Chris Savage didn’t start his career in tax, but once he got a taste, he never looked back.
Chris started out as an accountant at his former employer, Evelyn Partners. After a secondment from the accounts department to the tax department, which sparked his interest, he has advanced in his career and is now a partner at Fawcetts in Salisbury.
Originally part-qualified through the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chris hadn’t found exams easy. But he says the ATT was different.
“It was a practical course,” says Chris. “It made sense. It was the first time I felt confident in my ability to really do the job. The qualification gave me a foundation to build on, and I’ve been building on it ever since.”
Chris credits the ATT with transforming his tax knowledge from basic, on-the-job learning to structured, confident expertise.
“I still use the notes from my studies,” he says. “It’s where I start when tackling something new. ATT taught me how to use legislation, how to interpret it, and most importantly, how to apply it.”
Chris highlights how the qualification goes beyond technical knowledge. “I wasn’t naturally self-confident, but passing the ATT exams gave me the belief that I could work in tax.”
That confidence has translated into real-world results, including mentoring colleagues, often guiding those undertaking the ATT qualification themselves.
“Having gone through it, I know the sticking points. Sometimes they know the answer, but don’t realise it. It’s incredibly rewarding to help them interpret things and grow.”
From an employer’s perspective, the benefits are huge. ATT provides a clear benchmark of capability, arms staff with transferable skills from day one and helps build future leaders.
“It’s a no-brainer,” Chris says. “Why wouldn’t you put someone through it? You get confident, qualified staff who can hit the ground running.”
James Hayes, Equity Partner at Fawcetts, agrees: “As employers, it is reassuring to know that we have capable staff within our tax department who have a solid grounding in taxation, be that income tax or capital taxes. Having an ATT qualification demonstrates this grounding. Those with the qualification will be an asset to the business and our clients.”
Chris’s story shows how the ATT qualification can do more than teach tax; it can ignite a career and inspire the next generation. Discover more about getting your team ATT qualified by visiting our Qualifications page or watch our Step Up Your Game in Tax Q&A videos.
Want to hear more about Chris’ story? Listen to the full Step into Tax podcast about how the ATT qualification sparked a career in tax for Chris.
This article reflects the position at the date of publication. If you are reading this at a later date you are advised to check that that position has not changed in the time since.
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