One minute with... Aileen Barry

How did you end up in tax?

I responded to an HMRC advertisement ‘Does a puzzle challenge you to resolve it?’ at a time when I had just been made redundant.

Who in tax do you most admire?

John Whiting. He is not only extraordinarily knowledgeable and experienced in tax matters his personal qualities of patience humour and kindness have won accolades from all members of the tax profession.

What are you working on at the moment?

FATCA and regulatory tax compliance with various financial institutions alongside voluntary disclosures for individuals under the LDF Swiss/UK Tax Agreement plus client defence of fraud investigations.

What advice would give to someone entering the profession?

Your reputation is all important. Don’t sacrifice your principles for any single client.

Is there a common problem you come across time and again?

Fear and mistrust between HMRC and taxpayers.

Is there...