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- Help clients make sure they're paying the right amount of tax
- You'll need excellent maths and IT skills & the ability to analyse complex information
- With experience, you could open your own tax consultancy
As a tax adviser, your clients could include large companies, smaller businesses, or individuals and your role would focus on advising them on issues related to tax. You could specialise in an area like corporate tax, VAT, international tax, personal tax, inheritance tax, or trusts.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Meeting clients to discuss their financial situation
- Gathering information to calculate the amount of tax due
- Checking and completing tax returns
- Auditing clients' tax records
- Explaining tax law to clients and finding ways to reduce their liability
- Producing reports or presentations for clients
- Negotiating with HMRC on your client's behalf
- Keeping up to date with regulations
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll usually work standard office hours, Monday to Friday, with possible overtime at busy periods like the end of the tax year. You'll normally be office-based but might also travel to meet clients.
You'll need
There are no set requirements but professional tax advisers usually have a recognised qualification from the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) or the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT). You'll also need excellent maths and IT skills, the ability to analyse complex information and solve problems, excellent communication skills.
You could start as an assistant in an accounting department and apply for a position as a trainee adviser with a company. Or, you could get into this job through a higher apprenticeship as a taxation technician or accountancy taxation professional.
Alternatively, you could apply for a graduate trainee scheme offered by many of the larger financial companies and banks. You'll usually need a good pass at degree level as this option is very competitive. Subjects like accountancy or maths may be useful, although not essential.
You can also complete a professional qualification through the Association of Taxation Technicians or the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could open your own tax consultancy.