AISLING Nolan started out with dreams of becoming a barrister. With visions of Rumpole in her head, she pictured herself in a. wig and gown, presenting a case to a hushed courtroom.

Following her ambition, she studied law at University College, Dublin, graduating with a first class honours degree in civil law. Yet, in the end, it was not law that attracted her. Her dream job turned out to be in tax consultancy

In her third year at university, Nolan recalls how it was the subject of Revenue Law which challenged her most. "The business side of it really appealed to me. When you get to law and you're back in the 1800s, it's a far cry from what you think it is," she says. There was also a glut of barristers at the time and she says that at this stage reality has to begin to play a part in helping you make up your mind about a career.

Today she is a tax manager with Craig Gardner/Price Waterhouse, one of the country's "big six" accountancy companies. In spite of the common perception that this job only suits those who eat, sleep and dream about maths, Nolan is quick to point out that maths was not her favourite subject at school - English was her most-loved subject and history was second at Loreto Convent, Foxrock.

"Everyone always thinks it's maths but it's not . . . Figures is the least part of it," she says about her brief as a tax manager.

Her current job involves being able to read and summarise a large volume of material, apply the law to the particular problem, and then come up with a solution. It is the ability "to be able to research a particular situation fully and to be able to express it to someone who doesn't understand it as well as you.

She explains that she has to look at a problem from all angles and ask what the alternatives are. She believes that the more varied the perspectives and range of disciplines within a tax consultancy firm, the better. Arts, commerce and law are the most common backgrounds but she points out that there are people with other degrees working in this area.

She says her job is concerned with "helping clients to achieve their business strategies at a minimum tax cost" and "advising people on how to do things tax efficiently".

She mentions Budget day and the passing into law of the Finance Bill as highly charged days at the offices where she works. "We get very excited," she says about these crucial calendar dates in any accountancy company's timetable.

"Tax is at the centre of any business decision. You cannot enter into a business transaction without getting tax advice on it . . . You start a piece of work and when you have finished you can see the beginning, the middle and the end, it is very satisfying. That's very rewarding.

In her job, Nolan has to understand what the crucial issues are in a business world. "You have to be aware of what's going on, you cannot be burried in here." With so many of the big US multi-national companies, setting up in Ireland, she explains "you have to keep very up to date on US tax issues".

After UCD and before she started at Craig Gardner/Price Waterhouse, she was sponsored to study at Dublin City University for a professional diploma in accounting. Although she has taken more taxation exams since then, she describes this year as "probably one of the toughest things I ever did. You feel very proud of yourself when you come out."

Since then she has progressed rapidly, from being a tax specialist on her entry to the company in 1991 to a tax consultant in 1993. She was promoted to her current position as a tax manager in July this year. "They give you responsibility (here). It means that the kind of work you do is very interesting."