Lesley sets out facts about tax
Reform ideas win UK title
A young Burnside woman who set out her ideas on how the tax system could be improved has won a national award.
Lesley Wynne, 22, was named the UK young tax professional of the year and represented the country at an international contest run by Ernst and Young in Amsterdam.
The f i nance and accountancy graduate impressed competition judges with her knowledge, presentation and leadership skills so much that they offered her a job at Ernst and Young in Glasgow.
Lesley entered the competition to find “forward thinkers” in the industry by submitting an essay outlining how the UK Government could tackle tax avoidance.
Her ideas were so well received that she was invited to present them to a panel in London.
Lesley said: “I believe the tax code is too complicated. How can we expect individuals to comply with something they do not understand? I believe it needs simplified.
“Secondly, I think people need educated on taxes from a younger age in order to aid this understanding.
“I also believe the government needs to manage taxpayers’ attitude towards tax.
“Tax is always seen as a negative but if we were to see taxes as a positive – to recognise the services they are providing, potentially even have a say in how they are spent – then I believe people would be more willing to pay their correct share.”
Lesley’s ideas, along with a survey which revealed most people would accept paying higher taxes for better services, were so impressive she was named the winner of the UK contest and was invited to represent the UK at the international competition last week.
She was awarded a £ 500 cash prize and allexpenses- paid trip to Amsterdam, where the international conference focused on tax accounting in the digital age.
Lesley added: “As the international competition got closer I was so nervous. I knew I would meet so many people that were so successful but when I got there the people couldn’t have been any nicer.
“I got a very positive feedback about my ability to be a team leader.”
Lesley, a former student of Stonelaw High School, now has huge plans for the future, having been offered a job as an assistant tax advisor with Ernst and Young in Glasgow.
She plans to continue her studies to become a qualified accountant and to one day open her own business with her brother, an accountancy student, when they will create Wynne Wynne Accounting.