en
Jobs

Let our industry specialists listen to your aspirations and present your story to the most esteemed organisations in the UK, as we collaborate to write the next chapter of your successful career.

See all jobs
Candidates

Together, we’ll map out career-defining, life-changing pathways to achieve your career ambitions. Browse our range of services, advice, and resources.

Learn more
Services

The UK's leading employers trust us to deliver fast, efficient hiring solutions that are tailored to their exact requirements. Browse our range of bespoke services and resources.

Read more
About Robert Walters UK

Since our establishment in 1985, our belief remains the same: Building strong relationships with people is vital in a successful partnership.

Learn more

Work for us

Our people are the difference. Hear stories from our people to learn more about a career at Robert Walters UK

Learn more

Future Proofing Your Career in Tax

In the face of shifting economic and regulatory conditions in the UK, junior tax professionals need to consider what skills they need to acquire to help grow their careers in the long term. 

Regulations are becoming more complex and stringent, with FATCA and BEPS regulations impacting the financial services sector, and HMRC’s risk based approach requiring businesses to provide a clear and concise approach to reporting.

New technologies can help businesses lower the risk of non-compliance, reduce operating costs, improve cash flow, and produce more accurate reporting numbers.

Robert Walters Director, Dan Harris, shares his top fives tips for junior tax professionals looking to stay ahead of the curve in a changing landscape. 

Five steps to future proof your tax career

Embrace tax technology

  • Be it within an accountancy firm or a tax team in industry, professionals should look to gain as much exposure to tax technology as possible
  • Businesses are investing heavily in data analytics, robotics, tax technology platforms and senior tax professionals with expertise in this area, so professionals with a grounding in these fields will be highly sought after

Get involved in tax transformation projects

  • Familiarity not only with how to use tax software systems but how to implement them will be a highly valuable skill
  • As technology continues to develop, implementing new systems will become a regular occurrence, and experience within this area will be extremely sought after

Attend workshops/seminars demonstrating how technology and tax can work together

  • There will be more of a shift towards high level review within teams, particularly surrounding ways to transform tax functions using technology
  • Seeking out training and learning opportunities where you can develop strategic skills which will enable you to make effective use of technology rather than focusing on ‘low level’ work will make you highly employable

Move into an industry tax team early in your career to gain exposure to tax technology 

  • Businesses are less likely to outsource compliance and reporting work to the accountancy firms and service centres, leading to fewer lower level in-house tax roles
  • Seek out in-house roles which offer potential for career progression to ensure that you are able to gain more strategic and technology related experience as quickly as possible to position yourself for senior roles

Stay aware of the  changing tax landscape and how you can use technology to stay compliant

  • Just as technology evolves, so will regulatory frameworks, complicating the interactions between the two.
  • The ability to ensure that two work together harmoniously will be invaluable, and this will only be possible if tax professionals are able to combine an extensive knowledge of both.

More and more of the businesses we work with are expecting candidates to have had exposure to technology. Those that have a deep understanding of the robotics behind such systems, plus strong tax technical knowledge are in a fantastic position.

This experience can be gained at accountancy firm’s specific tax technology teams, at companies that produce and sell financial software, or in industry tax teams that are already embracing such technologies.

Wherever you gain the experience, be sure to not fall behind the curve.

Is it time for you to find your next role in tax? Explore what jobs we have available.
 
Are you earning what you could be? Request a copy of our Salary Survey to find out

 

Share this article

Useful links

Sign up for job alerts
Salary Survey
Career Advice
Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialist recruitment consultants

Related content

View all

5 expert tips for your next accounting job interview

Are you looking to make your next move in the accountancy industry? We’ve asked our accountancy and finance recruitment experts for their top tips to help you shine in your next interview… If you’re looking to land your next accountancy role, preparing for your next interview can be a daunting proce

Read More

4 important interim trends for CFOs

The modern CFO is increasingly involved in the hiring process. Hence, it is important to know what is going on in the operational interim management market. We set out the most important trends. Trend 1: The backfill method A trend we are seeing a lot of now, is the so-called backfill method. Tradit

Read More

Five career paths for newly qualified accountants

If you are a newly-qualified accountant, now is a good time to consider your career options and you have a number of options available to you. “As a newly-qualified accountant, understanding the different career paths available and identifying which area your skills set is most suited to can help wh

Read More

I'm Robert Walters Are you?

Come join our global team of creative thinkers, problem solvers and game changers. We offer accelerated career progression, a dynamic culture and expert training.