Meet the campaign stars – Ed Hacking, ACA

Can you tell us a bit about your current role and what it involves?

I’m a Direct Tax Manager in the Corporation team at Lloyd’s of London (Insurance Market). Most of my work revolves around the corporation tax compliance cycle – things like financial reporting, tax returns, and coordinating with teams globally on tax matters.

What’s a typical day like for you?

I’ll avoid the cliché of “no two days are the same,” but it depends on the time of year. Lately, I’ve been heavily involved in a transformation project, helping design new finance team processes to deal with changes in tax legislation.

What inspired you to pursue the ACA qualification?

What drew me in was the range of career options that are available to me. I like the idea that in 20 years, I could be doing something completely different in a totally different industry - and still be using the skills I’ve built through the ACA.

How has becoming an ICAEW Chartered Accountant impacted your career?

Once qualified, you’ve got a solid understanding of how a business works. Being able to interpret financial statements and draw meaningful conclusions has been an invaluable skill throughout my career.

Which aspect of the refreshed ACA qualification do you find most impactful?

The new topics on technology will be essential for anyone starting out in accounting to keep pace with how quickly things are changing.

What advice would you give someone just starting their ACA qualification?

Put in the weekend revision shifts. But make sure you have things planned that you enjoy throughout revision, and things to look forward to after the exams.

What skills do you think are essential for future ICAEW Chartered Accountants?

With all the talk about AI and automation, it’s easy to overlook how important people skills still are. Being able to listen, understand, and work well with others is often underrated but always valuable.

How do you balance studying, work and your personal life?

My approach was early mornings in the office on weekends, then keeping the afternoons and evenings free to enjoy. 

What has been the most rewarding moment in your professional journey so far?

Reaching the end of my first 12 months in my current role. Despite a few challenges along the way, I managed a full annual tax cycle—and everything ran relatively smoothly.

Who has had the biggest influence on your life so far, and why?

Probably my father, he’s dropped some great truths over the years such as, “Life’s not a race” and, “It’s good to have lots of friends”.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Sports - watching or playing. Ideally one then the other.