Tax Advisor - Career Guide

The core mission of a tax advisor is to reduce tax liabilities while maintaining full legal compliance. 

To achieve this, they:

• Implement tax strategies
  They apply the tax policies defined by senior management, tailoring them to the company’s structure and long-term objectives.
  
• Ensure tax compliance
  They monitor the company’s obligations under national and international tax law, ensuring deadlines, accounting procedures, and payment duties are all met accurately.
  
• Advise on fiscal matters
  They guide stakeholders on tax implications of ongoing or future transactions, mergers, or expansions, and suggest legal structures that optimize the fiscal position.
  
• Prepare for audits and inspections
  They collect and draft documentation required during tax audits, maintain clear records, and serve as intermediaries with tax authorities.
  
• Stay updated on legislation
  They conduct continuous monitoring of changes in tax law, adapting company practices accordingly and advising on how new rules affect operations.

• In companies
  Tax advisors are often employed by mid-sized to large companies and typically operate within the finance or legal departments. They collaborate with accounting, management, and development teams to ensure compliance and optimize internal tax strategy. Industries such as banking, insurance, and commerce show particularly high demand for these professionals.

• In consulting firms
  Some tax advisors work in firms that specialize in tax law or financial consulting. These roles involve advising a diverse client base, ranging from SMEs to large corporations, on tax planning, compliance, and optimization. They may also assist with audits, mergers, and international structuring.

• In freelance consultants
  Although less common, tax advisors may also choose to work as independent consultants. This status is generally chosen by senior advisors whose networks of contacts enable them to build up a suitable client portfolio.
  Clients are generally individuals with significant assets (real estate, financial, etc.) who wish to optimize their tax situation.

This profession is accessible with a five-year higher education qualification. Several pathways are available, including business school or university with a law degree. This is why the question ‘is a tax specialist a solicitor?’ often comes up. In reality, a tax specialist may be a solicitor, but this is not always the case.

Start with a bachelor’s degree

It is possible to start with a bachelor’s degree in law. However, business school programmes are particularly valued by companies, especially for their professional focus.

To enter this profession, you can start your studies with a bachelor’s degree in finance. This degree has the advantage of being highly professional thanks to action learning. Students combine practical experience in real-world conditions and immersion with theoretical teaching for a comprehensive learning experience.

Continue with a five-year degree

Several courses are then available:

• After a bachelor’s degree in law, students can go on to a master’s degree in tax law or business law.
• After a bachelor’s degree in Finance or Accounting, the Master’s in Law and Fiscal Expertise and the Master’s in Accounting and Auditing both provide access to employment.

Do you have a question? Our educational advisors are here to answer your questions. Please feel free to contact us.

After several years of experience, they may be promoted to Legal and Tax Director. This person supervises several teams (lawyers, accountants, tax specialists, etc.) and manages all tax and legal aspects of the organisation for which they work.

This manager is a professional who focuses primarily on the economic management of a company. Their role is to ensure the company’s profitability by taking charge of the organisation’s financial health (forecasting, monitoring, decision-making, etc.).

A senior tax specialist may decide to become a partner in a tax consultancy firm or to set up their own business. They usually have a large network of contacts, which allows them to start their own business with confidence.