Rutherford Cross Tax specialist, Ben Jones, recently had the opportunity to chat with Margi Campbell, Partner at Saffery, about her career and what lies ahead for the tax market in Scotland. Ben shares a summary below of their discussion including Margi’s route into tax and the reality of being a Partner in today’s market.
Mention Margi’s name in a conversation with people who know her and watch their faces beam. That’s the impression she leaves on those around her and how she makes them feel. She is instantly likeable with a fantastic sense of humour (like everyone from the Highlands… including yours truly!), and it’s easy to see the secret to her success as a trusted tax advisor to her clients, and a leader within the Saffery Inverness office. We managed to squeeze in a chat amongst the chaos of the Christmas run-up to discuss her career, her current role at Saffery and what lies ahead for the Scottish tax market.
An Unplanned Route into Tax
Like many people in the profession, she found her way into tax almost by accident. Originally training as a lawyer, it was tax law that stood out.
“I did a law degree, and tax law was the bit I liked best,” she recalled. “That surprised me more than anyone else.”
Rather than specialising early, Margi spent the first part of her career in general practice, combining audit, accounts, VAT and tax. That breadth of experience proved invaluable and gave her technical grounding, commercial awareness, and perspective.
“I learned very quickly what I didn’t enjoy,” she said, laughing. “Audit and corporate tax never quite clicked, but personal tax did. So did working with families, owner-managed businesses and land.”
That pull towards tax wasn’t immediate, and Margi spent many years balancing it alongside accounts work. The turning point came when she decided to sit the CTA. At the time, she was actively discouraged.
“I was told it would be too difficult alongside my job, which probably made me more determined.”
Qualifying as a CTA opened doors and a move between firms followed, eventually leading Margi to reach a point where tax was no longer one part of her role, it was the role. That path ultimately led her to Saffery, where her specialism really took shape.
A Specialism Rooted in Land, Families and Real Life
From the moment Margi joined Saffery, her work became focused entirely on tax. More specifically, on inheritance tax, rural businesses and landed estates, areas where her professional expertise and personal background naturally aligned. Growing up on a farm gave her an intuitive understanding of land, family structures and rural life.
“When someone talks about a bit of land at the top of a hill, I can picture it,” she explains. “I know what that actually means.”
That context matters. Much of Margi’s work involves advising families on succession, long-term planning and the transfer of wealth between generations. These are rarely purely technical exercises. They are emotional, sensitive and deeply personal.
“We spend a lot of time around kitchen tables,” she says. “Talking about what people need to live on, when they want to step back, and how they feel about passing things on.”
At its best, this work can be incredibly rewarding. Margi describes the privilege of watching families have open, respectful conversations about the future and balancing fairness, practicality and emotion.
At its worst, it can be difficult. Money and family have a way of magnifying tensions. (We’ve all seen HBO’s “Succession” right?) Hopefully there are minimal Logan Roy’s to deal with in her portfolio…
“You come out of some meetings thinking, ‘That was hard,’” she admits. “But that’s part of it. You’re dealing with real lives.”
It’s this human dimension and supporting local businesses and families on this deep personal level that keeps Margi engaged and that defines her approach to tax.
The Reality of Being a Partner Today
Margi’s role as a Partner is far broader than client-facing advisory work. While she still spends significant time advising on complex inheritance tax planning and reviewing technical work, she also has oversight responsibilities across the team.
That includes reviewing accounts and advisory outputs, supporting more junior staff, and collaborating with other partners and specialists across Saffery.
“We work very collaboratively,” she explains. “The right people get involved, depending on the problem.”
The last year has been particularly intense. Pre-election planning, budget changes and ongoing inheritance tax reform have driven a huge volume of work.
“It’s been relentless,” Margi says. “Whilst it’s great to consider succession, and something we have been passionate about encouraging for years, trying to undertake it all for most clients within an eighteen-month period has required significant juggling of work, as the day-to-day compliance has to be serviced at the same time. Lawyers, land agents and accountants have all been in the same boat, and getting all the advisors aligned has been the challenge for the whole year.”
It’s a challenge many firms recognise: strong demand, but limited capacity. Margi is candid about the strain this can put on teams, even when the work is good and interesting.
“It’s a nice problem to have,” she says. A problem that is being solved by recruitment drives, maintaining their current excellent team and ensuring everyone has the tools and skills to do their job”
Despite the pace, she remains energised by the variety of her role and the complexity of the work particularly when it brings together technical challenge and real-world impact.
People, Leadership and the Saffery Culture
Alongside her client work, Margi is also the staff partner for Saffery’s Inverness office. It’s a role that suits her natural interest in people and development.
“A lot of it is pastoral,” she explains. “Making sure people are okay, resourced properly, and supported.”
The Inverness tax team is large, significantly so in the area, with around 25 tax professionals, but as a part of an office of around 85 people, the office is at that ideal point where it is large enough to have a real depth of skill and expertise, but small enough to know everyone individually, which allows for a thoughtful, tailored approach to resourcing and development.
“We’re very conscious of playing to people’s strengths,” Margi says. “There’s no point forcing someone into work they hate.”
That philosophy reflects the wider culture at Saffery, one of the reasons Margi joined the firm in the first place. When she was going through the interview process, everyone was engaging and pleasant, there were no egos. Work is shared openly, expertise is respected, and clients are passed between partners where it makes sense.
“It’s very much ‘right person, right job’,” Margi explains. “It all comes back around in the end.”
One of the things she values most is watching people grow in confidence. A particular milestone happens when someone feels able to challenge her. That’s when she knows they are comfortable and confident. Her advice to those earlier in their careers is measured and practical.
“Be brave,” she says. “But don’t be reckless. Ask questions, challenge ideas, but remember tax is expensive when it goes wrong, so collaboration and checking the outcome is key.”
Looking Ahead: Renewables, Natural Capital and What’s Next
Looking to the future, Margi is particularly interested in the growing role of tax in renewables, natural capital and land-based sustainability projects.
“The peatland and woodland work is really starting to come through,” she says. “And Scotland is uniquely placed for it.”
These projects bring together tax, land use, environmental policy and long-term planning. An area Margi believes will only grow in importance.
“It’s fascinating,” she says. “And it really resonates with the younger team. It has meaning.”
That sense of purpose is something Margi sees as increasingly important within the profession. Tax careers are no longer just about technical excellence, but about impact on clients, communities and the environment.
Reflecting on her own career, Margi is pragmatic, humble and optimistic.
“You’re only just beginning to know new things,” she says. “There’s always more to learn.”
It’s that mindset of being grounded, curious and people-focused that underpins both her approach to tax and her role at Saffery. With plenty of work in the pipeline and exciting expansion plan for 2026, the future looks bright for Saffery and the dedicated work they do, not just for Margi’s portfolio in the Highlands, but in all nine offices across the UK.
We want to thank Margi again for taking the time to share her insights with Ben. If you would like support with your Tax hiring needs or for advice with your own Tax career, please reach out to Ben for a confidential discussion: [email protected].
Additionally, if you would like to be part of the Rutherford Cross ‘Why Tax?’ series and share your own career journey, don’t hesitate to reach out to Ben.
