Tax Adviser

What is the work like?

As a tax adviser, it would be your job to make sure that your clients pay the correct amount of tax on time. You would also advise clients on the best way to structure their finances to avoid paying too much tax in the future.

Your clients could include large multinational companies, smaller businesses and individuals. You would usually specialise in one of the following areas of taxation:

• compliance – calculating how much tax is due and completing tax returns
• consultancy – advising clients on ways to reduce the amount of tax they have to pay.

Your key tasks would include:

• meeting clients and collecting information
• checking and completing tax returns
• auditing clients’ tax records
• explaining tax laws to clients and finding ways to reduce their tax liabilities
• producing reports or presentations for clients
• liaising and negotiating with HM Revenue and Custom on the client’s behalf
• keeping up to date with tax law.

In some jobs, you may also provide other accountancy services for clients.

What qualifications and experience will employers look for?

You must be a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) to work as a chartered tax adviser. To register with CIOT, you must be a member of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT), or alternatively, a qualified chartered accountant or solicitor.

You do not need specific qualifications to join the ATT. However, most employers will expect at least some GCSEs (A-C), and in practice many tax advisers have higher-level qualifications in business, accountancy or law or equivalent in English and maths. Some large accountancy or tax consultancy firms offer graduate entry schemes.

To qualify as a taxation technician with the ATT, you must:

• pass four ATT Certificates of Competency (if you have A levels or a BTEC HNC/HND or degree in law or accounting, you may be exempt from some of the ATT exams)
• have at least two years' practical experience of UK taxation.

After you have qualified with the ATT you can apply for student membership of CIOT and take further exams for chartered tax adviser status. If you are a qualified solicitor or accountant you do not need to take the ATT exams and can apply directly for student membership of CIOT. See the ATT and CIOT websites for more details.

See the Private Practice Accountant and Solicitor profiles for information about qualifying in these professions.

What further training and development can I do?

Once in work, you will learn on the job from qualified tax advisers and study for the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification from the CIOT.

To gain full chartered tax adviser status (CTA), you should:

• pass the CIOT's CTA qualification exam
• have at least three years' relevant work experience in taxation.

You can study for the CTA qualification through part-time classes, distance learning or intensive revision sessions. If you already have accountancy qualifications you may be exempt from some parts of the CTA exam. See the CIOT website for more information about exemptions and course providers.

You should keep up to date with changes in tax laws throughout your career. The CIOT offers an Advanced Diploma in International Taxation, plus a range of short courses for your professional development.

Where can I go for more information?

51 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7HQ
Tel: 0845 257 3772

12 Upper Belgrave Street
London
SW1X 8BB
Tel: 020 7235 9381

12 Upper Belgrave Street
London
SW1X 8BB
Tel: 020 7235 2544

If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form

Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice

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