Advice on Future Career Path - Taxation

I embarked upon a career change earlier this year (ie January) and am looking for general advice from people working in Tax.

I was offered & took a job with a MNC working as a junior tax analyst.

Prior to making the career change I had completed the first 2 parts of the AITI qualification myself.

I did Part 3 a few weeks ago & was not fully prepared so will probably need to repeat some/all of the exams in Sept but would hope to get the qualification in that sitting.

My request for general advice is in 2 parts;

(1) I know one can move from practice to industry but have heard that it is not so easy to do the reverse but I am assuming that this is something I should do to keep my options open for the future & also for my own development?

Would people have a recommendation as to whether I should seek a job with one of the bigger firms (I am not based in Dublin, I am working in Cork) or would it be better to go for a smaller firm? I realise that there is no correct answer and am simply trying to get people's personal views. I also am aware that bigger firms might not be so interested in someone in their early 30's when they can get someone in the early 20's for the same job.

(2) I was thinking of completing an accountancy qualification once I complete the AITI & was wondering what people would think re this.

The logic is to keep my options open.

I have done a little research on this and have seen that to complete the ACCA, one needs not only to have passed the exams but to have 3 yrs relevant experience, not sure of the interpretation of what is relevant but again would appreciate any thoughts/advice on this.

I am happy where I currently work but am simply trying to look at the bigger picture.

My advice would be to work with a smaller "boutique" specialist tax firm as opposed to one of the bigger firms. You will get better exposure to specialist work over all of the different tax heads. I have spoken to people who after year 2 exams are still completing compliance work in some of the bigger firms in Dublin. I know a couple of such firms in Dublin, but only one immediately springs to mind in Cork.

I would be to contact a specialist recruitment agency dealing with tax recruitment and talk through your future plans.

There is a shortage of tax people at the moment, so its not a bad business to be in.

info seeker - I am in a similar boat to you at the moment. Just sat the part 3's pretty damn sure i m back for at least 2 repeats though but hopefully sept will be good!!!currently working in audit but want to get out into tax. Dont live in dublin and i m not prepared to either - just wondering waht kind of a salary should u reasonably expect with ppart 3 but no experience???

I might be in the same boat as you re the exams; PTP was too long and did not complete the paper & struggled with Tax Mgt also, hoping to get over 60% in the other 2.

I did Part 1 & 2 back in 2004 & 2005. I was offered a job in March 06 by a well known accounting/tax firm in Cork but opted not to take the job as I was building a house and getting married in the following 12 months. I then so no point in continuing so did not do Part 3 in 2006.
They offered me 20K which sounds dreadful but it was a decent offer given that I had no experience & had only completed Part 1 & 2.

I had to sit the exams this month as otherwise I would have lost the 8 exams I passed b/c it was 3 yrs since I last sat an exam.

A friend in a mnc spotted a job advert for a junior tax analyst in December 07, I applied and luckily got the job, they offered me 30k which is very good based on my experience. The downside is that I am not in practice but I was taking a big drop in wage to move to 30k so I took this rather than 20k in a practice.

I will have to move into practice but am happy where I am for now plus I need to finish off the AITI exams first.

Hope this helps.