Riyaz Hazi

How did you get started in your career and what drew you to the UK Government?

Having studied law at university, becoming a solicitor was a natural path for me. I qualified as a solicitor at a silver-circle law firm in London. As part of my training contract, I spent six months in the tax department where I gained exposure to a wide range of taxes, from FATCA to VAT. Given the experience that I received, I knew that I wanted to develop my knowledge and experience within tax.

With a view to augmenting my tax and finance knowledge, I was keen to undertake the CA qualification. As a result, upon qualification, I accepted a position as Assistant Tax Advisor at EY in 2015. In addition to the CA qualification, EY offered me the opportunity to work with the country’s leading tax advisors and internationally renowned clients.

At EY, I gained my first experience of working internationally. I was one of seven individuals selected across EMEIA to undertake a secondment in the Times Square Office in New York. Whilst on Secondment, I worked on the Financial Services International Tax Desk. My duties required me to advise US organisations with UK operations on the changing UK tax landscape.

Transitioning back to law was something that I planned to do at some point within my career. When the role as Commercial Lawyer with the UK Government came up, the opportunity seemed ideal and at the right time.

The projects that I have been involved with to date during my 15 months with the UK Government reinforces my decision to transition back into law at the time I did.

How do you manage your disability at work?

I am registered blind. This prevents me from being able to see my computer monitor or to read print. Ordinarily, this would make everyday office tasks such as responding to emails/printing quite difficult. However, upon commencing my position, HR purchased JAWS (screen reading software) for me to use. This simply reads out what is written on the screen and enables me to use my computer akin to any able bodied individual.

Additionally, I have the use of a personal assistant who assists me with everyday office tasks such as printing, scanning, file creation and posting documents etc.

How has your employer helped you to do well at your workplace?

Overall, the changes that have been made have enabled me to circumvent the obstacles that are posed by my disability to ensure that I can maximise my potential.

What advice or top tips would you offer?

Firstly, be open and honest from the outset – honesty really is the best policy. Be very clear with your employer/prospective employer as to what you can do and what you find difficult. Only if they are made aware of this can they put reasonable adjustments in place to help negate the difficulties caused by your disability. Sometimes, the company to which you are applying may be experiencing a candidate with your particular disability for the first time. As a result, they may not be aware of certain information relating to your condition that you consider to be obvious.

Secondly, be prepared to work harder than your able bodied counterparts to be seen as the same. It is unfortunate that this is the case – but in my lifetime, I cannot see this changing. True equality does not exist. However, being aware of this from the outset means that you can do something about it.

What qualities or skills have you acquired as a result of having a disability and how have these helped you in your career?

I have acquired vital problem solving skills. At least once or twice a week I will encounter a difficulty in the workplace pertaining to my disability. As I was not aware of any other registered blind person within tax or EY, there was not a person that I could approach for advice. I was required to devise practical solutions myself. Within any organisation or career, the ability to solve problems is a vital skill.

What is the wisest thing that anybody has told you relating to your disability?

In 2006, a person with both physical and sensory impairments said “The world is designed for able bodied people. Get used to it.” All the issues that I have faced to date is succinctly captured by those two sentences. Unfortunately, that individual is no longer with us – but those two sentences will live on with me.