Considering a Career in Tax?
Explore the possibilities of a career as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA)
explore
Contents
A Career in Tax
What Tax Advisers do Where they work A typical day as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) – more than number crunching! What employers are looking for
Why Work in Tax
How To Get There
Get Started
1st / 2nd / Penultimate Year College Students Final Year College Students What is the milk-round?
Become a CTA
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Tax affects everyone and drives how decisions are made, no matter how big or small. Regardless of the economic climate, tax advisers are always in demand, helping individuals and businesses navigate the ever-evolving business landscape. A career in tax is a combination of accounting, law and administration. It is a diverse and exciting profession that is challenging yet rewarding. It can take you anywhere with opportunities at home and abroad across a range of sectors. As a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA), you’ll be at the table, adding value for your clients by using cutting-edge technology and collaborating with your colleagues.
What Tax Advisers do
Chartered Tax Advisers (CTA) work closely with their clients, legal advisers, finance teams, senior management, and their team to find the best solutions to deal with complex commercial and real-life circumstances. As a tax adviser, you might:
help shape Ireland’s tax system; or write tax law; or administer the collection of taxes; or act on behalf of businesses ensuring they’re tax compliant and can avail of supports they are eligible for.
You can hear directly from CTAs on
taxinstitute.ie.
“I am responsible for a diverse portfolio of clients from a wide range of industries that I manage on a daily basis. I would typically be working on consultancy projects including research and development tax credits, withholding tax issues, group reorganisations, expansion into new jurisdictions and revenue audits.”
Claire Healy, Mazars
• • • •
Chartered Tax Advisers (CTA) work across a range of sectors, some work across multiple tax heads, while others specialise in one or more areas. Learn more about what tax advisers do at
taxinstitute.ie/career-in-tax.
Private Practice
Industry
Professional Services
Legal
Public Sector
Deborah Drought
Brian Meggs
Ruth-Ellen O’Donovan
Paul Eglington
Edel Butler
JPA Brenson Lawlor
Expedia
Deloitte
William Fry
Revenue
Compliance Department
International Tax
Private Clients - Canada
Across Tax Heads
Audit
A typical day as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) – more than number crunching!
Where they work
A career as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) means you have responsibility from the word go, working with cutting-edge technology and experienced mentors.
“I’m responsible for several countries, mainly within EMEA, so I’ve the opportunity to learn about the taxes in different regions, one day I could be looking at Swiss tax and the next, Dutch or German taxes! I work closely with my colleagues and external advisors assisting with internal re-organisations and tax planning too. There is no shortage of interesting work.”
Amy Greene, ICON PLC
“On the Indirect Tax team, we’ve our compliance deadlines every two months. In between there are many different projects to get involved in – business restructuring, due diligence, supply chain queries, tax controversy. It’s great to have the opportunity to work on such varied projects and even more interesting when the obscure projects come along.”
Ciara O’Connell, EY
Throughout your career, you will be
Consulting and Advising Clients
on how to arrange their affairs in a tax efficient manner
Adding Value
to clients by ensuring they avail of the tax reliefs and supports available to them
Making Decisions
such as providing innovative solutions to complex problems
Interpreting
the tax legislation so your clients can make informed choices for themselves and their businesses
Supporting Peers
to ensure they are up to date
Communicating
your knowledge with colleagues and clients to find the best solutions
Ensuring Compliance
the nitty gritty of tax – ensuring that your clients pay the correct amount of tax and on time.
What employers
are looking for
A tax professional is a mix of a strategic business adviser, a good communicator, an analyst, and a savvy technologist. You don’t need a business or legal degree to be a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA). CTAs come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, bringing a wide range of skills to the profession.
A Creative Thinker A Problem-Solver A Good Communicator Detail-Oriented Tech Savvy Numerical A Team Player Analytical Willing to Learn Aware of the Social Landscape Persistent and Resilient Commercially Aware Looking for a Dynamic Career
“I studied chemical physics in college. The biggest surprise when I started in tax was just how varied my colleagues’ backgrounds were. In fact, the tax partner that interviewed me studied engineering himself and there are people with neuroscience degrees and history degrees on my team.”
Ian Bruce-Smith, KPMG
“Good communication skills! Communicating effectively is critical for a tax professional and the ability to explain complex issues to a tax ‘layman’ is very important. I would also say teamwork skills are key – as a tax professional I am frequently working as part of various teams. I also find that I use my numerical and analytical skills on the projects that I work on.”
Lorcan Kelly, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard
Why Work in Tax?
Intellectually Rewarding
Tax is more than number crunching. The tax landscape is always evolving. Clients’ needs are constantly changing. This means you’ll continue to expand your knowledge and develop your skills to stay one step ahead. You will apply your new knowledge and skills directly to your day-to-day role.
Strong Employment Prospects
The tax profession is respected, and tax advisers are highly sought after by businesses in Ireland, both in times of growth and when the economy is performing poorly. It is a career that offers competitive salaries and has high job security. Due to the global opportunities and the mutual recognition of the CTA qualification, there are also opportunities to work abroad.
Exciting Global Opportunities
Tax is an international career that allows you to see the world. Many of our graduates are offered the opportunity, through their firms and employers, to work in exciting cities across the world. We have members based in international cities including New York, London, Sydney, Dubai, Toronto, Hong Kong. This can be for a permanent role or an international secondment.
Great Career Progression
Standing still is not an option. Tax is a career that rewards your ambition. It allows you the opportunity to shine from the start. As your knowledge and skills grow, doors will open for you to progress in your career. There are no barriers to how quickly you can get to the top if you have the determination and ambition.
“Having tax on your CV will definitely help when finding a job abroad. Though the rates and legislation may be different, the principles are the same so you can transfer your knowledge.”
Claire Doyle, CTA in Australia
Diverse and Challenging Work
If you’ve always thrived on knowledge and new ways of thinking, then the depth and breadth of tax will keep you engaged and drive you forward. You will be working on a range of interesting projects that will constantly engage your technical and professional skills. You can work on projects in a range of different industries with clients both big and small.
Large Irish and International Network
There are over 5,000 Chartered Tax Advisers (CTA) in Ireland. You will have many opportunities to connect and work with them throughout your career. Our members are also part of the international CTA network which has more than 32,000 members including in the UK, Australia, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Ever-Evolving Career
Tax evolves quickly to the world around us – digitalisation, globalisation and more. You will work in a busy and dynamic environment which meets challenges head on and embraces changes to how they work.
“The most appealing aspect of my job is that there is never a universal or standardised tax solution to be provided to any one client. Our job constantly challenges us to seek bespoke tax solutions for our clients that are both commercial and practical.”
Maria Doherty, Purcell McQuillan Tax Partners
“The Irish tax community is really great – there are thousands of us and you’ll make such great connections and friends on the CTA programme. It’s impossible to go to an Institute event without knowing someone there!”
Chloe O’Hara, PwC
You will begin your journey post-college and pursue the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification. Depending on your background,
you will complete the CTA qualification in 2–3 years.
University Level 8 Honours Degree
Begin Programme
Exemptions Available
Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) Qualification
Legal Services
Financial Services
Corporate Sector
Abroad
Ireland
1st/2nd/Penultimate Year College Students
• Consider a work placement or internship in tax • Enter our competitions such as • Use the • Speak to your careers office or college lecturer • Hear directly from
Fantasy Budget
Irish Taxation: Law and Practice book
qualified CTAs
Tip: Look out for tax summer internships before your final year
Final Year College Students
• Apply for a trainee position through the milk-round • Enter our competition • Speak to your careers office or college lecturer • Hear directly from • Check out to find out more on our upcoming tax courses
taxinstitute.ie/career-in-tax
What is the milk-round?
The milk-round is the graduate recruitment process used mainly by the larger professional firms. Applications typically open online in September and close in mid-October.
Tip: Employers may recruit at different times in the year too. Look out for tax trainee or graduate positions.
Become a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA)
The Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification is the leading tax advisory qualification in Ireland for tax professionals and is the international gold standard in tax. A three-part qualification which delivers deep tax technical knowledge and legislative expertise, this is the professional tax qualification of choice in the marketplace.
At a Glance
• The Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) is the qualification of choice in all Ireland’s leading firms • No training contract is required • Flexible learning options available
• G • • •
Who is it for?
Pathway to the CTA qualification
Graduate
Masters in Tax/ Accounting/ Qualified Accountant
Fundamentals Part 1
(4 Exams - exemptions available*)
Application Part 2
(4 Exams & Professional Skills Assignment)
Advanced Part 3
(4 Exams)
*Graduates from non-related disciplines will complete all modules at Part 1.
“It is a globally recognised qualification which really enhances your opportunities. I liked the fact that the course is taught by experts working in the tax world, and how many opportunities are available to qualified Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) professionals. I was also able to avail of exemptions from Part 1, due to the material I studied in college which was a bonus!”
Elaine Coll, Kennelly Tax Advisers
“I definitely would recommend the CTA course – it really gives you a good and varied skill set and focuses on the practical side of advising. From the get-go you’re structuring your study and exam techniques on advising a client which is really important in your day-to-day work.”
Anna Crowley, Matheson
• Graduates from all disciplines embarking on their tax careers • Accounting and finance professionals who need deep tax technical knowledge as part of their broader role • Legal professionals who wish to advise on tax-related issues • Tax specialists working throughout the public sector
Graduates from all disciplines embarking on their tax careers Accounting and finance professionals who need deep tax technical knowledge as part of their broader role Legal professionals who wish to advise on tax-related issues Tax specialists working throughout the public sector
Find out more at
taxinstitute.ie students@taxinstitute.ie 01 663 1700
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Irish Tax Institute
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