Corporate tax managers prepare and manage a company’s taxes, conduct research on tax laws, provide tax advice, and work with external auditors. A bachelor’s degree in accounting, four or more years of experience, and a CPA credential are usually required. Continuing education can provide specialized knowledge for those with general accounting experience.
A corporate tax manager is involved in preparing and managing a company’s taxes. He or she conducts research on tax laws, files documents, plans tax returns, helps determine the company’s budget, provides tax advice for company decision-making and investments, and works with tax consultants and auditors outside the company. To become a corporate tax manager, you’ll need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in general accounting or accounting, four or more years of experience, and often the certified public accountant (CPA) credential.
A bachelor’s degree in accounting is usually the minimum degree needed to become a corporate tax manager, and core courses in taxation are often part of the core degree requirements. Some programs offer a concentration in tax accounting or allow students to take additional tax courses as electives. Some employers may prefer that you obtain an additional certification related to taxation or that you have a master’s degree in tax accounting or business administration. Becoming a licensed CPA is another common requirement for becoming a corporate tax manager, and a master’s degree or additional accounting courses may be required to take the exam.
It requires a solid understanding of current tax laws to become a corporate tax manager, and you must have special knowledge of how these tax laws affect different forms of business. As a corporate tax manager, you will help prepare the company’s tax returns and must use your tax knowledge to help the company make the best investment and budgeting decisions. You must also be able to work well with others to be able to work with external auditors and provide tax advice to clients. The job may also require you to train other tax accountants and provide guidance to projects.
While some employers only require four years of experience, others will want you to have 10 years of experience to become a corporate tax manager. Your experience must generally be related to corporate-level taxation, so basic financial and managerial accounting experience may not count towards the requirement. Employers also appreciate experience working in various corporate structures because it exposes you to more advanced tax concepts and business processes. The path to becoming a corporate tax manager usually involves working as a staff accountant and eventually specializing in tax accounting for several years. If you only have general accounting experience, continuing education can provide you with the specialized knowledge you need to gain a position in tax accounting.
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