David Shanahan - Deloitte
While studying for my commerce degree and an accountancy masters I was always particularly interested in the taxation subjects. I believed that a career in taxation would lead to a variety of opportunities, both in Ireland and beyond, so that's how I made my decision.
I enjoy solving problems for clients - whether it is on large projects worth hundreds of millions or advising a local pharmacy on basic tax planning ideas. Interacting with clients and efficiently managing their taxes can be very rewarding.
I am responsible for managing both multinational and domestic Irish clients ranging across different industry sectors including manufacturing, retail sales, services and property. My duties include dealing with corporate tax compliance issues, providing ad-hoc consulting solutions, formulating and delivering tax planning strategies and managing client relationships. Other responsibilities involve planning and managing engagements, budgeting and billing. The supervision and development of junior staff, including managing and overseeing performance appraisals is another important responsibility.
When looking into a career as a Registered Tax Consultant, the best thing you can do is to talk to as many people as possible who work in the profession. By talking to friends or other contacts about their experiences you will gain an invaluable insight into what your role would be on a daily basis.