Ben’s Story: A career built on support and global opportunity
Ben Wilkinson · Posted on: February 25th 2025 · read
Meet Tax Manager, Ben Wilkinson, from Leicester. Hear more about his progression in MHA since he joined in 2015 and the opportunities that have shaped his career.
Ben’s career began when he joined MHA for a four-week work placement during his first year of university. “I studied geography at university and had no background in accounting or tax,” Ben explains. “But I knew I wanted to work in finance.”
After a second placement, Ben joined the firm as a tax trainee in 2015. Since then, he has completed his ATT and CTA qualifications, progressing through roles to become an Assistant Manager and now a Tax Manager.
"It’s been nine years of growth. You have the intrinsic feeling here that you’re valued and I’m hoping to soon take the next step toward becoming a Senior Tax Manager"
Ben credits much of his success to the support and practical experience he’s received throughout his career at MHA. “From the beginning, MHA has been committed to my development. They fully funded my ATT and CTA training, including all materials, tuition, and exam fees.”
The power of mentorship
Beyond the formal training, Ben points to the informal and formal mentorship he’s received throughout his time at MHA and the many colleagues who have shared their knowledge and experience, allowing him to learn and grow.
“Early on my boss provided informal mentorship, sharing his many years of tax experience. It's nice to have the informal approach because that's when you know your colleagues really care.” More recently, Ben has participated in MHA’s formal mentorship programme working closely with one of the partners and says both approaches have been instrumental in his development and career.
For Ben, it’s the firm’s people-first culture that stands out and he believes the strong people connections have been crucial to the firm's success.
At MHA, you’re never just a number. There are so many good people that care about each other. I like to think I will have a long career here and go as far as I want to, but you need people around you who are willing to support you and what you want to achieve. That sense of care, support and investment in you as an individual makes all the difference.
Global opportunities
One of the most transformative experiences of Ben’s career was participating in the Leaders for Tomorrow course, a prestigious development initiative offered through the Baker Tilly International (BTI) network.
“Being selected for the course was a real moment of validation,” Ben reflects. “It showed me that MHA values my contributions and sees my potential as a future leader.”
The course brought together 75 participants from across the globe, offering a unique opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing. “It was fascinating to discover that colleagues in different countries face many of the same challenges. It has helped me develop an international network of peers who I still connect with today.”
Ben values the practical insights he gained from the program. “We tackled real-world challenges, explored solutions together, and came back with actionable strategies to implement in our teams. It reinforced the idea that leadership is about collaboration and shared purpose.”
After the Leaders for Tomorrow course, Ben made immediate changes to improve his team’s efficiency and development.
"During the course we analysed how we were spending our time. This helped me identify several areas like tax stats reporting and workflow meetings where I could create opportunities for team members to take on more responsibility. This freed me up for more strategic work and helped my team develop their own skills."
Ben’s leadership philosophy is one of openness and curiosity. “I encourage my team to explore opportunities, connect with others across the firm, and think about where they want to go in their careers. I see it as my role to open those opportunities for them.”
By connecting with others across the firm, Ben has also had the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge initiatives, such as a recent RPA project aimed at streamlining tax processes. “Being a project lead of two RPA projects being explored in Tax was great as I could combine my tax expertise with emerging technology,” Ben shares. “It’s exciting to see how MHA is embracing innovation to improve efficiency and deliver even greater value to clients.”
Why MHA stands out
For Ben, MHA’s unique combination of local focus and global reach sets it apart. “We’ve grown rapidly, but we’ve never lost our community feel. The firm balances its national and international connections with a strong sense of local identity. Even though we've rapidly expanded the feeling here is still local, welcoming and people centric.”
MHA’s connection to the BTI network also opens opportunities for secondments, allowing team members to work in different countries or offices. “The secondment opportunities are a fantastic way to gain international experience, broaden your horizons, and develop new skills.”
Ben’s advice for aspiring leaders
- Be curious: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek out new challenges.”
- Connect with others: “Your network is one of your greatest assets. Build relationships within MHA and across the BTI network.”
- Embrace growth: “Take advantage of programs like Leaders for Tomorrow and use what you learn to improve yourself and your team.”
Ben believes MHA is the perfect environment for those who want to achieve great things.
At MHA, you’re never just a number. People genuinely care about your growth and want to see you succeed.
Discover how MHA can help you grow. Explore our current opportunities and start your journey toward becoming a leader of tomorrow.
