Every month, we highlight a position that is highly sought after on the Belgian labour market. This month, we discuss the position of Tax Specialist. According to Jobfeed, the demand for Tax Specialists has doubled in the past year.
Christophe Paquay, Manager at Robert Walters, confirms that candidates for this position are scarce. "Surprising”, he says, "because the position of Tax Specialist offers a great opportunity for professionals who are eager to learn and have the ambition to grow in the organisation.” Let’s take a closer look at where a consulting experience can take you.
What exactly is the role of a Tax Specialist?
"In addition to supervising the IFRS tax situation and managing VAT issues, the role of a Tax Specialist involves assisting with tax audits and ensuring corporate tax compliance. This includes preparing tax returns, applying for renewals and estimates of tax returns in accordance with tax law and providing audit assistance to the group's tax advisor.”
What skills and training are needed to become a successful Tax Specialist?
"A master's degree in tax law or a master's degree in economics with a specialisation in tax law is essential. Having a first experience in consultancy with an international outlook is a huge plus. A Tax Specialist needs to be eager to learn and motivated. Nobody is perfect in all areas, so it is important to be proactive and interested in everything you can learn on the job. An open mind, a team play attitude and good communication skills are important must haves in order to be able to collaborate with all departments effectively. Because many organisations operate on an international scale, it is also very important to have a good level of English.”
What is the average salary a Tax Specialist can expect?
"For a Tax Specialist with three years of experience, the gross annual salary is between 50k and 70k EUR. Extra-legal benefits are of course also included, such as a company car, laptop, mobile phone, insurance package. If you grow to a Tax Manager/Director position with more than 15 years of management experience, that salary can even amount to 170k EUR.”
Why should anyone consider becoming a Tax Specialist?
"The position of Tax Specialist offers a range of responsibilities and therefore many different tasks. It is a position in which you can remain active for 10 years without getting bored. No day is the same and because the tax world is constantly evolving, you learn non-stop. Unlike a job as a tax consultant, where you work from assignment to assignment, the position of Tax Specialist offers you the opportunity to grow within the same organisation. And the opportunities are enormous: training, specialisation... whether you choose to build and lead a team or just focus on becoming a specialist in a particular domain: anything is possible!”
Interested in a tax position?
Have a look at our latest tax jobs. To grow a successful career, check out our career advice section.
