What is your current role and responsibilities? How is it going so far?
As Senior Manager in International Tax and Transaction Services – Transfer Pricing at EY, my role is to lead my team on different projects and provide the best support to our clients in relation to international tax and transfer pricing issues. Apart from transfer pricing, I am also involved in the cultural diversity network at EY, which is focused on building a culturally diverse workforce through empowering and embracing cultural diversity and fostering community engagement. We work with different non-governmental organizations in Hong Kong and overseas where we mentor and support different minority groups. We have organized a number of workshops to equip minorities with skills in financial literacy and teach them how to handle job interviews. Thanks to my team’s support, we have overcome a lot of challenges together. The partners of my team have provided me a lot of opportunities to grow at the firm – my secondment experience in Australia, in particular, broadened my horizons and contributed a great deal in my career. Overall, my journey at EY has been amazing so far and I trust it will continue to be wonderful going forward.
What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your role, and why?
The most challenging aspect is to provide our clients with the best solutions, which often involve thinking outside of the box. For instance, there have been a lot of questions in relation to the latest global tax developments such as base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) 2.0 proposals and how its proposed global minimum tax rate of 15 percent would affect different businesses. This requires me to have a solid understanding of the latest developments of tax rules and regulations in different jurisdictions and how they impact different businesses. It is also challenging coming up with a solution that does not interrupt business operations and also complies with regulatory requirements. The most rewarding part of the job is exceeding clients’ expectations. It is most satisfying when the clients come back to us and tell us that because of our solutions they were able to meet their objectives and goals.
Where do you see yourself in the next five to 10 years in your career? Which field do you plan on specializing in, and why?
I’ve spent much of my career in transfer pricing and I’m still very much interested in it. I joined EY through the Young Tax Professional of the Year competition right after graduating from university. When I started my career, BEPS 1.0 was a heated topic and it presented a lot of opportunities for me to learn and grow in the field of transfer pricing. Now that the dust surrounding BEPS 1.0 has settled, the focus has shifted to BEPS 2.0, which looks closely at digital businesses and the regulations surrounding them. Tax regulations keep changing, and these changes keep me interested in this field. I look forward to doing similar tax and transfer pricing advisory work here at the firm in the coming years.
What are the biggest lessons you have learned so far from work experience or managers?
Managing time, expectations and stress is very important for me as a senior manager since I have to manage multiple global and regional projects with tight deadlines simultaneously. From my work experience, I’ve learned to plan projects ahead of time and to have regular status updates with my team to identify any potential obstacles and resolve them promptly. When it comes to managing stress, I find high-intensity interval training to be very helpful. A 45-minute high-intensity workout during lunch hour or late at night helps me to substantially reduce stress. It’s my way of recharging for the day ahead.
How do you think the Qualification Programme (QP) has helped you in your career so far, or prepared you for your current role?
The QP is a comprehensive programme that covers various aspects that a tax consultant must be equipped with. The financial reporting, business finance, business assurance and taxation modules have all provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge, which I’ve found to be very useful in understanding our clients’ audited financial statements, management information reports and tax returns.
