As tax accountants around the country let out a collective sigh of relief that April 15 has come and gone, many are likely eager to put the last few months behind them and look to the future.
Tax accountants know that busy season will be back in less than a year. It could be worthwhile to look at how you might approach the season differently in 2011 or switch careers altogether.
FINS took stock of the tax accounting profession at its best, worst and everything in between. Check out our comprehensive guide to tax accounting careers in 2010 to decide whether you're game for April 15, 2011.
Intro Tax Careers 101
If you love plugging away at calculators and forging relationships with clients, this career might be for you. FINS breaks down the ins-and-outs of what it takes to be a tax accountant. One career changer says he switched from teaching high-school religion to tax accounting because it allowed him to provide a valued service. Now a managing tax partner at Deloitte, he hasn't looked back.
-- So You Want to be a Tax Accountant...
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A Higher Calling: Religion Teacher Turns Tax Accountant
The Insider View: FINS Chats with KPMG Recruiting
Learn how to get a foot in the door at one of the Big Four accounting firms:
HR Insider: KPMG's Bruce Pfau
Tax Season Is...
Tiring. According to our unscientific survey, many tax pros attest that long workdays inevitably lead to sleep deficits as the season drags on. Read about how three professionals -- a supervisor, manager and managing director -- tackle their days.
-- Tax Accountant Survey: Sleep a Career Casualty
-- A Day in the Life: The Race
-- A Day in the Life: To-Do Lists
-- A Day in the Life: The Grit
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Tax Season Is: Tax Accountants Get Philosophical
How to Survive: The Seasonal Juggle
While the returns pile grows and clients call, other life priorities shouldn't be thrown to the wayside. Managing a work-life balance might seem trying at times, but stepping away from the W-2s could be your saving grace.
-- Staying Fit During Tax Season
-- The Tax Season Work Life Juggle
After the Morning After
Don't say tax accountants don't know how to have fun. After the clock strikes midnight, Champagne corks pop. Beards are shaved. But once the celebrations are over, some may consider hanging their own shingle or leaving the field entirely. FINS has tips on how to do both.
-- Thank God It's Over -- Let's Party!
-- The Great Tax Shave
-- Accountants Set to Move as Economy Rebounds
-- Career Change: How to Transfer Your Accounting Skills to Other Fields
-- Hanging Your Own Shingle: Starting Your Own CPA Business
Write to Yoree Koh