Reflection: FBC Canada

Reflection: FBC Canada

Introduction

As a tax specialist, FBC, Canada, presents one of the most respected organizations with respect to the provision of tax solutions for farms and small businesses in Winnipeg and its environs. For 65 years of the company’s operational period, it has provided models that have allowed its consumers personalized financial and tax planning all year round. Its acceptability, relies on its audit representation guarantee in which any penalties resulting from errors caused by the company to the consumer are catered for by FBC. I had the privilege of working for FBC’s Winnipeg branch to help in the management of tax obligations for the businesses and farms in this region. I worked as a quality assurance technician (QAT) with my main responsibility being to check the tax returns filed for our customers by the auditing team. After another team had compiled the tax returns I was mandated with checking the details of the slip to confirm its integrity, as well as reaffirming that the data presented therein is correct. In the event of a missing slip or incorrect data it was my responsibility to communicate with the customer and confirm the details. It is this level of attention to detail and the employment of consumer oriented approaches to tax return planning that puts FBC ahead of competition. Significantly, working for FBC was an intriguing opportunity for me because I was able to learn things such as consumer relations, the importance of integrity in business, the necessity and benefits of personalized plans for tax return compilation.

Discussion

For firms and small businesses, maintaining tax obligations can be extremely time consuming, not to mention very expensive. More so, it is challenging for these businesses to keep up with their operational day to day responsibilities and duties as well as the requirements of tax return obligations. To eliminate this hurdle, FBC Canada, takes up the responsibility of audit representation for the small businesses and firms in Canada ensuring that they retain their assets and hard earned money through the minimization of their income taxes.

Working for the company as a QAT, it was my duty to ensure that our customers’ experienced or realized value for their money through the use of consumer oriented models and techniques of compiling their tax returns. Through this experience I was able to apply the theoretical skills I had acquired through my course. For instance, since I was required to maintain constant communication with the customers to ensure error free tax audit, my written communication as well as visual inspection skills were very integral to my work. I was able to identify and correct auditing mistakes or rather errors on the tax return slips. Additionally, verbal communication and listening skills allowed me to effect smooth interactions with both my team, colleagues in the company as well as our esteemed customers. I have always been very critical about details; a trait that has significantly grown through my experience at FBC. This allowed or rather enhanced the quality of outcomes and the satisfaction of consumer needs through my work. I now understand the gravity of being a responsible citizen following the vitality of an Individual’s tax obligations.

This experience endowed me with the knowledge regarding the advantages of prioritizing in business. This is exemplified through the benefits accrued to the farms and small business owners whose financial and tax planning was handled by FBC. These businesses were allowed more time to focus on their growth and development while FBC monitored things such as tax legislation giving them the opportunity to take advantage of loopholes in the legislation increasing the potential for savings. The consumer represents a critical aspect of any business. For FBC, the possibilities for growth and development are dependent on the availability of consumers in the form of small businesses and farms. Within my jurisdiction as a QAT for the company, consumer relation is a pivotal part of my job. I learned that consumer relations influence the attitudes and perceptions with which consumers get to view the company. Therefore, through the implementation of inspection tests, our customers experienced efficiently audited slips because we had their best interests at heart.

Since every business starts with the goal of making profits and experiencing growth, FBC commits to ensuring that their customers have the easiest of times managing their businesses and focusing on the important aspects of seeking growth and development. This, I learnt, can be observed through the application of personalized financial plans for the consumers. Even though my responsibilities were confined to the inspection of consumer tax returns files and slips, I observed that company officials undertook on-sight visits to the consumer for the collection of data as well as the deliberation of the most suitable plans for that specific consumer. This way, the consumer gains important insights into the benefits of fulfilling their tax obligations and receive a guide for critical business decisions as they proceed to grow.

I discovered that FBC is always thrilled to welcome another member into their family. As such, working for the company presented a conducive environment for growth not only as a professional but also as an individual. The cohesion across all departments of the company makes it easy for one to fulfil their obligations. Additionally mistakes are treated as learning and progressing opportunities. By creating a safe workplace environment, FBC enhances the productivity of each employee consequently impacting the overall productivity of the company.

Before my experience at FBC, I had not grasped the gravity of the importance of problem solving skills. However, my time at the company improved my ability to identify potential issues throughout the process of creating error free tax returns for the consumer. Additionally, I acquired the ability to mediate and attempt to find solutions for these problems. For instance, in my line of work, there was always the possibility of an auditing error in a consumer’s tax return slip. Therefore, it was my duty to foster understanding between the company and the consumer. Most importantly, this knowledge will not only be advantageous to my professional career, but also in my personal and academic life. I now understand the importance of analysing both sides of the narrative to allow for the proposition of the most suitable solution. Additionally, the belief that the customer is always right has more vivid meaning. If I were to start my own company, I believe that I now have the knowledge and skill necessary to treat my consumers with respect to attract in addition to maintaining their loyalty. Observing the consumer base for the company, it is easy to tell that they are loyal to the FBC brand. This is because the company understands their needs thus striving to improve them in ways that best suit the consumers. Furthermore, these efforts are undertaken in a way that upholds the integrity of both the company and the consumer.

Prior to joining FBC’s Winnipeg branch I had not always been a team player. I had always completed my responsibilities and was usually inclined to goals and objectives that required individual effort. Therefore, I had quite a difficult time adjusting to the team oriented environment that is characteristic to FBC. Even though I worked as a QAT, my preference was for tasks that only required my sole input. For instance, regardless of the fact that the tax return was performed by a different department of the company, I performed the audit without consulting them. In the beginning of my term, this caused a myriad of errors in the slips projected to the consumers. Most importantly, the company suffered several instances attributed to my mistakes. However, this was treated as a learning opportunity for me since I was given the opportunity to continue working with the company but to improve my contributions as a team player. I now understand that each team member plays a significant role towards successful completion of any presented task, especially regarding the diversity of the team. It is through the close coordination of a team that individual, departmental, and organizational objectives are achieved. More so, I discovered that this trait has opened my mind to asking for and accepting help in critical instances. Both my academic and personal areas of life have tremendously benefited from this realization. I have had the courage to ask for help to understand difficult topics and issues through group interactions.

Throughout the significant development of new skills as well as the improvement of skills I already had, I have seen considerable differences in my quality of work. For example, I have gained more confidence in being a meticulous leader. Throughout my term at FBC I led my team into accomplishing significant milestones for the company. I was able to see the critical role played by the company in the growth of small businesses and firms in Winnipeg as they progressed and advanced towards achievement of their goals through the help of the company. The company is set up so that its primary goals become the priority of each employee. This way it becomes the vision of each department to ensure the successful realization of these goals by committing to fulfilling the needs of consumers. Regardless of the size or nature of the business, FBC commits to maximizing tax savings while minimizing the costs of fulfilling tax obligations for its consumers. This has taught me to always prioritize duties and responsibilities in both my academic and personal life to realize the most significant positive outcomes.

Conclusion

From the reflection presented above, it is evident that working for FBC was a thrilling experience for me. The opportunity to experience a practical corporate setting was intriguing. I was able to apply and implement my theoretical knowledge in my work. Most significantly, I acquired new skills and capabilities to not only progress in my career, but also advance my personal as well as academic areas. A good example being my experience as a group leader as well as an active team player has allowed me the ability to consider the input of others when making critical decisions. More so, it has increased my ability to identify and propose solutions to potential problems. Moving forward, I expect to apply the nuggets of knowledge obtained from this experience in the betterment of the quality of my life. For instance, this will serve me positively in the event of looking for future employment. Even though much was learnt from this experience, I expect that future opportunities will allow me to engage with people and teams that will further enhance my growth in terms of my career. I expect to further develop the skills I have gained through this experience in an all-round approach in my life. I now possess the capacity to enforce the application of what I learn in theory in a practical setting, and to improve the quality of the expected outcomes.