Meet Ruth, a senior manager within EY Northern Ireland’s Private Tax team. Ruth began her EY journey in personal tax compliance, moving to private client to support and promote entrepreneurship, through EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year. She shares more about EY’s support for working mothers, and how her role has evolved throughout her time at EY.
What is your position at EY and what are your responsibilities for the business?
As part of the EY Northern Ireland Private Tax team, I specialise in private client tax, including income, capital gains and inheritance tax, which focuses on advising individuals on all aspects of their tax affairs. I am responsible for continuing to develop the Private Client Tax service in the local market, providing exceptional client service while collaborating across professional services with likeminded ambitious individuals.
I have also recently taken an active role in the Entrepreneur of the Year program, promoting and celebrating Entrepreneurship across Northern Ireland.
Could you tell me a little more about what your day-to-day role entails, and what you enjoy most about it?
My role varies from day to day. My favourite part of my role is developing close relationships with my clients, understanding their unique objectives and to help them achieve their goals. I am challenged every day to extend my technical and practical tax knowledge and experience in advising local individuals, families, and their investment structures.
I am also responsible for training within Belfast Tax; collaborating with my colleagues across all tax service lines to cultivate a culture of learning.
How has your role evolved during your time at EY?
When I first joined EY, my role was in personal tax compliance. After my first maternity leave with my twin boys, I transferred to a compliance role, but quickly realised that I missed being out and meeting new clients, winning new work, and networking within the professional services community in Northern Ireland. Regardless of my role within EY, I have always felt that I have been able to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
My role has now evolved to capitalise on my people skills and utilise these skills within the EY Entrepreneur of the Year program. Working across the Isle of Ireland to support and promote Entrepreneurship. I’ve been introduced to many exciting programs with our amazing partnerships available at EY, towards the goal of creating a better working community/world in Northern Ireland, across all sectors and for all individuals.
What is a common misconception about your role, and can you demystify this?
That tax is very complicated. Whilst a high level of technical skill is required, being a successful private client tax advisor is so much more than an ability to read tax legislation. It’s about being able to work together as a team to earn the trust of your clients and their families and providing them with the best service to achieve their family goals.
How would you describe the culture of your team at EY?
EY’s culture is a wonderfully dynamic and accepting culture, where you as an individual are celebrated, challenged, and supported to be your best version of yourself. It is so important to me that I can see the value that I add to my team and to my clients, EY promotes a culture of teaming, where we all work together, utilising our specific strengths, to do something great.
I love that you can be your true authentic self and be supported and accepted. I am a very proud working mother to three little boys, I don’t feel the need to explain why I need to do drop offs or pick up, or why a football game is important to me. My team support me to be a great mum, respecting my time and helping me to achieve my goals in and out of work.
Why is it such an exciting time to join EY and Tax right now?
It has never been as exciting to be an Entrepreneur in Northern Ireland than it is right now. I love that EY Private Tax support individuals and their families throughout their journey, celebrating with them in success and helping them negotiate whatever scenarios they find themselves in. Within my role, I am able to support my clients’ journey in advising on opportunities, investment, networks, and their global reach.
What advice would you give someone trying to decide whether to join EY?
It’s unlike any other firm I have worked at and lives its purpose to build a better working world, starting within its own teams. You should do it; you’ll not regret it.
When not working, what do you do in your spare time?
No matter the season, you will usually find me on the beach or in the garden with my husband, Matt, three little boys, Matthew, Luke, and Peter, and two Labradoodles Teddy and Jovi. I love to cook and create dishes, be it on the BBQ or my take on a Sunday Roast.
If you’re looking for a career in Tax, explore our current opportunities in Northern Ireland.
