How to become a tax manager

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Are you an accounting professional interested in becoming a tax manager? Have a look through our tips on how to get started.

What is a tax manager?

A tax manager is a valuable asset to any organisation as they play a vital role in ensuring that the taxes that their company is paying are accurate and up-to-date. The role would require an excellent understanding of the tax system, along with the ability to analyse financial data efficiently. Therefore, if you’re good with numbers and problem-solving, this role may be perfect for you.

Tax managers need good communication skills as they collaborate with colleagues, such as financial controllers and other accountants, to ensure the timely filing of business tax returns. Essentially, a tax manager is responsible for making important decisions about how much the company is paying in taxes, so it can be a difficult, but rewarding job.

What skills do I need?

You’ll need to understand various aspects of taxation, such as direct, indirect, and international tax laws, as well as have experience managing different types of taxes. Great math and analytical skills are needed for the job too, so you can take complex situations and break them down into practical solutions.

If you don’t quite have these skills yet, then you can further your education and work towards strengthening your existing and new skills. The AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) offers a qualification that covers the exact skills you would need for this role. You would learn the basics like financial statements to more advanced topics such as income tax computations or government regulation. With the right training and dedication, you can become a tax manager.

Our advice

Gain work experience. Working within the taxation industry is a great way to gain the knowledge and skills that you need to become a tax manager. It is recommended that you aim for at least 3-4 years of prior work experience in an accounting or financial role.

Examples of roles where you can gain experience include:

  • Accounts administrator
  • Trainee accountant
  • Tax consultant
  • Tax analyst
  • Client accounting manager

Practice makes perfect. Make sure to stay up-to-date with current tax legislation so that any calculations you work on will be accurate.

As many people within your organisation will be relying on your knowledge, it is essential to keep this up to date so that you can remain reliable. A good way to practice this is through relevant work experience.

Further your education. The best place to begin a career as a tax manager is by strengthening your knowledge so that you can be a trusted and reliable person to come to for any tax-related queries.

When completing further education, employers will deem you to be dedicated and knowledgeable for the role. This is why we would highly recommend studying for the full AAT qualification.

Reach out for support. A mentor, or support system, is essential when helping to build your confidence while learning the knowledge needed to advance your career.

When studying with Eagle Education, you will be provided with a personal mentor to support you throughout your studies, as well as expert tutors who are available to help with any content queries.

Looking to get started?

A great place to begin your career is through studying your AAT. With Eagle Education, you can subscribe to all levels so you can get all the support that you need without worrying about time constraints.

If you’re still not quite sure what to expect, try our free 7-day trial and make that first step towards a great career.