Alina A. Big, JD/LL.M
Alina A. Big, JD/LL.M, is a dedicated tax professional currently serving as a Senior Tax Associate at PwC in the New York City Metropolitan Area. She specializes in supporting multinational corporations through complex tax audits, where she defines product positions, manages client interactions with the Internal Revenue Service, and ensures accurate, timely responses to regulatory inquiries. Her day-to-day responsibilities include preparing detailed documentation, drafting technical responses, and developing comprehensive exhibits, often collaborating with cross-functional business teams to gather and validate information. Known for her strong communication skills, Alina keeps clients consistently informed while managing multiple deliverables across varying timelines and review stages.
Prior to her career in public accounting, Alina built a solid legal foundation at Powell, Kugelman & Postell, LLC, where she served as both a Law Clerk and Associate Attorney. She also gained valuable judicial experience as an extern with the New Jersey Courts under the Honorable Robert J. Mega, J.S.C. During her time in law school, she was an Article Editor for the Seton Hall Legislative Journal and authored a publication examining biometric data practices in financial institutions. These experiences reflect her early commitment to understanding the intersection of law, compliance, and emerging technologies.
Alina earned her LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law, complementing her Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law. In her current role, she collaborates across all levels of her organization—from associates to partners—providing training to senior staff while mentoring junior professionals to support their career development. She is highly skilled in managing long-term, multi-phase projects with strict deadlines, ensuring all deliverables meet quality and timing expectations. Committed to continuous growth, Alina actively pursues ongoing licensing requirements and stays at the forefront of advancements in AI and technology, integrating innovative approaches into her work to better serve clients in an evolving regulatory landscape.
• English Certificate, English as a Second Language Program (ESL)
• New York University School of Law - LLM, Tax Law/Taxation
• Bogdan Voda University, School of Law - Bachelor of Laws - LLB, Law
• Published in Law Journal
• Law School Clinic
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to all the people that helped me and encouraged me to be here. We had many, many that didn't, but it's enough to find one, two people that believe in you. Those one or two people who truly believe in you can make all the difference and push you forward.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is to try as much as you can. Try different industries, try different types of work, and see what fits best for you. Don't ever, ever say no to something without knowing what it is. Don't immediately reject it. I always thought that I wouldn't be a good litigation lawyer because of my accent, for example, and I ran away from it, although a lot of people told me that I would be really good at it. Somehow my career always drew me towards that direction. It's something that I definitely did not think I would do, and now that's what I do, and I love it.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to women entering the industry is to be very intentional about your path. Don't be scared to start over if you need to. Take charge of your career, because no one can take charge like you do. Everyone is busy with building their own path. And don't underestimate your ability to adapt. That flexibility and adaptability will take you far in your career.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
First, it's AI. I think everyone faces that, so I'm trying to understand it better and leverage it as much as I can. I'm not scared of AI, but I'm being intentional about learning how to use it as a tool. Another challenge is that it's very competitive, so you always have to try to be one of the best. Also, from this point forward, it's pretty much like a funnel, so there are fewer and fewer people that get promoted because not everyone can be directors or managers. You have to be very good and make sure that your results are shown and people know about them. I think that's one challenge. Coming from an East European country, I don't really like to show off or clearly repeat what I've done all the time, but I have to now because I work with different people, so they don't know what I've done on other projects. That's one of the challenges I am working on. As for opportunities, there are so many. I think being a tax attorney opens the door to so many career opportunities. You can always work in-house as tax counsel, you can always go to a law firm, or to an accounting firm.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Growth is probably very, very important to me. You have to always grow, both in your career and in your personal life. Discipline is another core value, because without discipline, you can't really get anywhere. I also believe it's important not to be afraid of change. Embrace change rather than fear it. And be vulnerable. These values guide both my professional and personal life.