Tax Specialist Resume Guide - With Templates, Examples, and Skills
Every financial situation is different, making the tax industry an exciting one to work in as you help various businesses navigate the world of tax. This is also a career with many global opportunities, as this universal skill is always in demand.
James Martin Tax Consultant 733-227-098 jamesmartin@gmail.com Lawrence, KS linkedin.com/in/jamesmartin
Professional Summary
Experienced tax consultant with ten years of demonstrated success working with companies to navigate IRS regulations. Background in income tax returns, sales tax laws, payroll processing, tax legislation and financial reporting. Good understanding of the impact of organizational procedures on tax reports. Proven system of record keeping and documentation of financial transactions to minimize tax-related penalties.
Work experience
MGK Consulting Tax Consultant May 2014-June 2017
Compiled financial statements and reconciled accounts payable and receivable to eliminate tax issues.
Prepared tax returns of 5 companies following the IRS regulations.
Annually prepared an average of 100 individual and business federal, state, and local tax returns.
Dennykins and Associates Payroll Tax Specialist January 2012-April 2014
Provided administration with detailed tax reports of internal and external clients to help come up with effective tax strategies.
Implemented techniques to test the accuracy of financial reports to provide better tax audit control practices.
Analyzed operational processes and made adjustments to ensure tax compliance with established standards.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Taxation University of Houston 2011
If you're looking for your next opportunity in this field, you should start by crafting a tax specialist resume that details your qualifications. Competition for positions in this career is increasing as more people get into it, so you want your application to stand out for you to get your dream job.
You may be the best tax specialist the industry has to offer, but if you don't know how to present your skills and experience on your resume, you'll miss out on your dream job. Let's help you create a professional resume that gets you your next tax specialist job. Here are some of the topics that we'll cover in this article:
How to add your tax specialist experience to your resume.
The essential skills for tax specialists.
The best format for your resume for tax specialist.
How to add your educational background to your resume.
Salary and Job Market Information for Tax Specialists
According to the U.S Bureau of Statistics, the industries with the highest levels of employment in Tax Preparers include:
Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping and Payroll Services
Management, Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Securities, Commodity Contracts and Other
Financial Investments and Related Activities
Management of Companies and Enterprises
Employment Services
The average salary for a tax specialist is $57,000. The typical range is between $51,000 and $64,000, depending on the level of education, skills and experience.
How to Make a Tax Specialist Resume
Job seekers don't always know what to add to their resumes, which may be disadvantageous. Hiring managers also have a few seconds to review each resume, so you need to stand out if you want to get the position.
Tax specialists work in various industries, so you must tailor each resume you send to the recruiter. You'll miss out on amazing opportunities if you use one resume for multiple applications. Always use the job description and find the keywords and action verbs that will optimize your resume and ensure it gets past the ATS systems.
Keep your resume short, and don't submit one longer than a page. Most recruiters don't read long resumes as they have many applications to get through. Use our resume examples to get some ideas that you can incorporate into your resume.
Best Format for your Resume
Here are three formats you can choose from.
Reverse-chronological format - This format is perfect for candidates who have worked in the tax industry for years. It focuses on experience and is easy to scan on ATS systems.
Functional resume format - This format is perfect for recent graduates and career changers who don't have much experience. It focuses on the candidate's skills.
Hybrid/Combination resume - This format combines some of the features of the two other formats. If you have the right blend of skills and experience, this is the best format for you.
The layout of your resume should be easy to read and understand. Choose simple fonts like Calibri, Cambria, Times New Roman, Verdana, and Georgia and a font size of 10-12pt.
The structure of your tax specialist resume should have the following sections:
The header section
Professional summary/objective
Work experience section
Education section
Skills section
An additional section (Computer skills and certifications, languages, and interests)
The Header Section
The header should have your personal and contact information. This information is crucial as the hiring manager will use it to contact you, so ensure that it's accurate. The details you should have in this section include the following:
Your full name
Job title
Phone number
Professional email address
Location
A link to your LinkedIn profile
Correct example
CORRECT
Hazel Martin
Tax Specialist
937-993-243
hazelmartin@gmail.com
Florence, SC
linkedin.com/in/hazelmartin
Incorrect example
INCORRECT
Hazel Martin
Tax Specialist
937-993-243
hazelmartin@gmail.com
3824 Poe Road
House number 21
Florence, SC
Date of birth 01/01/1988
linkedin.com/in/hazelmartin
📌The header section should have the relevant contact information. Avoid too many personal details that the recruiter doesn't need.
Describe Your Experience As a Tax Specialist
Every job you apply for will have different requirements, but most recruiters will want to see what you've previously done in your career. The work experience section details your employment history, giving the recruiter insight into what you can do. This is also your opportunity to highlight your achievements to set yourself apart from the other candidates.
Start with the name of the workplace, your job title and the period you've worked at each place. Under each section, add three to five job responsibilities and quantify your achievements in the tax industry with figures and facts. This gives the hiring manager an idea of what you can do and helps you stand out among the other candidates.
Focus on the relevant tax experience. If you don't have experience in this field, add your work experience from other jobs and highlight the transferable skills.
Example of an Entry-Level Tax Specialist
Ronald's LLP
Accounting tax specialist
May 2018-July 2019
Managed daily accounting tasks, including making tax payments, paying invoices and updating business licenses.
Reviewed all invoices and payments received and assisted clients with checking tax forms before submitting them.
Conducted tax research to assist clients who had inquiries and ensure compliance.
Example for Experienced Tax Specialists
Taxplan Consulting
Tax Specialist
January 2015-May 2018
Collaborated with a team of 6 tax consultants and other tax department members to prepare operating budgets for tax planning.
Conducted data analysis to devise tax strategies to improve operational efficiencies and implement best practices when filing complex tax returns.
Mentored, consulted, trained and assisted clients in evaluating tax documents to help in tax return preparation.
Detail Your Educational Background
Tax specialists must have a bachelor's degree in finance and economics, accounting or a related field. Most managerial positions may require a Master's degree.
Each job will have different requirements, so check the job description and tailor your education section accordingly. Also, always start with your most recent educational qualification and leave out the high school diploma if you have a Master's degree.
The details in this section include the name of the degree/diploma, the name of the school and the year of graduation.
Correct example
Bachelor's Degree in Accounting
Trinity University
2016
The Right Tax Specialist Skills for Your Resume
It's not enough to have experience when the competition for jobs in this field is extremely high. Having the right skills on your resume elevates you and helps you stand out. Your resume is also not easily filtered out by ATS systems giving you a chance to land an interview.
The job description is a good start when trying to figure out the best skills for your resume. Always check it out and add the skills using the correct wording/language. Also, use our resume templates which will allow you to add up to ten relevant skills to your resume.
Your resume should have a list of hard and soft skills. Hard skills will require you to learn on the job or at school, while soft skills are interpersonal traits that you possess that make it easy to interact with people.
If you have little experience, add your transferable skills in this section.
Here is a list of skills you can consider for your tax specialist resume.
Hard skills
Tax codes
Corporate tax preparation
Tax law
Payroll tax
Property tax
Tax audits
Business administration
Financial statement analysis
Soft skills
Interpersonal skills
Time management
Attention to detail
Critical thinking
Organizational skills
Problem-solving
Teamwork
Communication skills
A Tax Specialist Resume Summary
A professional summary that introduces your resume is crucial. This is your chance to get the recruiter's attention and interest them in reading the rest of your resume. Highlight your top accomplishments, experience and skills to show the recruiter why you're the best person for the job. Remember that this section should be short, with only three to four sentences.
Correct example
CORRECT
Chartered tax professional with more than ten years of experience in the tax industry. Highly skilled in property tax, financial reporting, and tax planning according to state and federal guidelines. Reduced the company's tax expense by 25% by reviewing tax records with the internal revenue service to ensure compliance.
💡The example above describes the candidate's experience and skills. It also highlights an achievement that shows the recruiter why they're a better candidate.
Incorrect example
INCORRECT
Conscientious and hard-working tax specialist with experience preparing tax returns. Proven ability to work with the tax department to reduce tax liability.
💡The example above is too vague, only giving a few details on what the candidate can do. It doesn't specify the results achieved to show the recruiter what makes them a unique candidate.
Professional Objective(And How To Use It)
A professional objective introduces the resume for candidates who don't have much experience, like career changers and recent graduates. Make it catchy and express your interest in the position. You can also highlight your career goals and show the recruiter how they align with the organization's goals.
Correct example
CORRECT
Adaptable and organized tax specialist, highly skilled at working within constantly changing tax laws and technology. Detailed expertise in filing local tax returns, financial reporting, and corporate tax planning. Seeking an opportunity at a top tax firm like Richards and Associates.
💡The example above describes the candidate's interest in the position and highlights the skills that will help them perform the job efficiently.
Additional Sections for Your Resume
The additional section contains the extra qualifications and skills you don't want the recruiter to miss. Usually, the hiring manager reviews your resume in a few seconds and can miss a qualification that makes you stand out. Use this part of your resume to highlight these achievements and qualifications.
Here are a few sections to consider for your tax specialist resume.
Computer Skills and Certifications
Working as a tax specialist requires specific computer skills that you should have on your resume. It's so easy for the recruiter to miss this skill in the general skills section, which is why it's essential to add it here. Use the job description to determine the required computer skills before adding them to the resume.
Certifications always give you an advantage over competitors, so you don't want the recruiter to miss this qualification. List them in bullet-point form under this section instead of the education section. Here are some certifications to consider for your tax specialist resume.
Accounting and Finance, Income Tax Preparer Certificate
Certified Tax Adviser
Certificate in Graduate Tax Studies
Languages
Language skills separate you from everyone else, as most recruiters prioritize bilingual candidates. List your languages in this section using the official language reference as follows:
IELTS - English (a minimum score of 6.5 is required)
Germany's Goethe-Zertifikat (70%) or higher is required.
SIELE for Spanish
Interests
The interests section depends on the company you're applying to. Some recruiters don't mind this section and will want to know who you are outside of work. Others will prefer it if you leave it out. Researching the company beforehand helps you determine whether you should add it.
Tips to Boost Your Resume
Use keywords and action verbs that optimize your resume and help it get past the ATS systems.
Always tailor your resume to match the recruiter's requirements, and refrain from using a generic resume.
Keep your tax specialist resume short, as most hiring managers don't like long resumes.
The right format and layout is vital if you want the recruiter to read your resume.
Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!
Key Takeaways: Writing a Resume for Tax Specialists
Highlight your knowledge of various tax services to show the recruiter you're the best person for the job.
Add your contact information in the header section and ensure it's accurate.
Write a catchy resume summary/objective to get the recruiter to read the rest of your resume.
List your employment history and quantify the achievements with figures and facts.
Use the skills section to add the unique abilities that make you the best candidate and separate the hard and soft skills.
Accompany Your Resume with a Cover Letter
Every application should have a resume and a cover letter; otherwise, it will be incomplete. Use our cover letter examples to get some tips to craft yours. A cover letter gives more details about your achievements as a tax specialist and allows you to showcase your personality and writing skills. If the hiring manager asks you not to send one, you don't need to. Otherwise, always accompany your resume with a cover letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which top companies are hiring tax specialists?
According to Glassdoor, companies hiring tax specialists include:
CORRECT
INCORRECT
