People Profiles: Jonathan

Jonathan joined in 1998. He's a Senior Manager in Human Resource Services (Tax), based in London.

Jonathan joined in 1998. He's a Senior Manager in Human Resource Services (Tax), based in London.

Having been educated in Singapore and completed a UN internship in Bangkok, I was keen to join an organisation which would give me the flexibility to move internationally at any point in my career. So far, I've enjoyed a two-year secondment to Singapore, during which I learned a huge amount from working in such a different environment - and with a great degree of autonomy, became a more independent worker as a result.

My team's role is to solve cross-border technical HR issues encountered by top-tier multinationals; and while my specialism is expatriate tax, I've also been given the opportunity to work on consulting projects on other HR-related issues. Most of my time is devoted to managing two of the team's largest global relationships, coordinating projects and ensuring service levels are consistently high around the world. Building up a network of contacts around the firm over the years has therefore made me feel very much part of the PwC 'family'.

I like the relative unpredictability - most days, my to-do list becomes redundant, as you can't forecast the issues or opportunities that may arise. But this keeps me engaged and motivated - it's an agile, dynamic environment, in which we have to be constantly prepared to change in response to client needs.

I'm now more involved in people development and business development, which are hugely enjoyable aspects of what I do. Coaching and mentoring junior colleagues in particular, and sharing in their successes, is the part of my role I find brings the most lasting rewards.

I greatly admire PwC's commitment to investing in people. I've been fortunate myself to have been previously selected for a year-long leadership programme that focused on emotional intelligence, self-awareness and self-management - it really altered my perspective. I've also attended an intensive eight-day development programme in Kenya, with a theme of responsible leadership, which included meeting local community leaders and undertaking a number of extremely demanding development exercises. The experience had a profound and positive impact on me.

My role in London is still new and exciting; I'm enjoying the challenges it brings. I'd like to spend a few more years here before perhaps venturing overseas again to join a rapidly growing PwC office in somewhere like China, Vietnam or Indonesia - or maybe Australia.

There's so much that the firm can do for you - the key is not to be shy about making the most of what's on offer.