60 seconds
Stephanie Allen works in the Trust’s VAT Services Department as a Higher Level VAT Assistant at LGI. She and her colleagues play an important role in helping the Trust to recover money owed to us, boosting overall budgets.
In the office…
Q.
What does your typical day at work involve?
A typical day for me is reading my emails in the morning and then VAT checking the post and stamping it for VAT recovery where appropriate. In the afternoon I spend time resolving queries. This can involve reading through contracts and meeting with members of staff to discuss projects and purchases they may be undertaking in order to maximise their VAT savings. We also undertake VAT work for several other NHS Trusts in the Yorkshire area so I am always very busy! The Trust makes substantial VAT savings throughout the financial year and it is the VAT Services Department’s job to make sure this is undertaken in the correct manner and in accordance with HM Revenue & Customs guidelines
Q.
How did you get to be a Higher Level VAT Assistant at LTHT? After leaving school I worked in the Finance Department at a solicitor’s in Leeds where I became interested in taxation and decided I wanted to move into that field of accountancy. I than obtained the job of VAT Assistant here at the Trust
Q.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is seeing how so much money can be saved from making suggestions and changing procedures.
Q.
And there must be something about your work that really frustrates you… Not getting the results I want!
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What’s your best advice to a new starter at the Trust? Work hard, show willing and you will go far.
Q.
If you won the national lottery, what would you do?
I would make sure my family and close friends were well looked after, buy a BMW and also a holiday home in Barbados!
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What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A teacher or an air hostess.
Q.
What is your favourite film?
Q.
What are the behaviours that are most important to you? Honesty, reliability and integrity.
And out of hours…
Q.
What do you do to wind down and relax after a hard day at work?
The Lion King.
Q.
Tell us something we don’t know about you…
My mum’s cousin played Peter Barlow’s Alcoholics Anonymous counsellor in Coronation Street. The Leeds Teaching Hospital s
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staff magazine | Spring 2012
I love going shopping, to the cinema and going out with friends.
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If you could go anywhere this weekend, where would you go? I would go shopping in New York.
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You’re sitting down to your favourite meal, what’s on the menu? My favourite meal would be a bruschetta for starters, followed by a nice pasta dish and then tarte au citron for dessert!
Research rewards If you have an interesting news story for Bulletin, or if you or one of your colleagues would like to feature in a future 60 Seconds, please contact Suzanne Breen in the Communications team on ext 66494 or email suzanne.breen@leedsth.nhs.uk.
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