Working in indirect tax / VAT?

lightspeed

Hi

Im at something of a crossroads where im in the middle of doing my last few remaining accounting exams.

Im having trouble getting a job to provide me with the hands on accounts preparation experience.

However, I have seen some trainee jobs in VAT/indirect tax and im considering specialising in the area.

I realise this would mean having to sit the AITI exams but i will have some exemptions after my accounting exams.

However, im worried that its so specialised that there wont be much jobs in the market and I dont like the idea of being forced to stay with same employer. For example if im not getting anywhere near salary i should be on when im qualified, is it such a niche market that it would be difficult to move elsewhere?

Also Id like to be sure its something I can handle. Is VAT a very complicated area to work in?

Regards

Calahonda52

1: Getting into taxation without having a good grounding in accounts prep is not the best plan because there are two sets of accounts to be prepped each period: an accounting set and a taxation set, with the adjustments between both.
The most obvious one being the depreciation add back to the financial accounts and it being replaced by Capital allowances in the tax accounts.
Knowing how to reconcile both is key, imo.
2: VAT is probably the most complex part of domestically focussed tax law, but it depends on your mind set as to whether you view it as complicated.
Taxation, like death are the two certainties in life so have no worries about it being too specialised. While you might be qualified to work at the most complex level, there is always well paying tax work at the lower, more basic level.