Client Tax Manager Tom Barker has been part of the private client at Charter Tax for five years and very much enjoys working on this side of the business.
“You are dealing with real individuals who have real life scenarios,” Tom explains. “It is endlessly interesting working with people to assist in their plans, help them understand the implications of different courses of action and come to a conclusion about the approach they would like to take.”
Tom joined Charter Tax from a central London firm, where he worked in the expat tax team – helping US citizens with their US and UK tax obligations.
“The complexities involved in looking at the interaction between two complex tax systems has meant that I gained the crucial knowledge that a simple question in tax does not mean a simple answer,” he says.
Tom completed his ATT and CTA exams in London and gathered a large amount of experience in looking at the practical aspects of cross-border tax. Since arriving at Charter Tax, he has passed his STEP exams, which has enabled him to look deeper at the UK tax system and how it applies to internationally mobile individuals.
He says of Charter Tax: “At around 30 team members, the firm is still small enough for clients to know the staff and for us to know our clients and their situations. But we also have a wealth of experience and expertise within our team and this means we can provide clients with in-depth advice.”
There are three main aspects to Tom’s role which include ongoing compliance work for clients – making sure their tax returns are completed correctly and submitted on time as far as possible; assisting clients by liaising with HMRC where HMRC is looking into prior year tax affairs and whether there may be an error or omission in the information reported; and advising clients looking ahead to a particular venture or change in circumstances so that they can understand their options and the application of the UK tax rules to the different courses of action.
Tom came to accountancy as a career through maths, which he studied at school and university, enjoying the logic of it.
“That said, I didn’t really have an idea specifically of the career it would lead to – only that there would be different options,” he says. “However, looking for a job in 2008/09 proved to be pretty tricky, given the economic climate at that time. I eventually found a job in expatriate tax and the rest is history.”
Recent months have brought new challenges to all businesses, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our clients have naturally had questions about the various support packages as they have been announced, which we’ve supported them with,” Tom explains “But, perhaps just as important, has been looking down the road a little and highlighting the sorts of changes that clients connected with the UK may see in the future, as the Government seeks to balance the books after a period of increased spending. This is certainly shaping the way we advise clients on future and proposed ventures.”
Tom has long-held hobbies of reading and playing the piano but these have taken a back seat and replaced with two ‘small and energetic’ children.
“Working from home over recent times has meant that I can be around at their dinner time and help with their reading,” he says.
Tom and his family have recently taken on an allotment at the end of the road.
“Growing our own vegetables and cut flowers has been great; we even had our own parsnips as part of Christmas lunch,” he adds.
