Melissa - Tax & Legal services
Manager - Telecommunications, Information, Communication & Entertainment & Services (TICES)
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, 2002, Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (majoring in Accounting and Commercial Law) and Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Psychology).
I joined PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2003 as a Tax Graduate in the Wellington office (in New Zealand). It was a difficult decision to choose which firm to work for but in the end PricewaterhouseCoopers won the race due to their reputation in the market, attractive client base, intensive training, international offices and, most importantly, the brilliant people!Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, 2002, Bachelor of Commerce and Administration (majoring in Accounting and Commercial Law) and Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Psychology).
After completing my Chartered Accountants qualification in New Zealand during 2006, I remained with PricewaterhouseCoopers in a secondment role at a large telecommunications company in New Zealand. This was a fantastic role that allowed me to develop strong professional relationships with our client contacts along with a deeper commercial and practical understanding of the company.
Following my secondment I was ready for a new challenge so I applied for an international assignment to Dublin in 2007. Many people ask ‘Why Dublin?’. It was the charm of the city that had captured me during a brief visit in November 2002 (despite the pouring rain and floods) and I was determined to base myself in Dublin to experience more of the Irish lifestyle. The great thing about PricewaterhouseCoopers is that it is an international firm and therefore, you are able to travel and live in a different country while continuing on your chosen career path.
The international assignment has transpired to be an ideal choice as Dublin provides many challenging professional opportunities along with plenty of social occasions and the ability to travel to Europe frequently. The first major project I tackled involved researching and writing a number of tax policy reports, which gave me useful insights into the Irish tax system from a policy perspective. Following that I have been involved with providing tax advice, compliance and coordination for various clients, including advising an Australian company expanding into Ireland and assisting with managing global tax compliance for large multinational companies. I have also assisted in the development and coaching of junior staff. Overall, I really enjoy the diversity of my role.
The people in the Dublin office have made me feel completely welcome and (nearly) at home. There are always plenty of social events to attend and the team have provided valuable professional support and guidance throughout my assignment. Consequently, I intend to stay for another two years before returning to New Zealand to continue my career with PricewaterhouseCoopers.
My biggest tip for the recruitment process is to be yourself and choose the firm which you feel provides the best fit for you and your goals.
