Introducing Pete Miller CTA (Fellow), Director & Head of Company Tax at Jerroms Miller. He specialises in firm reorganisations, home & cross-border transactions, and securities laws.
Pete is taking to the stage with Nick Wright, Director at Jerroms Miller Specialist Tax, to ship the seminar ‘Alphabet shares unveiled: Execs, cons, and customary pitfalls‘.
How did you get into the world of tax?
Accidentally! That is really fairly frequent so far as I could make out from different individuals I’ve spoken to. I had launched into a conspicuously unsuccessful profession in biochemical analysis within the subject of molecular genetics, so I used to be casting round for one thing higher to do.
I initially utilized to the civil service quick observe program wanting to affix the diplomatic service. They let me down very gently by suggesting that there weren’t any out there vacancies on the time however requested me if I wish to be part of the Inland Income (because it then was). I took up their type supply, becoming a member of the division on 18th April 1988, and the remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.
What’s essentially the most rewarding side of your job?
For many of the final 20 years or so, I’ve been working primarily with proprietor managed companies, and there’s a large quantity of satisfaction in with the ability to assist enterprise homeowners obtain their enterprise and private aspirations.
In some methods although, the extra satisfying side has been the truth that for a lot of that point I’ve been serving to different advisors – primarily accountants and different tax advisors – to supply the providers to their shoppers that they, themselves, would not have the expertise or important mass to supply.
There’s something notably satisfying in serving to out fellow professionals who’re, themselves, serving to their shoppers get the perfect consequence.
What recommendation would you give to somebody simply beginning out within the career?
I believe an important factor is to keep in mind that you don’t know all the pieces and that it is best to by no means be afraid to ask. If you end up in a piece atmosphere the place you aren’t inspired to ask questions and focus on shopper points together with your senior colleagues or your friends, then it’s time to maneuver on to someplace the place a extra collegiate strategy is correctly valued.
I’ve gained an enormous quantity of my information and expertise from these kinds of conversations, regardless of having labored within the space of company transactions for almost all of my profession (37 years and counting), and I nonetheless get worthwhile industrial and technical insights by means of speaking to my colleagues. Maybe that’s the second piece of recommendation – by no means cease studying!
What are you most wanting ahead to at Accountex Summit Manchester?
Judging by the response to our final presentation at Accountex, I’m wanting ahead to repeating and enhancing the message to colleagues who have been unable to go to us in London. It’s additionally a chance to meet up with outdated associates from the tax and accounting world and to make new ones. I additionally love Manchester, so I’m wanting ahead to my go to.
What would you like guests to remove out of your session?
Crucial message to remove is that there’s somebody on the market who will help. The usage of totally different lessons of shares provides an amazing quantity of flexibility in each industrial and tax planning for shoppers in all areas, whether or not it’s Investor rewards, company reconstructions or succession planning, to say just some.
One message we do obtain loud and clear after we current on this topic is that so many individuals will not be conscious of those prospects, so actually in a method all we’re attempting to do is to extend common consciousness so that folks know what inquiries to ask, and who to ask.
Accountex Summit Manchester, going down at Manchester Central on 23 September 2025.
For additional data, please go to www.accountexmanchester.com.
