Speaker Q&A: Pete Miller

Introducing Pete Miller CTA (Fellow), Director & Head of Corporate Tax at Jerroms Miller. He specialises in company reorganisations, domestic & cross-border transactions, and securities legislation. 

Pete is taking to the stage with Nick Wright, Director at Jerroms Miller Specialist Tax, to deliver the seminar ‘Alphabet shares unveiled: Pros, cons, and common pitfalls‘.

How did you get into the world of tax?

By accident! This is actually quite common as far as I can make out from other people I have spoken to. I had embarked on a conspicuously unsuccessful career in biochemical research in the field of molecular genetics, so I was casting around for something better to do.

I originally applied to the civil service fast track program wanting to join the diplomatic service. They let me down very gently by suggesting that there weren’t any available vacancies at the time but asked me if I would like to join the Inland Revenue (as it then was). I took up their kind offer, joining the department on 18th April 1988, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of your job?

For most of the last 20 years or so, I have been working mainly with owner managed businesses, and there is a huge amount of satisfaction in being able to help business owners achieve their business and personal aspirations.

In some ways though, the more satisfying aspect has been the fact that for much of that time I have been helping other advisors – mainly accountants and other tax advisors – to provide the services to their clients that they, themselves, do not have the experience or critical mass to provide.

There is something particularly satisfying in helping out fellow professionals who are, themselves, helping their clients get the best result.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the profession?

I think the most important thing is to remember that you don’t know everything and that you should never be afraid to ask. If you find yourself in a work environment where you are not encouraged to ask questions and discuss client issues with your senior colleagues or your peers, then it’s time to move on to somewhere where a more collegiate approach is properly valued.

I have gained a huge amount of my knowledge and experience from these sorts of conversations, despite having worked in the area of corporate transactions for the majority of my career (37 years and counting), and I still get valuable commercial and technical insights through talking to my colleagues. Perhaps that’s the second piece of advice – never stop learning!

What are you most looking forward to at Accountex Summit Manchester?

Judging by the response to our last presentation at Accountex, I am looking forward to repeating and enhancing the message to colleagues who were unable to visit us in London. It’s also an opportunity to catch up with old friends from the tax and accounting world and to make new ones. I also love Manchester, so I am looking forward to my visit.

What do you want visitors to take away from your session?

The most important message to take away is that there is someone out there who can help. The use of different classes of shares gives a tremendous amount of flexibility in both commercial and tax planning for clients in all areas, whether it be Investor rewards, corporate reconstructions or succession planning, to mention just a few.

One message we do receive loud and clear when we present on this subject is that so many people are not aware of these possibilities, so really in a way all we’re trying to do is to increase general awareness so that people know what questions to ask, and who to ask.

Accountex Summit Manchester, taking place at Manchester Central on 23 September 2025.  

For further information, please visit www.accountexmanchester.com.

Book your free ticket here.

The post Speaker Q&A: Pete Miller appeared first on Accounting Insight News.