2024 EY Young Tax Professional of the Year finalists

Harrison, based in Australia, is the finalist representing Australia and New Zealand. He will receive a Bachelor of Finance, Economics and Statistics from the Australian National University (ANU) in 2025. He chose his degree because of his curiosity about the relationship between complex economic issues and their socio-political consequences. Harrison hopes to build a career where he can have a positive impact on people’s lives – whether this is through contributing to policy decisions or working on complex multinational projects, he is excited to utilize his skills to solve problems efficiently and optimally. Alongside his studies, he is an academic tutor and debate coach. Harrison enjoys playing cricket and Aussie rules football. He likes going to the beach whenever possible to bodysurf and enjoy the Australian sun. 

Avais, based in Bahrain, is one of the four finalists representing professionals from the MENA region. He received a BSc in Accounting from the University of Bahrain in 2022 and is now preparing for his ACCA qualification. He has been with Ernst & Young – Middle East since graduation, currently as a senior associate in the ITTS team. His current responsibilities include assisting clients with transfer pricing matters. His career goal is to become highly skilled in the international tax and transfer pricing space, allowing him to have a positive impact on his team and clients. Avais’ hobbies include reading manga, watching TV and playing video games. He recently took a trip to the convergence point of the world's three tallest mountain ranges. He said the experience made him appreciate nature's beauty even more. He is fluent in English and Urdu. 

Jorg is the finalist representing Belgium. He received his master’s degree in Commercial Science from Hasselt University in 2021 and a postgraduate degree in Tax Law in 2023. He is a junior corporate tax consultant at EY Tax Consultants BV, working on corporate tax advisory projects for multinationals. His career aspirations include being able to navigate complex tax regulations and shaping and influencing tax policies. He is also interested in technological advancements, which is why he studied information technology for a year. His hobbies are skiing and traveling, and he is fluent in Dutch and English.

Ana, based in Brazil, is one of three finalists representing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo and a degree in Marketing and Business Management from the Superior School of Advertising and Marketing (ESPM). She is also registered with the Brazilian Bar Association and has completed a compliance course at Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV). Ana is working with the Law team at Ernst & Young Assessoria Empresarial Ltda., focusing on corporate law, transactions and due diligence, regulatory and administrative law, and privacy and data protection. Prior to joining the EY organization, she worked as a junior lawyer and interned for law firms in São Paulo, and volunteered for several projects, including giving English lessons to children with restricted access to education. Ana’s hobbies are writing, ballet and reading suspense and thriller books. She speaks fluent English and Portuguese, and has advanced knowledge of Italian and intermediate Spanish.

Asritha, based in India, is the finalist representing GDS professionals from Argentina, India, Philippines, Poland and Hungary. She received a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad in 2017. She is a tax analyst in Sales and Use Tax Consulting team for EY Global Delivery Services India LLP. She likes being part of an organization that focuses on sustainability and giving back to society. In her career, she plans to leverage her skills of adapting to change and uncertainty and picking up new ideas and concepts quickly. While in college, Asritha volunteered as a Math and English teacher in local government schools and took part in cleanliness drives. She loves gardening, painting, yoga and philosophy – reading everything from Indian Vedanta to Eckhart Tolle’s teachings on new-age-spirituality. She speaks English, Telugu and Hindi.

Franca is the finalist representing Germany. She received a Master of Science in Business Administration – Accounting & Taxation with a focus on corporate taxation at the University of Cologne in March 2023 and a Bachelor of Science in Management and Economics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in 2020. She is a consultant in the International Tax and Transaction Services team for Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, focusing on transfer pricing controversy and operational transfer pricing. The projects she works on gives her the opportunity to deepen her knowledge in operational transfer pricing and international tax matters. Franca likes to spend her free time refurbishing vintage mid-century modern furniture, visiting second-hand markets and designing her home. She is fluent in German and English.

Sabian is the finalist representing Indonesia. He will graduate in February 2024 from the University of Indonesia with a degree in Fiscal Administration Science. He joined a volunteer group focused on the circular economy at his university and they have donated a plastic shredder to the local landfill to assist in sustainable waste management. Sabian was a trainee in a consulting firm, where he worked on projects related to tax services. In addition to becoming a tax professional, he wants to keep learning, growing and enhancing his skills to keep up with evolving tax regulations. Sabian has been a fan of football since he was eight years old, and usually plays with friends on weekends. He is fluent in Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian), Sundanese and English.

Janani is the finalist representing India. She received a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance in 2020 and is pursuing her Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Company Secretaryship certifications. She is an intern in the Global Compliance & Reporting team with Ernst & Young LLP in India. Janani contributes to diverse tax projects, including tax advisory on intellectual property ownership realignment, legal entity rationalization, and other compliance matters. She also volunteers on weekends for an organization that provides basic necessities for elderly people and children in need. Janani has always been fascinated with colors. She likes to draw and paint during her free time, and is fluent in English, Tamil and Hindi.

Maryam, based in Iraq, is one of the four finalists representing professionals from the MENA region. She received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 2022 from American University of Iraq, Sulaimani. She is an associate with the EY Global Compliance & Reporting team at Mustafa Fouad Abbas and Co. for Auditing and Controlling Accounts/Jointly, working on projects related to corporate and personal income tax compliance and reporting and immigration services. Maryam’s engineering background equips her with analytical skills and problem-solving capabilities that are assets in her role and that give her a distinct perspective. She aspires to become an established finance professional, particularly in tax services, and ultimately, in a leadership role where she can also mentor aspiring professionals. Maryam’s interests include immersing herself in art and history literature, and she is fluent in Arabic and English.

Saltanat, based in Kazakhstan, is the finalist representing Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. She will receive a BSc in Finance and Financial Technology from Almaty Management University in Kazakhstan in June 2024. She aspires to attain an Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT) and be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Currently, Saltanat works in the Business Tax Advisory team with Ernst and Young & Co Public Accountant (Professional LLC). She is passionate about tax, technology and transformation projects, and hopes to contribute to initiatives related to special economic zones. Prior to joining EY, she worked in the oil and gas sector as well as for another Big Four, focusing on international tax. Saltanat has lived in three countries: the US, Russia and Kazakhstan. She is a member of the EY running club and an active mountain hiker. She also has her own streetstyle fashion blog, capturing outfits she finds creative and beautiful. She speaks English, Russian and Kazakh.

Isabella, based in Mexico, is one of three finalists representing Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. She graduated in 2022 from Tecnológico de Monterrey where she studied International Relations. She is part of the Immigration Team within People Advisory Services in Mancera S.C. While at Tecnológico de Monterrey, she completed a semester abroad in Madrid, and while there, worked as an export assistant for an industrial cement multinational. Isabella hopes to improve her knowledge of immigration policies while taking on increasing responsibilities and developing leadership skills. She wants to get involved in innovative projects to drive positive changes for clients, communities and the EY organization. Isabella enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, doing Pilates and indoor cycling, going to the movies, trying new places to eat and walking her dog. She is fluent in Spanish and English and speaks some German.

Marie is the finalist representing Norway. She received a Bachelor’s in Business Law and Economics and will receive a Master of Laws from the University of Oslo in 2027. She finds law exciting and aspires to become a partner at a corporate law firm. She was an intern with the law team at another Big Four, where she contributed to a  financial regulatory project in Oslo. She has some experience as a broker assistant after a summer internship at a private investment firm. Skiing has been Marie’s passion for the past 13 years. She was a semi-professional alpine skier, attended a high school for elite sports training and skiing and is currently a children’s alpine skiing coach. She also enjoys skiing, boat trips, and playing golf and tennis. Marie speaks both English and Norwegian.

Wiktor is the finalist representing Poland. He has a master's degree in Law from the University of Rzeszow in Poland. He works in the Business Tax Advisory team at EY Doradztwo Podatkowe Krupa sp. k. on projects related to BEPS 2.0, tax structuring and vendor due diligence. He would like to become a top Polish tax advisor so he can help clients with tax advisory matters. Wiktor is actively involved in associations and foundations for the development of the local community. He enjoys sports, especially football and volleyball, and is interested in politics, the economy and philosophy. He is fluent in Polish and English.

Aliya is the finalist representing the Philippines. She will receive a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of the Cordilleras in September 2024, and she plans to take the exam to become a certified Public Accountant. She recently finished the Nurturing Leaders Internship Program at SGV & Co. where she was an Assurance intern. She aspires to become a managing partner in an audit firm and be a catalyst for innovation in the world of audit. Aliya loves reading novels that center on foreign culture and history, and spending time with her dogs. During the pandemic, she learned how to sew face masks and make face shields, then she and her family donated hundreds to health workers and frontline workers. She is fluent in Filipino, English and Ilocano.

Safiya, based in Saudi Arabia, is one of the four finalists representing professionals from the MENA region. She received a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from Dar Al-Hekma University in June 2023. She is an associate in Business Tax Advisory team with Ernst & Young Professional Services (Professional LLC). She is also pursuing an Advanced Diploma in International Taxation (ADIT). She was previously an intern, and her work on diverse and impactful projects solidified her passion for the tax field. Her career aspirations revolve around deepening her understanding of tax and exploring different jurisdictions. She hopes to expand her knowledge in areas such as financial management, strategic planning and operational efficiency to make meaningful contributions. Safiya also volunteers for a charity, collecting and distributing clothes to those in need. In her spare time, she enjoys horseback riding, painting and writing songs. She speaks Arabic and English.

Zhi Hong is the finalist representing Singapore. He is studying accountancy and business analytics at Nanyang Technological University and will graduate in 2024. Previous work experience includes an internship with EY Corporate Advisors Pte. Ltd. where he completed a 10-month rotation in Assurance and a three-month rotation in Tax. While in the Tax team, Zhi Hong focused on transfer pricing documentation, market research on tax laws and regulations and tax advisory. He hopes to become a tax consultant, and, because he thinks they provoke critical thinking and in-depth analysis, finds tax advisory and tax audit very interesting. Zhi Hong's hobbies include cooking and baking, especially with family and friends. He is also interested in traditional Chinese medicine and will be going to the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in December 2023 on a cultural exchange to learn more about it.

Philani is the finalist representing South Africa. He received a BCom Taxation degree with Honors from the University of Cape Town in March 2023, and is working toward becoming a tax advisor. He is a tax associate at Ernst & Young Advisory Services (Pty) Ltd. in South Africa, where he works on tax audit and tax compliance projects. Philani believes that tax plays multiple roles in society, and that with the evolution of society, comes the evolution of tax. That dynamic is why he wants to have a career in tax. While completing his studies, he participated in the Dell Young Leaders program. He is now a Dell Young Leader alumnus and mentors students who are completing their tertiary studies. On weekends, he enjoys sketching, trying out new recipes, biking and field hockey. Philani speaks English, IsiZulu, Xhosa, Sesotho and Tswana.

Borja is the finalist representing Spain. He is pursuing a double master’s degree in Legal Studies and an LLM. (Corporate Tax Advisory) at IE Law School. He hopes to take a Legal English course to refresh and expand his knowledge in this area. He had an internship at a railway company while completing his bachelor's degree, working with the Head of Tax. This experience allowed him to gain valuable insights into corporate taxation, and he says that he discovered that working in a tax department is far from monotonous or boring. Borja likes spending time with friends and family. He enjoys all kinds of sports, especially skiing. He is fluent in Spanish, Catalan and English.

Emelie is the finalist representing Sweden. She expects to receive her master of laws from the University of Gothenburg in January 2024. She works part time at a law firm in her hometown of Värnamo and as an intern at the Ernst & Young AB offices in Gothenburg and Stockholm. She has previously served as Vice President in charge of marketing for the European Law Student’s Association (ELSA) in Gothenburg. Emelie’s main career aspirations are to have a positive impact on people’s lives and to continue to feel challenged by the work she does every day. She would like to have the opportunity to work abroad after a semester in Germany “turned out to be the best four months” of her life. Emelie is fluent in Swedish and English and enjoys riding horses and spending time with friends and family.

Purita is the finalist representing Thailand. She graduated from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University in Singapore, majoring in Economics and Finance. Purita is a Transfer Pricing Consultant at EY Corporate Services Limited, helping the Transfer Pricing team prepare draft reports and financial calculations. Previously, Purita was a search engine optimization (SEO) specialist intern at a digital performance marketing agency. Before graduation, she was a finance trainee with an international hotel chain, where she networked with finance leaders from hotels in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar, and worked on gathering and analyzing data from different hotels. Purita enjoys listening to true crime podcasts and is fluent in Thai, English and Mandarin Chinese.

Gökdeniz is the finalist representing Turkiye. He is a fourth-year Economics student at the Middle East Technical University. With elective courses such as Technology and Development and International Economics, he looks forward to starting his career while expanding his worldview. Previously, he held an internship with the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance, learning about public debt management and public finance. He enjoys auteur cinema and music, solo traveling and experiencing other cultures, cities and lifestyles. He is enthusiastic about modern Turkish politics and watching new documentaries. He is fluent in Turkish and English.

Hessa, based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is one of the four finalists representing professionals from the MENA region. She will receive an accounting degree from United Arab Emirates University in May 2024. This year she had the opportunity to be a scholar in the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program at NYU Abu Dhabi. Professionally, Hessa aspires to give back to her community by playing an active role in tax policy development. She enjoys activities with her family such as skiing, cycling and adventure parks. She also enjoys reading and traveling. She loves exploring different cultures, already having visited 20 countries. She is fluent in English and Arabic.