Accounting Education is hiring: Tax Accountant in Village of Newark

Do you like working with numbers? How about enjoying working with people to solve problems? If so, a career as a tax accountant might be for you. Tax accountants play a crucial role in unlocking tax compliance, making them valuable to both businesses and individual taxpayers.

How do I become a tax accountant?

Becoming a tax accountant requires a mix of education and licensure. Here are four steps to starting your career as a tax accountant:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree:
   Tax accountants need to have educational experience to properly assist clients. This generally involves earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Most bachelor’s degrees take four years.
2. Certify CPA licensure requirements:
   Most accountants will pursue a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in addition to completing their bachelor’s degree. CPA license requirements vary by state.
3. Earn a CPA license and apply for a PTIN:
   After you meet the requirements to sit for the CPA Exam, you will need to take and pass each exam section. Before you can start preparing tax returns, you will also need to apply for a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN).
4. Complete 80 hours of continuing education every two years:
   CPAs must complete 80 credit hours of continuing education during each two-year period.

Needed skills and competencies

Effectively completing the tasks of a tax accountant requires a few different skills. For one, you should have a strong attention to detail. You also need great communication skills, critical thinking skills, time management, analytic reasoning, and adaptability.

Job titles

• Staff Accountant: Intro-level accounting position.
• Senior Accountant: After one or two years, you move up to senior accountant.
• Tax Manager: After a few more years, you move up to a manager position.
• Senior Manager: After a few years in a manager position, senior manager is the next stop.
• Partner: Generally the highest job title for a tax accountant.

How to make yourself stand out as a candidate for a tax accountant job

• Develop a professional network
• Be honest about your goals and expectations
• Highlight traits that contribute to your role, like organization and time management
• Stay informed on changes impacting your industry
• Demonstrate your work ethic
• Commit to lifelong learning