What Do Tax Advisors Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for tax advisors?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what tax advisors do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Tax Advisors Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about tax advisors by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Tax Advisors determine tax liability or collect taxes from individuals or business firms according to prescribed laws and regulations.
Popular Job Titles For Tax Advisors
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Tax Analysts
- Indirect Tax Analysts
- Tax Examiners
- Internal Revenue Agents
- Revenue Specialists
- Tax Reviewers
- Revenue Agents
- Revenue Officers
- Sales Tax Analysts
- Tax Examining Technicians
- Property Tax Analysts
- Income Tax Analysts
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for tax advisors can be found.
Best Industries for Tax Advisors
Tax Advisors Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 43.6%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 36.9%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 19.4%
- Other: 0.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of tax advisors can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2023, about 43.6% of all jobs for tax advisors were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (36.9%) and Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (19.4%).
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 Advisors
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
Turn a head for numbers into a career as a financial associate or analyst, and help businesses turn financial data into actionable insights that can maximize investments, improve cash flow, and impact decisionmaking.
- 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
Master finance principles and develop all-inclusive corporate finance strategies for business firms and financial institutions.
- 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
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
What Do Tax Advisors Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what tax advisors do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work tax advisors do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that tax advisors tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for tax advisors, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Tax Advisors
Based on 11,127 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Tax Advisors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 7,134 | 64% |
| Auditing | 4,732 | 43% |
| Finance | 4,233 | 38% |
| Tax Returns | 3,603 | 32% |
| Income Tax | 2,825 | 25% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Tax Advisors
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 4,273 | 38% |
| Research | 4,264 | 38% |
| Management | 3,350 | 30% |
| Microsoft Excel | 2,799 | 25% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,665 | 24% |
Based on 11,127 job postings related to tax advisors, accounting was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 64% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for auditing, finance, tax returns, income tax and tax laws were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for tax advisors, followed by research, management, microsoft excel, detail oriented and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 7,134 | 64% |
| Auditing | 4,732 | 43% |
| Finance | 4,233 | 38% |
| Tax Returns | 3,603 | 32% |
| Income Tax | 2,825 | 25% |
| Tax Laws | 2,768 | 25% |
| Corporate Tax | 2,128 | 19% |
| Tax Compliance | 2,050 | 18% |
| Tax Research | 2,045 | 18% |
| State Taxes | 1,899 | 17% |
| Financial Statements | 1,583 | 14% |
| Property Tax | 1,553 | 14% |
| Use Tax | 1,490 | 13% |
| Tax Preparation | 1,422 | 13% |
| Process Improvement | 1,415 | 13% |
| Public Accounting | 1,375 | 12% |
| Tax Provision | 1,316 | 12% |
| Tax Accounting | 1,295 | 12% |
| Tax Planning | 1,085 | 10% |
| Indirect Tax | 1,080 | 10% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 4,273 | 38% |
| Research | 4,264 | 38% |
| Management | 3,350 | 30% |
| Microsoft Excel | 2,799 | 25% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,665 | 24% |
| Writing | 2,581 | 23% |
| Sales | 2,538 | 23% |
| Operations | 2,345 | 21% |
| Filing | 2,307 | 21% |
| Customer Service | 2,250 | 20% |
| Problem Solving | 1,808 | 16% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,620 | 15% |
| Planning | 1,576 | 14% |
| Self-Motivation | 1,363 | 12% |
| Collections | 1,347 | 12% |
| Organizational Skills | 1,193 | 11% |
| Analytical Skills | 1,179 | 11% |
| Multitasking | 1,128 | 10% |
| Coordinating | 1,069 | 10% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,062 | 10% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Tax Advisors
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Analysts | 6,672 | 38.7% |
| Indirect Tax Analysts | 1,264 | 7.3% |
| Tax Examiners | 754 | 4.4% |
| Internal Revenue Agents | 658 | 3.8% |
| Revenue Specialists | 939 | 5.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was tax analysts, with 3,177 unique job postings. Indirect tax analysts were second, with 377 postings, followed by tax examiners, internal revenue agents and revenue specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to tax advisors.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Tax Analysts | 6,672 | 38.7% |
| Indirect Tax Analysts | 1,264 | 7.3% |
| Tax Examiners | 754 | 4.4% |
| Internal Revenue Agents | 658 | 3.8% |
| Revenue Specialists | 939 | 5.4% |
| Tax Reviewers | 672 | 3.9% |
| Revenue Agents | 435 | 2.5% |
| Revenue Officers | 369 | 2.1% |
| Sales Tax Analysts | 392 | 2.3% |
| Tax Examining Technicians | 358 | 2.1% |
| Property Tax Analysts | 529 | 3.1% |
| Income Tax Analysts | 344 | 2% |
| Enrolled Agents | 2,417 | 14% |
| Tax Technicians | 291 | 1.7% |
| Corporate Tax Analysts | 192 | 1.1% |
| Lead Tax Analysts | 224 | 1.3% |
| Sales and Use Tax Analysts | 208 | 1.2% |
| Federal Tax Analysts | 151 | 0.9% |
| Field Auditors | 204 | 1.2% |
| Insurance Premium Auditors | 185 | 1.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for tax advisors? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for tax advisors.
How much do tax advisors make?
Tax Advisors: How do you become one?
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.