Tax Curious
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I'm interested in advice on doing a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification with the Irish Tax Institute (ITI).
I'm 41 and I started out in a large public sector body over a decade ago doing pretty technical work which I enjoyed. Over the years I've moved toward more generic project management in an area I don't have a natural interest in. I'm stuck in a certain grade which will top out about €90k which gives a comfortable life but I am tired of the work and the organisation and I don't want to be sitting in the same chair in 25 years. As such I am thinking about other options.
I have a natural interest in tax, probably more from the policy side as I've never had exposure to practice. So I'm wondering whether doing the chartered tax advisor (CTA) course with the Irish Tax Institute would open up a career in tax advisory. I look online and there seem to be plenty of job openings but I don't know anyone who does it or where to start.
I feel if I don't change career now it'll never happen. I know a short-term pay cut would be inevitable but I'd like to be earning something like €80k again by my late 40s. Long run I'd like self-employment as an option and my current job just isn't setting me up for that. I have a spouse with a part-time job and three kids but I think the CTA workload would be manageable. I live in Dublin close to the city centre and this seems to be where the bulk of the jobs are.
By way of background I have an undergraduate degree in economics and a master's degree in finance. I know the basics of accounting but have never done any audit/accountancy qualification and I don't want to. I have pretty good data science skills which I know is increasingly important in audit and advisory. I've always preferred technical roles but have often been put in "front-of-house" positions as I seem to be able to communicate well.
I'm not looking for advice on whether this is the right thing for me personally (I'm not even convinced myself!) but the feasibility of a career change.
My questions:
-Would a CTA qualification easily open up a job in tax advisory?
-Would I need to complete all three CTA modules before being taken on by an employer?
-What are early and mid career salary expectations?
-How "specific" do jobs tend to be? If I want to end up in corporate tax do I need to start in corporate tax?
-How is the job market at the moment?
-I am not a typical "graduate" entry, so how best to approach employers?
I know these are a lot of questions and no one will know all the answers but any tips or pointers welcome!
I'm 41 and I started out in a large public sector body over a decade ago doing pretty technical work which I enjoyed. Over the years I've moved toward more generic project management in an area I don't have a natural interest in. I'm stuck in a certain grade which will top out about €90k which gives a comfortable life but I am tired of the work and the organisation and I don't want to be sitting in the same chair in 25 years. As such I am thinking about other options.
I have a natural interest in tax, probably more from the policy side as I've never had exposure to practice. So I'm wondering whether doing the chartered tax advisor (CTA) course with the Irish Tax Institute would open up a career in tax advisory. I look online and there seem to be plenty of job openings but I don't know anyone who does it or where to start.
I feel if I don't change career now it'll never happen. I know a short-term pay cut would be inevitable but I'd like to be earning something like €80k again by my late 40s. Long run I'd like self-employment as an option and my current job just isn't setting me up for that. I have a spouse with a part-time job and three kids but I think the CTA workload would be manageable. I live in Dublin close to the city centre and this seems to be where the bulk of the jobs are.
By way of background I have an undergraduate degree in economics and a master's degree in finance. I know the basics of accounting but have never done any audit/accountancy qualification and I don't want to. I have pretty good data science skills which I know is increasingly important in audit and advisory. I've always preferred technical roles but have often been put in "front-of-house" positions as I seem to be able to communicate well.
I'm not looking for advice on whether this is the right thing for me personally (I'm not even convinced myself!) but the feasibility of a career change.
My questions:
-Would a CTA qualification easily open up a job in tax advisory?
-Would I need to complete all three CTA modules before being taken on by an employer?
-What are early and mid career salary expectations?
-How "specific" do jobs tend to be? If I want to end up in corporate tax do I need to start in corporate tax?
-How is the job market at the moment?
-I am not a typical "graduate" entry, so how best to approach employers?
I know these are a lot of questions and no one will know all the answers but any tips or pointers welcome!