LEARNING PATHWAY: Tax Senior/ Experienced Associate → Tax Manager

Typical Experience: 2 - 8 years

Now’s the time when your role starts to shift. You’re not just following instructions anymore—you’re really owning projects and solving problems.

Focus:

What You Need to Get Good At

• Advanced Technical Knowledge
  Go deeper. Build serious expertise in tougher tax topics—maybe corporate tax, partnerships, international issues, or some specialty area that excites you.
• Analytical & Strategic Thinking
  Look for real tax-saving opportunities. Start connecting tax strategies to bigger business goals, not just the numbers in front of you.
• Project Management
  Juggle several projects at once. Make sure deadlines get met and double-check work for accuracy and completeness.
• Communication Skills
  Break down your findings and tax positions in a way that managers and clients actually understand.

How to Level Up

• Find a niche or in-demand tax area and make it your thing.
• Take charge of parts of engagements—don’t just do the work, own it.
• Mentor junior staff. It’s a great way to pick up leadership skills.
• Go after extra certifications if they make sense for your path, whether that’s an MST, EA, or something more specialized.

Key Responsibilities:

• Review and manage complex returns (e.g., multi-state, consolidated entities).
• Perform tax planning for clients.
• Research IRS rulings and new legislation.
• Begin to lead client meetings and small engagements.

Recommended NJCPA Courses:

Key Tax Issues for Individual Taxpayers

This course addresses the most recent legislative developments impacting individual taxpayers, with a focus on important provisions, rules and concepts to apply when preparing client returns. 

**Please Note: If you need credit reported to the IRS for this IRS-approved program, please download the IRS CE request form on the Course Materials Tab and submit to kori.herrera@acpen.com.

Offered on: Apr. 28, 2026 (Live Webcast)