2023 EY Young Tax Professional of the Year finalists

Eva is the Austrian finalist. She is a tax consultant with Ernst & Young Steuerberatungsgesellschaft m.b.H. in Austria. She received her Master of Laws from Vienna University of Economics and Business in July 2022 where she also worked for the Legal Affairs Office. In this role, she was focused on data protection and university law. She is a bookworm and also enjoys being active. She started rhythmic gymnastics as a child and spent summers swimming in the Danube. As Eva begins her career in tax she is also preparing for World Gymnaestrada, a global, non-competitive event held every four years with participation open to everyone.

Annie, the finalist representing Greater China, is an intern with the tax team at Ernst & Young Tax Services Limited  in Hong Kong. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration (Law) and Bachelor of Laws from The University of Hong Kong in July 2022. She took part in international case competitions in Asia, North America and Europe strengthening her problem-solving and strategic thinking capabilities. She also competed in global mediation and arbitration moots, helping to polish her written and oral advocacy. She has practiced as a first responder with an ambulance brigade during her spare time. Annie has spent summer and winter breaks working in government sectors and conglomerates. Annie aspires to help clients understand the intricacies of tax and to support them in operating responsibly, sustainably and ethically. Her hobbies include music (Cantopop, Mandopop and R&B) as well as archery and hiking.

Eileen, based in Guatemala, is the finalist representing Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. She is a lawyer at Ernst & Young, Sociedad Anonima. She received a bachelor's degree in Legal and Social Sciences, a master's degree in Public Management and Leadership and a master’s degree in International Law. Her previous work experience includes time at an international law firm in Madrid and in the public sector, working in the Constitutional Court of Guatemala. One of Eileen’s goals is to grow her knowledge and skillset while she is a part of the EY organization. Her hobbies include practicing yoga, running, hiking and traveling. She is fluent in Spanish, English, French and German.

Azzallia is the finalist representing Indonesia. She received a degree in Economics from Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung, Indonesia. Azzallia is working in the EY Global Compliance & Reporting team at Perserikatan Perdata Purwantono, Suherman, Surja Consult. She helps her team prepare monthly and annual company tax compliance reports such as calculating tax payable, analyzing transactions and reconciliation, and she does tax litigation (tax audit, objection and appeal). She hopes to be a tax consultant with a focus on litigation. Previously she was an intern at one of the Big Four. Azzallia loves swimming and traveling in her country and abroad. Her biggest accomplishment is hiking Morskie Oko in Zakopane, Poland, the highest mountain she has hiked.

Dimitri is the finalist representing Italy. He received a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a master’s degree in Accounting Professions from the University of Turin. He hopes to be a chartered tax consultant or a statutory auditor and is interested in international tax law. Dimitri’s work experience includes auditing, verifying accounting and bookkeeping with a local accounting firm and with one of the Big Four. He also volunteers with three different organizations. Dimitri likes reading, watching TV, running, and playing football and tennis. He also enjoys traveling. He has visited London, Paris, Barcelona, Munich, Prague and Djerba (Tunisia). When he travels, he buys a small glass ball with a monument inside as a souvenir and he hopes to continue to add to his collection on future journeys.

Yazan, based in Jordan, is one of three finalists representing professionals from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, the Palestinian Authority, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates. He was born and raised in the UK, and after graduating from the University of Nottingham, he moved to Jordan where he works with the Tax team at Ernst & Young Jordan. His responsibilities include providing business tax advisory and compliance services to clients in Jordan and Iraq across sectors including information technology, telecommunications, banking, construction, and oil and gas. Yazan aspires to be a well-experienced business tax advisor, focusing on helping global businesses. His hobbies include drums, squash, hiking, reading, chess, cooking and writing. 

Marc, the finalist representing Luxembourg, is an assistant with the Transfer Pricing team at Ernst & Young Tax Advisory Services. He is involved in projects dealing with the valuation of intangibles and is part of the ESG workgroup, researching how tax can be linked to sustainable practices using financial instruments. He received an LLB from Maastricht University and will receive an LLM in International and European Tax Law in 2023. Marc would like to build a career that combines tax and sustainability, and is interested in how tax practices and legislation can be adapted to new technologies and (virtual) realities. Marc’s hobbies are reading, hiking and going to concerts. A few years ago, he hiked the West Highland Way in Scotland. This experience taught him how to be more organized, and that, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to enjoy the climb.

Martina, based in Malta, is the finalist representing Malta and Cyprus. She received a bachelor’s degree in Commerce in Accountancy and Banking & Finance and a master’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Malta. Martina works with Ernst & Young Limited as part of the Compliance & Reporting team. She is responsible for the preparation and submission of corporate income tax returns for local corporate clients. She is hoping to improve her technical skills and become more knowledgeable about domestic tax law and international taxation, in theory and in application. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the gym, jogging, hiking and swimming. Other hobbies include reading, traveling, playing piano and cooking.

Carolien is the finalist representing the Netherlands. She received a Master of Science in Fiscal Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam in November 2022. She is a consultant with the Indirect Tax team with Ernst & Young Belastingadviseurs LLP in the Netherlands. She also volunteers her time for a charity in Rotterdam helping people with their income tax returns. Carolien is looking forward to gaining more experience within indirect tax, focusing on areas such as national VAT. Her previous work experience includes time at an international audit, tax and advisory firm. Carolien likes meeting with friends, playing board games, sailing and swimming. 

Sebastian, the finalist representing Poland, is a part of the Tax Accounting and Risk Advisory Services team with EY Doradztwo Podatkowe Krupa sp. k.. He received a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Lodz and a master’s degree from Warsaw School of Economics. He works on tax review engagements for Polish subsidiaries of multinationals and tax due diligence reviews as part of transactional processes, and he supports assurance teams during audits. Before starting his career in tax, he worked as an intercompany accounting specialist. Sebastian’s main hobby is road cycling, but he also enjoys reading and cooking.

Antonin, from the Republic of Congo, is the finalist representing the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Senegal. He graduated from the AFI-L'Université de l'Entreprise in Senegal in October 2020. Antonin joined FFA Juridique & Fiscale SA as a staff assistant and helps with the preparation of tax returns, assists in tax audit engagements and collaborates with the development of the tax team’s tax magazine. His previous experience includes working as an identification agent and as an inventory agent for different multinational communications companies. He looks forward to creating a team environment and client experience that is built on respect and hopes to be able to have a positive impact on society. Antonin enjoys playing football, jogging and reading. 

Nacho is the finalist representing Spain. He received a master’s degree in International Tax Advisory from the Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía (ISDE) in Madrid. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in business administration, he worked in an audit company and was a tennis instructor for the experience and to save for his master’s degree. Before joining EY, Nacho interned as a trainee in a law office focusing on tax law. His future aspirations include being able to make a difference in his country, and he hopes to be a teacher while working as a tax advisor. He enjoys cooking, tennis, football and is now playing a popular Spanish racket sport called Padel. Nacho attended a German school in Spain and is fluent in Spanish, English and German.