[Anonymous]

Hey all, I’m currently 25 and work as an analyst for a small investment firm. My job has nothing to do accounting, but I want to transition to a career in tax so I’m working on the CPA currently. I’ve passed BEC and am sitting for REG in a few weeks.

I have a contact in HR at Grant Thornton who forwarded my resume to a recruiter last week, but haven’t heard anything back. Other than that I haven’t really started looking because my current company is letting me work until I find a new job.

Does anyone have any tips on how a 25 year old working professional can land a job in tax with no prior experience? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[vanadium3]

you have to have very good reasons to tell people why the switch or it will be difficult. not impossible, but uncommon. best shot are mid-low size cpa firms. starting at the bottom again.

why tax? it seems more logical to go for cpa in industry (fund accounting) or even audit as you are doing financial/investment analysis.

CPA

[vanadium3]

you have to have very good reasons to tell people why the switch or it will be difficult. not impossible, but uncommon. best shot are mid-low size cpa firms. starting at the bottom again.

why tax? it seems more logical to go for cpa in industry (fund accounting) or even audit as you are doing financial/investment analysis.

CPA

[san4596]

I worked in a Business Lending department as a Credit Analyst. My whole job revolved around analyzing the company's financial position using ratio analysis. I applied the ratio analysis to corprate tax returns and financial statements. When I switched to public accounting, the hiring partner liked my knowledge in understanding corprate tax returns and cash flows for debt service. My switch was easy, and I did not start rock bottom for my area. Do not sell yourself short!

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[san4596]

I worked in a Business Lending department as a Credit Analyst. My whole job revolved around analyzing the company's financial position using ratio analysis. I applied the ratio analysis to corprate tax returns and financial statements. When I switched to public accounting, the hiring partner liked my knowledge in understanding corprate tax returns and cash flows for debt service. My switch was easy, and I did not start rock bottom for my area. Do not sell yourself short!

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[Anonymous]

I took a tax class in college for my finance major and found it pretty engaging, but didn't want to switch to an accounting major at that time. I have no interest in audit; I'd rather keep my current job than do that.

I want to work for one of the larger non-Big 4 firms like GT or Mcgladrey, but would consider any mid-tier firm. I went to a decent business school with a lot of alumni, so I'll try networking that way first.

Thanks guys. Any more tips would help as well.

[Anonymous]

I took a tax class in college for my finance major and found it pretty engaging, but didn't want to switch to an accounting major at that time. I have no interest in audit; I'd rather keep my current job than do that.

I want to work for one of the larger non-Big 4 firms like GT or Mcgladrey, but would consider any mid-tier firm. I went to a decent business school with a lot of alumni, so I'll try networking that way first.

Thanks guys. Any more tips would help as well.

[Author]

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