Jasmine Ee’s past decade has been a voyage of professional and personal growth, spanning two continents. Through her work at SJP Singapore, she is making a difference to clients’ lives.

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Meet Jasmine Ee

Jasmine Ee’s past decade has been a voyage of personal and professional growth, from Singapore to the UK and back again. The St. James’s Place tax and technical consultant, based in SJP’s office in the lion city, has always had a sense of adventure, a quality that first prompted her to move to England for university.

“I was 18 years old and thought I’d take the plunge and do something different,” Jasmine says of the 6,700-mile journey. “So I went to Manchester University to study law. I loved it there,” she says. “I’m not one to take a traditional route in life — I wanted to put myself in a new environment and learn how to adapt.” 
 

From law to tax

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From university, Jasmine left law behind as she joined a Big Four accounting firm, entering its tax practice. Learning the ropes at one of the blue-chip advisory firms equipped her with plenty of knowledge about UK tax and the global tax landscape. 

Eventually, home came calling and Jasmine began honing her tax skills in Singapore, advising high-net -worth clients. In 2019, after a couple of years in her home market, Jasmine was approached by Tony Smith, SJP’s head of tax, technical & advice delivery, to put her UK and Singapore tax skills to work for SJP clients.
 

“I was aware that SJP was a FTSE-listed company and knew the brand, so I jumped on the opportunity,” she says. “Being able to make a difference to a wider range of clients than before interested me, particularly internationally mobile people with complex needs.”

Jasmine Ee
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Professional growth and personal support

A change in circumstances saw her return to work for SJP for a short period in 2021, before making her way back to Singapore the next year to work alongside Tony Smith once more. She has since settled in Singapore, gotten married, and had a son, putting down roots in her home city for good. 

“A lot has changed in the past 10 years, so much both personally and professionally,” she adds. “And SJP has been a huge part of that, they are so keen to develop employee talent, and encourage us to upskill. There’s a real push for professional development.”
 

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Making tax about people

While most people perceive tax as a “boring” area —a thought Jasmine once shared before she entered the sector — Jasmine has learned that tax planning is integral to people’s lives, intertwining with their family estate planning, inheritance, and the complexities of moving around the world.

Often, tax advice can be deeply personal, a fact Jasmine knows all too well from her client work. 

“It’s so much more complex than crunching numbers,” she says. “You could be dealing with someone whose partner has died, and helping them with a plan for their assets, and their family’s future."

“It’s a multi-faceted role,” Jasmine adds. “You work with accountants, lawyers, and trust companies to create plans that will serve a purpose over time. But what I really love is the interactions with people, meeting clients, and creating a plan that works for them. It’s a very personal thing, and ultimately, it’s a people business. That’s what I really enjoy about it.”
 

"You have to put yourself in your client’s shoes and have empathy for what they are going through.”

Jasmine Ee

Serving international clients

While helping SJP grow in Asia, Jasmine is also now working to advise clients in the Middle East. SJP’s international expansion has further developed Jasmine’s global experience.

“The clients over there are international, with assets in lots of different jurisdictions. Every client is unique, and they are often changing jobs, changing locations, and need complex plans for their individual circumstances. It’s all about tailoring that.”

Six years after joining SJP, Jasmine continues to enjoy her work and getting results that make a difference to people’s lives.

“I find it very fulfilling to inform people about their tax obligations, things they might have missed, and misconceptions. A lot of the time it saves people tax penalties and fines, and it’s always nice to get an email from a client saying, ‘Well done’, or ‘Thanks for helping.’”

After testing herself as a teenager and learning to adapt, Jasmine is now focused on helping others navigate life’s complexities. With significant experience behind her at such a young age, she’s now keen to “get to the next level” at SJP. 

“Hopefully I’ll still be doing this job in ten years, and focusing on my family too, getting that work-life balance right,” she says, “SJP has been very supportive to me, and while it continues to be a great place to work, I’ll be here.”
 

The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time. The value of any tax relief depends on individual circumstances. You are advised to seek independent tax advice from suitably qualified professionals before making any decision as to the tax implications of any investment.