The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
From Tax Technology Analyst (L2)
2-3 years as an L2Skills to master
- Independent project execution, basic solution design, effective stakeholder communication, initial mentorship of new joiners.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led 2-3 small automation projects from start to finish.
- Consistently delivered accurate and timely data for tax reporting.
- Proactively identified and proposed solutions to process inefficiencies.
- Received positive feedback on technical problem-solving and collaboration.
- 2
From Finance Systems Analyst with Tax Focus
4-6 years in a Finance Systems roleSkills to master
- Deep dive into specific tax regulations and accounting principles, understanding the 'why' behind tax requirements, hands-on experience with tax engines.
You're ready to move on when
- Managed ERP configurations with significant tax implications.
- Developed reports specifically for tax purposes (e.g., deferred tax, VAT).
- Demonstrated a strong interest and self-study in tax technology tools.
- Proven ability to translate business requirements into technical specifications.
- 3
From External Tax Consultant (Technology focus)
3-5 years in consultingSkills to master
- Adapting to an in-house, operational role versus project-based consulting, building long-term relationships with internal stakeholders, deep understanding of our specific systems and data architecture.
You're ready to move on when
- Led tax technology implementation projects for clients.
- Developed strong client-facing communication and project management skills.
- Comfortable with hands-on system configuration and data manipulation.
- Eager to contribute to a single organisation's long-term tax technology strategy.