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Accountants & Business Advisers

Business Tax (ACA/CTA)

What is Business Tax?

In Business Tax we advise companies and their owners on their tax affairs, mainly in relation to corporation tax but also stamp duty, employment taxes and even tax on complex share arrangements.

We work with a range of companies; from small owner managed businesses to much larger privately owned and listed businesses both based in the UK and overseas. Many of our Business Tax clients are audit clients of the firm so we work closely with our audit colleagues to deliver a seamless audit and tax compliance offering. A great deal of our time is spent on advisory projects; international expansion, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and succession planning to state a few examples.

Because of the regions we operate in we have many ambitious technology companies at the leading edge of their field. For example, life sciences, medical technologies, artificial intelligence, and complex IT solutions. As part of the business tax team, you are likely to work with these companies to access government funds, (via the successful Research & Development tax credit programme) or enable them to attract tax-advantageous investments.

Types of clients we advise
Starting a career in Business Tax

Your initial focus would be on understanding how a company’s corporation tax return works, how it links to the company’s accounts and some of the key components that make it up, along with the tax technical rules around it. You would build this knowledge up in your early career until in your second and third years you would expect to get more involved in advisory projects, working with Managers.

You would learn how to interact with third parties, such as our clients and HMRC, and work alongside experienced seniors, managers, directors, and partners.

As an example, by the end of your first year, we aim for you to be able to:

  • Perform first reviews of basic corporation tax computations and returns.
  • Be aware and able to discuss principles around R&D relief, capital allowances.
  • Assist Managers on advisory projects on an ad-hoc basis and when they arise on clients you are assigned to.
  • Attend meetings alongside a manager and become a point of contact for some of the clients you work on.
  • Be comfortable dealing with HMRC over the phone.
What skills are relevant for a career in Business Tax?

You might think working in an accounting firm our days revolve around numbers and complex spreadsheets – and there is definitely some of that! However, in Tax it is likely that, as you progress through your career, as much of your time is spent reading, interpreting, and understanding tax law, then writing clear and accessible tax advice. You will also get the opportunity to discuss these with clients.

So Business Tax might appeal if you want a career within accountancy but also want to develop your written and spoken communication skills – the need to get complex messages across to a non-tax audience clearly and succinctly really marks out a good tax advisor!

What qualification will I achieve?

School Leavers - Working in Business Tax you will study the ATT tax qualification as part of a Level 4 Apprenticeship. Once ATT qualified you will then go on to study the CTA tax qualification as a Level 7 Apprenticeship. More information about each qualification can be found here:

ATT 

CTA

Graduates - You will have the choice of studying either the ACA CTA Joint programme or the ATT CTA Tax Pathway, each as part of a three-year Level 7 Apprenticeship. Each programme gives you the unique opportunity to gain two professional qualifications at the same time. More information about the two programmes can be found here:

ACA CTA Joint Programme

ATT CTA Tax Pathway

Apply Now - Graduates
Apply Now - School Leavers