How to Take Charge and Manage Your Tax Career

Career Advice Provided By:

The 3 Step Process

1. Define and Confirm Your Goals

2. Identify the Right Mentor(s)

3. Build an Action Plan that Leads to the Desired Career Objectives

• This starts with YOU. Is your career happening by luck OR will you actually direct it?

• Sit down and define your short and long-term goals.

• Confirm that your goal is well thought out.

• Ask yourself Why, What, How until there is no realistic reason to ask again.

Define and Confirm

I have 18 years overall compliance, tax accounting and planning experience (3 years at a Big 4 firm and the last 15 at my present company). My goal is to become the Head of Tax at my present company. My VP was hired 2 years ago and has no intention of moving on…

“”

Ask Why, What, How Questions- Why do I want to be VP at this company?

“I have been here long enough to know the company inside and out. My family is opposed to any relocation.”

- What makes me believe I am ready for this role?“Stepping back and looking at this goal it is not achievable at

my present company. I also realize that I haven’t planned for a successor for role if I were to step up or move out of the position or

the company. A discussion with my family needs to occur before I even consider revising my long term goal.” Keep drilling down and ask yourself as many Why, What, How questions

you possibly can. Once you have formulated a goal that you feel is realistic and achievable, now move to identifying the right type of mentor(s) who will challenge this and provide feedback.

To reach one’s career ambitions one must identify and utilize key mentors throughout their career.

Find the Right Mentor at the Right Time!

Identify the Right Mentor

• Mentors can be tax technical/finance/business people at your own company, outside advisors at tax advisory firms, or recruiters.

• These mentors should change as your personal and professional ambitions change and/or as you progress in your career.

Click Here to Learn More About TaxTalent’s Mentor Program

My long-term career goal was to climb the corporate ladder. My career was first and foremost. Since then I have married and am ready to start a family. Now I need a mentor who has experience balancing home and work issues to instruct and guide me…

“”Use the Career Goals Plan Form to share your long term

goal and develop your action plan with your mentor(s).

Career Goals Plan FormDate:

Simplicity increases the odds of actual implementation and goals will more likely be achieved Employee Name:

Long Term Goal:

Developing Your Plan:

I. History: (What has occurred from my previous plan that motivates me to establish a new goal below?):

II. Goal (short term goal that is necessary at this point in your career for you to achieve the ultimate long term goal) Should be a specific result that is completed by a specific date:

III. Plan Action Steps: (comprised of action steps that when you envision doing them you are convinced in no uncertain terms that your goal will be met):

Review Date:Review Date should be in 3 months no longer than 6 months

Click Here to Access This Form for Free

Build Your Action Plan

• Build a plan with your mentor’s input, that leads to your desired career objective.

• Your plan should be comprised of action steps that are measurable and have their own time frame. This way, when you envision doing them you are convinced in no uncertain terms that your goal will be met.

• Review and confirm with your mentors that you have a solid achievable plan.

Build Your Action Plan

• Be sure to include conversations with your spouse/life partner/family. What will their part be in your achieving your goals?

• You’ve heard it before – yearly progress meetings won’t cut it!

• We recommend quarterly or semi-annually meetings. (Note: This shouldn’t follow your fiscal year.)

FINAL THOUGHTS

• As stated at the beginning of this presentation, “To reach one’s career ambitions one must identify and utilize key mentors throughout their career.”

• Most successful people credit having a mentor or mentors that have helped them reach their career ambitions.

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