But Jess’ career path hasn’t been linear. She moved from an Employment Taxes role at Big 4 to the Corporate Tax team at Grant Thornton UK (Gatwick Office) and worked there for 4 years before accepting a job in commerce. She was in that role for 6 months.
"Although I enjoyed my time in commerce, I realised I liked the pace and variety of work in public practice. When I moved back to Australia, I reached out to my contacts at Grant Thornton Australia to see if there was a job available. I thought, if I was going to go back into public practice, my first choice was Grant Thornton."
What have been some of the most pivotal moments in your career so far?
"Working at Grant Thornton UK was life changing. The Gatwick team were exceptional and very patient with me as I learnt UK tax law. I also had some great mentors there."
Working in-house taught Jess what it was like for a client. She understood what remarkable client service looked like and the importance of writing succinct, clear advice.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?
"Tax is always evolving, which makes it both interesting and challenging. Tax should be approached with a curious mind and as an adviser, you’re constantly learning."
What factors influenced your decision to come back to Grant Thornton?
"Grant Thornton has a wonderful culture that balances care for its people while providing high quality work to clients. I also have a great mentor, who was someone I could reach out to even when I wasn’t working at Grant Thornton. Having worked at several workplaces, I've learnt the value of great mentorship, and I have been lucky enough to find a great mentor here."
