of the move. It’s something completely different and I’m excited to see this new proposition grow.

Is there life at Deloitte beyond the day job?

There’s a lot going on here other than client work. I’ve been able to take part in Deloitte’s One Million Futures programme, for example, and have signed up to be a mentor this year.

There’s a good social side too. We have regular client, team and wider group socials. That’s on top of the various seasonal, summer and Christmas parties. Also, I occasionally work from home, whenever I need to get away quickly or have anything planned in the evening near home. Everyone is really flexible and accommodating. They understand we all have lives too.

Why should I join Deloitte?

I really believe you won’t progress as fast anywhere else. Deloitte will definitely value you for who you are and you’ll be heavily invested in through training, care networks, volunteering opportunities, the list goes on.

What was your biggest misconception before working here?

I think a lot of people have preconceptions about tax advisors, myself included. I didn’t really understand the job before I started. I thought tax would be really numbers-based, but it’s not at all. It involves research, proposals, and a lot of direct work with clients, advising them.

I was also worried that the job would be a bit overwhelming – in terms of all the information I’d need to get to grips with – and that I wouldn’t pass the exams. We only get two attempts at each one; but so far so good. And I’m really enjoying the challenge of the work I do.

I would definitely recommend doing the Summer Vacation Scheme in your penultimate year at university. I found it such a good indication of what the job is really like, and the firm get to know you before you go through the application process too.

Tell us about your team?

It’s a big team in Manchester; there are about 90 of us in Business Tax. There’s so much variation in people’s backgrounds and experiences, which is great. It’s not only really interesting to understand their stories but I learn so much from them all too.

I think it’s really important to be genuine and honest at work, and I’m able to do that here. I can be completely myself.

What attracted you to Deloitte and has anything surprised you about working here?

My dad worked for Deloitte and had a positive experience, so I thought I’d find out what they had to offer. When I saw a training course as a route into software development at the firm I decided to go for it. I’ve been surprised by the flexible working opportunities, which allow me to start early or late depending on my schedule, as well as the casual dress code in the office. I was pleased to discover the culture is really friendly and less formal than I thought it would be.

What does your job involve?

At the moment I make web applications to help process data so that it can be reported to relevant tax authorities. I have the flexibility to approach problems with my ideas to create better solutions, rather than having to go down specific routes. I enjoy having the autonomy to work through challenges on my own, as well as having the support of my team when I need it.

Tell us about your progression at Deloitte?

I use an on-demand skills website called PluralSight to watch courses on various aspects of software development and try to use them as often as possible. Since joining Deloitte, I’ve become a lot more confident and my professional skills have grown. As a developer, I’ve had the opportunity to learn new programming languages that I’d never used before I started working here, which I’ve really enjoyed.