Tax Accountants: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of tax accountants about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for tax accountants to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of tax accountants expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for tax accountants.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Tax Accountants?
Do tax accountants need a degree? What kind of experience do tax accountants typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for tax accountants to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Tax Accountants
Jobs Postings for Tax Accountants By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 328,477 (64%)
- No Education Listed: 94,221 (18%)
- Master's degree: 58,105 (11%)
- High School or GED: 28,928 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 4,708 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of tax accountants. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 64% of positions. In 18% of job listings no education level was listed and in 11% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Tax Accountants
Jobs Postings for Tax Accountants By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 51,709 (17%)
- 2-3 Years: 151,012 (49%)
- 4-6 Years: 84,843 (27%)
- 7-9 Years: 14,338 (5%)
- 10+ Years: 7,481 (2%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for tax accountants. In 49% of job postings for Tax Accountants, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 27% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 17% of job postings for tax accountants.
What Kind of Degree Do Tax Accountants Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for tax accountants, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 11 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective tax accountants, and in 2021 a total of 465,910 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective tax accountants.
Top Degree Programs for Tax Accountants
Top 5 Degree Programs for Tax Accountants (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 351,860 |
| Accounting. | 71,881 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping. | 19,776 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | 14,224 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,644 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 351,860 |
| Accounting. | 71,881 |
| Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping. | 19,776 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | 14,224 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,644 |
| Taxation. | 1,546 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,537 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 814 |
| Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation. | 417 |
| Auditing. | 163 |
| Accounting and Computer Science. | 48 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Tax Accountants
Develop the foundational financial skills needed to keep business running successfully, including financial reporting and analysis, managerial accounting, and federal taxes, so you can start your career as an accounting technician, tax preparer, payroll assistant and more.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Enter into or advance within the rapidly growing accounting industry and prepare for professional certifications like the CPA.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Learn to identify, resolve, and prevent white-collar crime in a variety of business settings while preparing for the CFE exam.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Stay Sarbanes-Oxley compliant and promote a fraud-prevention culture while preparing for professional certifications like the CFE.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Distinguish yourself as a knowledgeable accounting professional with advanced technical, research, and communication skills.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 17
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Grab a chair at the leadership table with Franklin’s 17-month M.S. in Accounting with a focus in Financial Operations. In this 100% online program, you’ll learn to think critically, communicate effectively and leverage technology in innovative ways.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Learn to decipher the numbers and communicate your findings with confidence and clarity in Franklin’s M.S. in Accounting with a focus in Taxation. The 17-month, online program is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and features interactive courses led by in-field practitioners.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Master financial analysis tools and tactics that provide the knowledge you need to contribute at a strategic level with Franklin’s 12-month online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Finance.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Certificates & Microcredentials for Tax Accountants
Boost your career prospects and productivity with MS Excel certificate courses that show you how to maximize the power of Microsoft's popular data analysis tool.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 4-5 months
- Cost: $35/month
Take control of your professional life with Intuit bookkeeping certificate courses that train you help businesses record, track and analyze essential financial records.
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $35/month
What Skills Do Tax Accountants Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by tax accountants to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for tax accountants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Tax Accountants
Based on 450,893 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Tax Accountants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 373,800 | 83% |
| Auditing | 255,433 | 57% |
| Finance | 182,372 | 40% |
| Financial Statements | 176,528 | 39% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 134,689 | 30% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Tax Accountants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 176,543 | 39% |
| Management | 167,668 | 37% |
| Microsoft Excel | 129,124 | 29% |
| Detail Oriented | 118,641 | 26% |
| Operations | 92,826 | 21% |
Based on 450,893 job postings related to tax accountants, accounting was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 83% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for auditing, finance, financial statements, generally accepted accounting principles and general ledger were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for tax accountants, followed by management, microsoft excel, detail oriented, operations and research.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 373,800 | 83% |
| Auditing | 255,433 | 57% |
| Finance | 182,372 | 40% |
| Financial Statements | 176,528 | 39% |
| Generally Accepted Accounting Principles | 134,689 | 30% |
| General Ledger | 99,733 | 22% |
| Month-End Closing | 82,672 | 18% |
| Internal Controls | 81,742 | 18% |
| Accounts Payable | 76,382 | 17% |
| Account Reconciliation | 70,320 | 16% |
| External Auditing | 69,259 | 15% |
| Balance Sheet | 69,007 | 15% |
| Accounts Receivable | 67,984 | 15% |
| Reconciliation | 67,541 | 15% |
| Public Accounting | 67,110 | 15% |
| Invoicing | 60,771 | 13% |
| Internal Auditing | 51,559 | 11% |
| Financial Analysis | 50,585 | 11% |
| Fixed Asset | 43,697 | 10% |
| Project Management | 43,488 | 10% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 176,543 | 39% |
| Management | 167,668 | 37% |
| Microsoft Excel | 129,124 | 29% |
| Detail Oriented | 118,641 | 26% |
| Operations | 92,826 | 21% |
| Research | 86,484 | 19% |
| Writing | 80,994 | 18% |
| Problem Solving | 80,461 | 18% |
| Microsoft Office | 75,374 | 17% |
| Budgeting | 67,342 | 15% |
| Customer Service | 64,121 | 14% |
| Leadership | 63,378 | 14% |
| Planning | 53,830 | 12% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 53,718 | 12% |
| Organizational Skills | 52,079 | 12% |
| Self-Motivation | 51,883 | 12% |
| Analytical Skills | 51,352 | 11% |
| Multitasking | 46,534 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 44,499 | 10% |
| Time Management | 43,726 | 10% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about tax accountants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for tax accountants.
What do tax accountants do?
How much do tax accountants make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.