Lesley
Connon

WHO I HELP 

Family Companies. Large Companies.  

HOW I HELP 

Corporation Tax Compliance. Capital Allowances.  

SECTORS/SUPPORT 

Property & Construction. Oil & Gas. A wide range of other sectors.  

“I TAKE CRITICISM BETTER THAN PRAISE.” 

Lesley Connon is a Senior Manager within our Corporate Tax team. Based in Aberdeen, she manages the corporation tax compliance for a number of medium sized companies and also specialises in Capital Allowances. 

One thing that Lesley really enjoys is her involvement in helping to grow the next generation of tax advisers within AAB. There is an immense pride at seeing staff develop their careers from trainees to directors. Having been with us for more than two decades,  she has a lot of experience to offer.  

One thing that doesn’t come easily to Lesley though, is receiving praise – she says it’s a standing joke that she can take criticism better! Despite this, she will admit that she’s hardworking, loyal, flexible and just wants to look after her clients the best she can.  

IT’S GOOD TO TALK 

“For me, building strong relationships with my clients is the most important part of what I do. I’ve worked with many of my clients for years – and it’s great when we can get the job done but still have a bit of a laugh along the way. That’s what makes my job so enjoyable. If I can connect with someone on a personal level, I think that goes a long way. Clients have said they really enjoy working with me – and you can’t get a better compliment than that.” 

A CENTRAL POINT OF CONTACT 

“I think my clients really appreciate having me as their main contact. Over the years, tax has got so complicated, so rather than being a jack of all trades, we tend to have our own specialisms. But everyone knows they can just pick up the phone and call me if they’ve got a problem or query. And if it’s really not my area of expertise, I’ll direct them to someone at AAB who is best placed to help them.” 

NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION 

“One thing that I get great satisfaction from, is seeing the younger members of my team learning and progressing. I love being involved in their development and when I see them being promoted, I can’t help but feel really pleased. Having been here for a number of years, there are a few of our tax staff who started at the firm as trainees and are now directors – it’s great to see how they have developed and that no matter how big or small, I’ve played my part in helping them along the way. It’s very rewarding to see.”  

NOT HMRC   

“As soon as you tell people you work in tax, they always seem to think you work for the HMRC!   

The truth is, my role isn’t about trying to get money out of people, it’s about helping my clients maximise all the tax reliefs that are available to them, and reduce their taxes as much as possible while complying with all the complex tax legislation that exists. When I first started working in tax, it was my placement year from University. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect and assumed that it would be a bit dull. However, once I realised all the areas of tax, I soon realised that this certainly isn’t the case and with the ever changing tax legislation, there is always so much going on to keep us on our toes.”