What to include on your CV throughout your tax career

Your CV shapes the first impression you make with potential employers.

As you progress through your tax career, these employers expect more than technical accuracy. Your CV must demonstrate judgement, influence and the ability to apply tax expertise in complex commercial environments.

This guide explains what to include in your CV at every stage of a tax career, from qualified roles through to senior management.

First impressions matter

Hiring managers and recruiters often review CVs quickly, scanning headings, job titles and bullet points before reading in detail. This is made easier with a clean layout, consistent font and clear structure.

Best practice includes:

• Relevant keywords aligned to the job description
• Clear headings for each section
• One simple font such as Arial or Calibri
• Bullet points rather than dense paragraphs

1. Personal details and personal statement

At the top of your CV include:

• Full name
• Email address and phone number
• LinkedIn profile link
• UK location or relocation preference if relevant

Your personal statement (or professional summary) should be short and targeted for the role. It should summarise your tax specialism, years of experience and key skills. Avoid generic language and focus on what differentiates you from other tax professionals.

Example focus areas include:

• Seniority and leadership exposure
• Corporate tax, personal tax or tax accounting
• Tax compliance, tax planning or advisory services
• Sector expertise

2. Experience section and work history

This is the most important part of your CV. Structure your experience section with your most recent role first, followed by previous roles and how you progressed through them.

For each role include:

• Job title
• Employer name and brief business context
• Dates of employment
• Scope of responsibility
• Bullet points highlighting outcomes rather than tasks

Focus on impact rather than activity. For example, instead of listing tax compliance duties, explain how you improved processes, reduced liabilities or supported commercial decisions.

Strong CV examples show:

• Ownership of tax compliance and risk
• Involvement in tax planning and advisory work
• Collaboration with finance, legal and senior management

Delivery of tax-efficient outcomes aligned to business strategy

Newly qualified roles

For those earlier in their tax career, including internships or trainee roles is valuable.

Highlight:

• Exposure to corporate tax or personal tax
• Preparation or review of tax returns
• Use of accounting software and Excel
• Early advisory experience
• Development of core competencies

Your CV should show how technical foundations were built post-qualification.

Senior and leadership roles

From Tax Manager level upwards, hiring managers expect strategic judgment and influence rather than technical execution alone.

Your CV should demonstrate:

• Leadership of in-house tax functions or client portfolios
• Oversight of tax regulations and governance
• Advisory input into transactions or restructuring
• Management of tax risks and liabilities
• Coaching or mentoring of junior staff

CVs for Senior Tax Managers and Heads of Tax should show credibility with boards, auditors and external advisers.

3. Education and certifications

Education should be listed clearly and without unnecessary detail, including:

• Degrees and relevant A-levels
• Professional certifications such as ACA, ACCA or CTA
• Ongoing professional development and technical training

As you become more senior, qualifications remain important but experience and competencies matter more than academic detail.

4. Skills section and technical expertise

A dedicated skills section helps recruiters and hiring managers quickly assess fit.

Key areas (where relevant) may include:

• Corporate tax and personal tax
• Tax regulations and UK tax laws
• Tax planning and tax strategies
• Tax returns and compliance processes
• Financial reporting and financial statements
• IFRS knowledge
• Financial analysis and tax savings initiatives
• Advisory services and stakeholder management
• Soft skills such as communication and influencing

Technical tools and accounting software may include:

• Excel and Microsoft tools
• Accounting software such as SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks or Alphatax
• Tax technology and reporting systems

Tailoring your CV for different roles

Always adapt your CV to the job description. For example:

• For in-house roles: emphasise governance, financial reporting and stakeholder influence
• For practice roles: emphasise advisory services, client management and technical depth

LinkedIn should reinforce the same narrative as your CV, using aligned job titles and summaries.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using generic job titles that don’t reflect seniority
• Listing responsibilities without outcomes
• Overloading technical detail at senior level
• Ignoring soft skills and leadership impact
• Poor formatting that distracts from content

How your CV should evolve over time

As your career progresses, your CV should evolve from technical delivery to strategic impact.

• For newly qualified roles: focus on technical knowledge and skill development
• For mid-career roles: focus on broader competencies and advisory involvement
• For senior roles: position yourself as a trusted adviser to senior management who balances compliance with commercial value

In a tax market where many candidates look technically similar, you can set yourself apart by positioning yourself in the right way.

Get in touch today to discuss your career goals.