Giving clients financial confidence through tax expertise: Yana Movchan’s story
Published: 13 Feb 2025
Yana Movchan, Tax Accountant at Tanti Financial Services, NSW was dux of CommLaw3 – Property Law in Study Period 1, 2024.
For Yana, the journey into tax was unexpected – but quickly became a passion. After moving to Australia and realising how little she knew about the Australian tax system, she took a short course for personal interest. That decision changed everything.
“I ended up getting a job as a Tax Preparer / Consultant, and I really enjoyed it!” Yana shares. “I decided to enrol with The Tax Institute Higher Education to further my knowledge.”
Now, with five years of experience as a tax accountant and a recently completed Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law, Yana’s dedication to learning has led her to being named dux of CommLaw3 – Property Law in Study Period 1, 2024.
A global career journey
Before entering tax, Yana’s career spanned multiple industries and locations.
“I worked as a Junior M&A Consultant in Moscow, a Business Assistant in London, and an Accountant for a start-up in Dubai before moving to Australia,” she explains.
Despite her international experience, it wasn’t until she arrived in Australia that she saw a future in tax. Her curiosity led to study, and study led to a thriving career helping clients navigate complex tax matters.
The most rewarding part of tax
For Yana, tax is about more than numbers – it’s about helping people feel confident in their financial future.
“I love numbers and I love constant learning (which is a must to stay up to date with ever-changing tax regulations),” she says. “But the most rewarding part is helping people save money and giving them confidence in their financial future.”
Discovering new areas of expertise in CommLaw3
CommLaw3 – Property Law was a key part of Yana’s Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law, and it opened up new areas of understanding.
“Since I hadn’t studied law before, I found all the modules new and exciting,” she shares. “This subject provided me knowledge in several key areas, such as ownership, possession, and transfer of property. It also gave me a strong understanding of related fields, such as insurance, finance, intellectual property, and competition law.”
The knowledge gained from CommLaw3 has already proved valuable in her work.
“This subject gave me the tools to deal with complex tax situations,” Yana explains. “Recently, a client was purchasing a commercial property, and I was able to confidently advise them on the tax implications, optimising ownership structure, and ensuring compliance.”
How Yana balanced work, study, and family
Undertaking the Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law was a considerable achievement—especially with two young children and part-time work.
“I started the program when my kids were just two and one years old, and I was working part-time as well, so sometimes it did feel like I was juggling too many things,” Yana admits.
But her interest in the subject matter and The Tax Institute Higher Education’s structured program helped her succeed.
“I believe I performed well because I was genuinely interested in what I was learning, and The Tax Institute provided a really well-structured program. Also, I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family!”
Why The Tax Institute Higher Education?
Yana found The Tax Institute Higher Education’s online format particularly valuable.
“Unlike my previous education, studying at The Tax Institute Higher Education was fully online, which I found very convenient and time-efficient,” she says.
The comprehensive study materials and practical examples in the online webinars helped solidify her understanding and enhanced her learning experience.
Yana’s advice for other tax professionals considering study
For tax professionals thinking about further education, Yana’s advice is clear: take your time and truly understand each topic.
“Don’t try and race through subjects as fast as you can. Even if it takes longer than you expected, it really pays off to learn the nuts and bolts of each topic and go through practical examples before moving to the next one.”
What’s next?
With her Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law completed, Yana is now looking ahead to the CTA3 Advisory subject—one of the final steps towards achieving the prestigious Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) designation.
Learn how you can gain the Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law and simultaneously complete the educational requirements to become a Chartered Tax Adviser.
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