Chris Cheng, ACA - From Tax Consultant to Senior Recruitment Consultant

​Meet Chris Cheng, ACA - Taking risks, finding purpose, and building a new career at Ambition

​In this video, Chris shares his inspiring journey of stepping away from a traditional accountancy path to build a career that truly aligns with who he is - and how Ambition gave him the support and confidence to make that leap.

From starting out in tax at BDO to realising he wanted something more people‑focused, Chris talks about taking a big risk, changing careers, and discovering a job that finally feels like the right fit.

He explains how his first-hand industry experience helps him connect with candidates on a deeper level, and why relationship‑building is now his favourite part of the job.

His story is a powerful reminder that your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line and that with the right environment, you can grow, thrive, and be supported every step of the way.

If you’re thinking about a career move, or simply want a role that feels more “you”, find out what life at Ambition could look like.

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​Transcript

I took a big leap of faith switching careers, and it’s worked out for the better.

Hi, my name is Chris. I'm a Senior Consultant here at Ambition, specialising in tax recruitment across corporate tax, transfer pricing, and transactions tax.

I’ve been with Ambition for just over a year now, and it’s honestly been the best career decision I’ve made.​

What was your background before Ambition and what attracted you to recruitment?

So before Ambition, I was actually working in tax. I started my career on the graduate scheme at BDO, working in transfer pricing, and later moved to a mid‑tier firm doing corporate tax. I spent four years in the profession and realised pretty quickly that it wasn’t something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Growing up, I never really knew what I wanted to do, so I fell into tax because I did economics at university. But eventually I found myself wanting something different - something more social, more fast‑paced, and more aligned with my personality.

I explored a few options, had a couple of interviews, and landed on recruitment. I didn’t know exactly what it would be like, but I knew I wanted a change. And honestly, taking that leap of faith has been completely worth it.

How has your career evolved at Ambition?

Coming into recruitment from a technical background was a big shift, but Ambition made the transition so smooth. I joined the tax practice team and instantly felt supported, not just by my manager, but by everyone around me.

One thing that has really helped is having firsthand experience in the roles I now recruit for. I understand the work, the pressures, the culture, and the jargon. It means I can speak to my candidates not just as a recruiter, but as someone who has genuinely been in their shoes.

Over the past year, I’ve built strong relationships with clients and candidates, gained confidence in running my own desk, and developed a really clear picture of where I want my career in recruitment to go.

What advice would you give to anyone considering joining Ambition?

My biggest advice is just to go for it.

You’re never going to know how a career change will turn out unless you take that step. I had a very traditional path, school, uni, graduate scheme, accountancy, and changing direction felt huge. But sometimes the best decisions come from taking a risk.

If you’re motivated, curious, and ready for a challenge, Ambition is a place where you’ll be supported to grow and succeed.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Definitely the people.

A huge part of recruitment is going out and meeting clients and candidates, building proper, lasting relationships not just professional ones, but real friendships as well. That’s something I never had in tax, and it’s what I love most about this job.

I also enjoy the day‑to‑day variety: reviewing CVs, organising interviews, managing processes, making placements. It’s busy, fast‑moving, and incredibly rewarding.

Why did you choose Ambition?

Two reasons, really. Firstly, the culture. Everyone I met during the interview process was genuinely lovely, supportive, and down‑to‑earth. I could easily picture myself fitting in.

Secondly and this is a big one, Claire. I met her for lunch before I joined, and she was such a huge inspiration. Her honesty about the job, her passion for recruitment, and the career she’s built at Ambition really solidified my decision. I knew this was somewhere I could build something meaningful too.

What training and development do you get here?

The training here is genuinely great. There’s loads of on‑the‑desk support from peers and managers, plus more structured sessions that help you approach situations differently from managing client relationships to asking better questions

Even though I already understood the technical side of tax, learning the recruitment side was completely new, and Ambition gave me everything I needed to get up to speed quickly.

Why did you join the committee and what does it mean to you?

I joined the committee because I think belonging and inclusion are so important - not just at work, but everywhere. Being quite diverse myself, representation matters to me, and I wanted to be part of something that helps shape that for others too.

Being on the committee has given me a voice and allowed me to contribute to making Ambition a place where everyone feels they can show up as themselves.

About Chris Cheng

Chris Cheng is a Senior Consultant working closely with Big 4, Top 10, Top 100 and boutique practices, and specialise in placing senior level tax candidates.

View Chris' profile >

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Whether you’re just starting out in recruitment, an experienced consultant ready for your next challenge, or a professional from the wider services sector looking for something new - we’d love to hear from you.

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