How do you become a tax director?

1 Education and certification

To become a tax director, you usually need a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master's degree in taxation, accounting, or business administration. Additionally, you need to obtain a professional certification, such as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or a Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA). These certifications demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and ethical standards in the tax field. You may also need to complete continuing education courses to maintain your certification and stay updated on the latest tax developments.

2 Experience and skills

Besides education and certification, you also need relevant work experience to become a tax director. Typically, you need at least seven to ten years of progressive experience in tax accounting, auditing, or consulting. You should have experience in preparing and reviewing tax returns, conducting tax research and analysis, managing tax audits and disputes, and implementing tax policies and procedures. You should also have experience in leading and supervising tax teams, projects, and operations. Furthermore, you need to have strong skills in communication, collaboration, problem-solving, decision-making, and strategic thinking. You should be able to communicate complex tax issues clearly and effectively to various stakeholders, collaborate with internal and external partners to achieve tax objectives, solve tax challenges creatively and efficiently, make sound tax decisions based on data and evidence, and think strategically about the tax implications of the business activities and goals.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?