A career in tax is not usually the first thing that a 15-year-old will tell you they want to pursue when they grow up.

The tax profession is littered with people who ‘fell into tax’ or came to it via a different route in finance.

Head of Tax at Cowgills, Lisa Wilson, demonstrates the fantastic opportunities that are available in tax for those who are looking to start their career or perhaps looking at a career change.

How did I get into tax?

Like so many people who work in tax I fell into tax by accident.

When I was studying law at university I had a job managing one of the university bars. The bar was very successful, and it came to light that it had never registered for VAT even though the revenue exceeded the VAT threshold.

We navigated the discussions with HMRC and we came to a settlement on penalties and interest – in reality the inspector knew we didn’t have a clue and was pretty lenient with us.

After university I went travelling and when I got back – broke, I was offered a job as a tax trainee in an accountancy firm as a junior. I remembered my previous brush with HMRC and thought it would be interesting to help others in similar situations. Since then, I have helped countless clients navigate multiple issues and assisted many exciting North West brands in navigating the tax arena to grow and develop highly successful businesses.

What is there to like about tax?

Tax is ultimately about solving problems.

Clients come to see you with a plan of action or a problem. It’s then up to you to help them achieve their objective, without triggering unnecessary tax charges. Sometimes this can be prosaic, sometimes incredibly complex.

I work with a number of entrepreneurs and business owners and there may be no one at their organisation that they can speak to regarding their plans or fears. This can be incredibly isolating. We offer an ear and advice on how to navigate these issues, whether they be business or personal. In a lot of cases, we are their trusted confidant.

There are many different areas of tax available for you to specialise in. You can follow a corporate route and advise businesses, or you could go down a personal route advising on personal tax matters such as inheritance tax.

Personally, I work in general practice, with a specialism in Owner Managed Businesses. I like the fact that I am always speaking to the decision maker and get to understand so many different sectors and industries. As I work with a business throughout its lifecycle, I have been there throughout the growth, the maturity and often the sale. I am still very much involved with the client post transaction, assisting them in managing their money and ensuring their family’s future security. It sounds personal because it is.

How do I find a career in tax?

There are lots of ways to find a career in tax. We take graduates after university, or internally we recruit from other teams.

There are also professional exams. I’m not going to lie – they are tough. But ultimately having a Chartered Institute of Taxation (CTA) qualification is akin to a master’s degree so it’s never going to be a walk in the park.

However, as I always say to my trainees – passing the exams doesn’t make you a good tax advisor. Listening and understanding what a client is trying to tell you does. Putting the client front and centre of everything you do is the key to being a good advisor.

What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in tax?

Speak to me!

Do your research and have a look at different firms’ websites to see if the culture of the business is one that you could fit into, and if you like the look of it, send your CV to their careers teams. When you pass your exams you can decide which area of tax you found most interesting.

Tax can take you across the world in the same way that finance or law can, so what are you waiting for?