Tax Accountant CV example

This guide will take you step-by-step through writing a Tax Accountant CV that highlights your technical expertise and compliance knowledge. By the end, you’ll have a CV that convinces recruiters of the value you can add, positioning you as the ideal candidate.

A well-structured CV is like a well-prepared tax plan. Logical, detailed, and easy to follow. A recruiter who confronts a disorganised mass of text will only get frustrated and move onto the next candidate: they want to see your skills and achievements quickly, so clear organisation is key.

It should always follow this structure: 

• Name and contact details – Keep these at the top so employers can get in touch easily, once they’re ready to hire you. A photo is optional.
• CV profile – Summarise your tax expertise and professional achievements with a quick paragraph towards the top.
• Core skills – Highlight your strengths, such as tax planning, reporting, and audit preparation.
• Work experience – Detail your previous roles in reverse chronological order.
• Education – Include academic qualifications and certifications related to tax and accounting.
• Additional info – Optionally, include interests or professional memberships, like ICAEW or the ATT.

Your CV is more about just the words on the page, no matter how impressive they are: the format should reflect the precision and professionalism you’ll bring to tax accounting. A clean, well-organised layout ensures recruiters can easily spot your value.

Make sure to follow these tips on formatting:

• Bullet points – Use them to break down responsibilities and achievements for quick skimming.
• Divide sections – Use clear headings to make your CV easy to navigate.
• Use a clear font – Opt for professional readability with a simple, muted colour palette and layout.
• No more than 2 pages – Keep it concise while providing enough detail to showcase your expertise.

Your CV profile is a snappy first paragraph to make a strong first impression. Give the recruiter a reason to read until the end. You’ll immediately  hone in on the skills and experience that makes you the obvious choice to hire. Remember to keep it brief: 3-4 lines is plenty.

Build your CV now 

Tailor your profile to the role by referencing key skills and experiences the employer values.

Here’s what to include in your Tax Accountant CV profile:

• Where you’ve worked – Mention the main industries or firms you’ve provided tax services for: especially the industry relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• Your top qualifications – Include your relevant credentials like ACA, ACCA, or ATT.
• Essential skills – Highlight that expertise you’ve got in tax and accounting.
• People you’ve worked with – Reference collaboration you’ve had in the past with auditors, clients, or finance teams.
• Types of tax you’ve specialised in – Talk about corporate tax, VAT, or personal tax, and whatever else is applicable to your experience.
• Compliance frameworks you understand – Highlight experience with regulations like HMRC requirements, GDPR, or international tax treaties.
• Relevant tools you know – Mention tax-specific software like Sage or Xero if you already know how to use them.

Your core skills section is like a balance sheet for your CV: an at-a-glance summary of what you would bring to the role.

Tailor this section to align with the specific responsibilities in the job description, and make sure you stand out from the pile of other applicants. Keep the skills highly relevant and focused: concrete skills rather than generic descriptions.

Now for the main part of your CV: the work experience section is where you’ll really prove your expertise in tax accounting. Recruiters want to see how you’ve added value to previous companies, and how you’ll bring that sort of value to their own.

List your roles in reverse chronological order, focusing on responsibilities that showcase your impact. Use bullet points to make your contributions clear and specific.

• Outline – Provide an overview of the organisation, your role, and your primary focus.
• Responsibilities – Highlight key duties like tax planning and client advising. Use action verbs like “prepared,” “advised,” or “calculated.”
• Achievements – Focus on measurable results, such as reducing tax liabilities or improving compliance efficiency – tangible figures are always worth including here.

Next up, the education section highlights the qualifications that underpin your expertise in tax accounting. Include degrees, certifications, and all your training relevant to the fields of finance and tax.

Note down the name of the qualification, the organisation at which you studied, and the date of start and completion. Less experienced candidates should expand on this section with relevant academic projects and coursework.

List qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent.