What is a senior tax manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. J. Klaus Ph.D., CPA (KY)

A senior tax manager oversees the tax department of a company or accounting firm. They ensure compliance with tax laws, develop tax strategies, and provide guidance to clients on tax-related issues. Senior tax managers work closely with other departments to identify potential tax risks. They also manage tax professionals, conduct performance evaluations and provide training as they need to keep up with changes in tax regulations to ensure their organization remains compliant.

What general advice would you give to a senior tax manager?

Dr. J. Klaus Ph.D., CPA (KY)

Assistant Professor, The University of Texas at Arlington

Choosing a career in accounting today is particularly appealing due to the strong demand for skilled professionals in the field. Accounting stands out for its stability, offering a secure and reliable career path. The diversity within the profession, including areas like tax accounting and financial analysis, provides individuals with flexibility to align their work with their specific interests. With a global relevance, accountants are in high demand internationally. The current technological advancements have streamlined routine tasks, allowing professionals to focus on more strategic aspects of their roles. Pursuing well-regarded certifications, such as the CPA designation, ensures continuous learning and opens avenues for career advancement. Additionally, the flexibility for remote work and potential for entrepreneurial ventures make accounting a highly sought-after and promising choice in response to the prevalent demand for skilled professionals.

ScoreSenior Tax ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.2

Avg. Salary $92,363

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.5

Growth rate 17%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.34%

Asian 10.19%

Black or African American 7.60%

Hispanic or Latino 14.57%

Unknown 4.11%

White 63.19%

Gender

female 37.82%

male 62.18%

Age - 46

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46

Stress level

9.5

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.3

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a senior tax manager?

Pros

High earning potential
Ability to work with a variety of clients and industries
Opportunity to develop strong technical skills
Prestige and recognition in the profession
Potential for job stability and security

Cons

Stressful environment with tight deadlines
High levels of responsibility and accountability
Potential for conflicts between clients' interests and ethical responsibilities
Limited diversity in the profession, particularly at senior levels
Possibility for burnout or career plateau

Key steps to become a senior tax manager

Explore senior tax manager education requirements

Most common senior tax manager degrees

Bachelor's

67.5 %

Master's

24.9 %

Doctorate

3.7 %

Start to develop specific senior tax manager skills

Skills	Percentages
CPA	17.94%
Client Relationships	6.79%
Taxation	5.41%
Tax Research	4.65%
Tax Issues	4.60%

Complete relevant senior tax manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior tax managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior tax manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior tax manager resumes.

Research senior tax manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare and review returns, assist accounting in establishing practices, manage SOX compliance and controls.
Manage information requests from IRS audit team and participate in discussions regarding audit procedures, propose adjustments and issue resolutions.
Experience on Onesource, Gosystem and Corptax
Review all ASC 740/FIN 48 reporting for office.

Get senior tax manager experience

Generally, it takes 6-8 years to become a senior tax manager. The most common roles before becoming a senior tax manager include tax manager, tax accountant team lead and staff accountant.

Prepare your senior tax manager resume

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