TTPP124: Two Questions That Make Your Tax Advice Instantly Better in Your Clients' Eyes
Send us a textYou might be giving technically perfect tax advice — but if it’s too long or too complicated, it won’t land well with clients.In this episode, Jack Bonehill shares a real story where two simple questions helped turn a colleague’s advice from technical to client-friendly. You can use these questions to instantly make your advice clearer, shorter, and more valuable from a client’s perspective.If you want to deliver better advice that clients truly value — this episode is for you.Show notes: thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/TTPP124The Tax Lab (real scenarios, tackled live: https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/thetaxlab/Masterclasses for tax professionals: https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/masterclasses/Timings[00:00:25] Story: reviewing a colleague’s draft of tax advice and simplifying it with two simple questions[00:02:13] Example: how we tend to overcomplicate advice with unnecessary detail[00:03:34] Why cutting complexity throughout a report makes advice stronger overall[00:04:38] How to make your advice more client-friendly[00:06:22] A two-step method — draft first, refine later using the two key questions[00:07:41] Exercise: how to apply the two questions in your next piece of advice[00:09:29] Upcoming sessions and future topics in The Tax LabThe Tax LabSharpen your skills as a tax advisor by seeing exactly how I think and approach real scenarios that we encounter as tax professionals, with The Tax Lab.The Tax Lab gives you a glimpse inside my mind — my thoughts and my approach — as I tackle real scenarios live, so you can refine your own way of working.Sessions of The Tax Lab are free to attend. Sign up so I can invite you to all future sessions.Sign up here
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TTPP123: Scaling Claritas Tax From 0 to 100 People: The Story by Founder Iain Wright
Send us a textClaritas Tax started in 2012 as a one-person venture. Today, it’s a 100-strong firm with eight offices across the UK. In this episode, Iain Wright, founder of Claritas, shares the journey from leaving a safe career path to building arguably the UK’s fastest-growing specialist tax firm.We talk about the first business plan, the earliest hires, how Claritas scaled, the challenges of competing without a big brand, and the trust it takes to let go of work in order to grow. Show notes: thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/TTPP123The Tax Lab (real scenarios, tackled live: https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/thetaxlab/Timings(1:00) Intro to Iain, Claritas Tax, and time-based billing story(8:00) Iain's options immediately before starting Claritas Tax, back in 2012, and his thought process(11:00) The business plan Iain drew up prior to starting Claritas - the plan and vision(13:40) The first hire - was it senior or junior?(18:02) How did Iain scale the business to 100 employees?(22:52) What challenges did the business run into as it started to get bigger (past 11 or so staff)(26:29) How Claritas solved the "lack of brand" awareness problem/challenge(29:24) The differences between running a small firm and a larger one(32:33) What's Iain's role like now?(36:03) The importance of trust(38:57) Stand out lessons to Iain from his journey - what he wished he knew when he started(41:01) What's been the hardest part of the journey for Iain?The Tax LabSharpen your skills as a tax advisor by seeing exactly how I think and approach real scenarios that we encounter as tax professionals, with The Tax Lab.The Tax Lab gives you a glimpse inside my mind — my thoughts and my approach — as I tackle real scenarios live, so you can refine your own way of working.Sessions of The Tax Lab are free to attend. Sign up so I can invite you to all future sessions.Sign up here
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TTPP122: My 5 Step Process for Tax Research That I Use Every Time
Send us a textWant to get better at tax research? In this episode, I share my five-step process to always get to the answer — and show you how it worked in a tricky but real client case so you can start using it yourself. Tax Research Masterclass:Go to thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/trm for details and to enrol.Show notes:https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/ttpp122/Timings[00:00] Introduction — why tax research feels overwhelming[00:00:22] My 5-step process in action: real-life client story[00:07:34] My 5-step tax research process explained[00:08:31] Deep dive into each of the five steps[00:10:47] Typical challenges tax professionals face during tax research[00:13:30] Exercise: try the 5-step process yourself[00:13:59] How the Tax Research Masterclass would help youResourcesTTPP60: Improving Your Tax Research Skills - Stories and Tips of 3 Tax ProfessionalsCroner-I's Online Tax Research Platform: Free TrialSubscribehttps://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/subscribe/
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TTPP121: Being a Tax Editor: What It's Like and Advice to Become One with Andrew Rainford
Send us a textFrom this episode, learn what a Tax Editor does and hear advice on how to become one. Andrew Rainford – Tax Editor at Lefebvre for over ten years, shares what he enjoys, the challenges, and the different types of tax-editing roles that exist. Take a listen if you’re interested in hearing about different tax roles or have a specific interest in editing. Show notes: thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/TTPP121Subscribe: thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/subscribeTax skills courses: https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/masterclasses/Take control of your career progression free course: https://documents.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/freecourse TimingsOverview of Andrew’s tax career – from auditor to tax editor(7:45) What does the role of a Tax Editor look like? What do they do?(14:30) Different types of Tax Editor roles - examples (15:30) Story where editing has not gone smoothly(21:30) What Andrew enjoys most about being a Tax Editor(24:45) What Andrew finds challenging about being a Tax Editor(27:30) How Andrew keeps up to date on technical, not being in practice(28:30) How Tax Editing Roles can vary (difference between content editor and commissioning editor)(31:30) What type of businesses can you work for as a Tax Editor?(32:45 ) Andrew's advice if you're interested in becoming a Tax EditorResourcesInfo on training courses for tax professionals/teams, on tax skills and other skills valuable for working in taxGeniA-L Tax Research Tool – Details and DemoMasterclasses for tax professionals: https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/masterclasses/ Recommended podcast episodes:TTPP113: Exceptional Tax Technical Skills: Key Benefits and Why You Should Develop YoursTTPP119: From In-House Tax Apprentice to Manager: How To Succeed with an Unconventional Tax Career with Chloe Radcliffe-ScottTTPP118: How She Reinvented Herself, Her Tax Career and Created Amazing Team Culture with Sehjal Gupta [Tax Career Success Secrets Series]
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TTPP120: Using AI in Tax Research: How to Use Effectively, Benefits and Safeguards with Tony Court
Send us a textAI tools for tax research: the role they can play, how to use them well, and the safeguards to avoid getting things wrong and manage risk – this is what’s covered by this episode. AI can help save time, make our lives easier, and make tasks less frustrating as part of the research process. We are joined by Tony Court, who has worked in tax for over 40 years, and who has been testing and helping refine a tax-research AI tool. From his experience, he has learn a few tricks along the way about how to use them better. He shares them in this episode.Show notes: thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/TTPP120Subscribe: thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/subscribeTake control of your career progression free course: https://documents.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/freecourseMasterclasses for tax professionals: https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/masterclasses/ TimingsIntro to Tony and his tax career(8:15) How Tony has been involved in the creation of an AI tool for tax research(19:00) The role of AI in tax research and advice for using it well(29:15) Precautions and safeguards for using AI in tax research(41:00) Can you use general AI tools like Chat GPT in tax research?(45:30) Tony’s recommendation on the back of this episodeResourcesInfo on training courses for tax professionals/teams, on tax skills and other skills valuable for working in taxGeniA-L Tax Research Tool – Details and DemoMasterclasses for tax professionals: https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/masterclasses/ Recommended podcast episodes:TTPP119: From In-House Tax Apprentice to Manager: How To Succeed with an Unconventional Tax Career with Chloe Radcliffe-ScottTTPP118: How She Reinvented Herself, Her Tax Career and Created Amazing Team Culture with Sehjal Gupta [Tax Career Success Secrets Series]TTPP113: Exceptional Tax Technical Skills: Key Benefits and Why You Should Develop Yours
This podcast helps tax professionals, typically by helping you become a better tax professional, helping you pass the ATT and CTA exams, or helping you decide what you want to do with your tax career.Episodes are released bi-weekly, released on Mondays, and include a mix of solo and guest episodes.Jack Bonehill, CTA, hosts the podcast. He's an employment tax specialist, working in the area since 2015, and won Tolley's Taxation's Rising Star award in 2023. Website: https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/ Subscribe: https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/subscribe/ Tax Skills Masterclasses: https://www.thetaxprofessionalspodcast.com/masterclasses/ Sub Series: Tax Career Success Secrets, sharing the secrets behind tax-career success, and Tax Role Insights, giving you an insider's view into the different available tax roles.
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