5 Tax Manager Interview Questions and Answers for Success

Tax managers play a critical role in staying on top of the latest tax laws and regulations so they can maximize the tax positions of the organizations they work for.

Given how critical this role is, hiring managers have a difficult task in finding tax manager candidates who possess the ideal skill set. To help hiring managers, we put together five interview questions, and their ideal answers, for use in upcoming interviews.

1.     How do you stay on top of tax law changes?

One of the most important skills a tax manager must possess is the ability to stay on top of local, state, and federal tax laws and regulations.  One way to see how proficient potential candidates are in this area is to ask them what they do to keep abreast of tax laws.

A strong answer will reference professional publications, conferences, seminars, and updates from tax agencies themselves.

2.     What are the biggest tax changes announced for the coming year?

As identified above, tax law knowledge is a critical skill for tax managers. But so too is the ability to explain those changes to the decision makers who will implement those changes. This point of asking a candidate about upcoming tax changes is to help determine if a candidate can explain difficult tax issues to those not as well-versed in that field.

A quality answer to this question will not only identify specific tax law changes, but also explain them in a way a non-tax expert can understand.

3.     How do you manage competing priorities?

During tax season, workloads for tax managers quickly skyrocket. And so, you will want to make sure you hire a candidate who can manage his or her time and priorities.  Asking how a tax manager manages different priorities will help you learn more about their time management skills.

A great answer to this question will highlight how a candidate prioritizes tax, handles tax season, and if he or she uses any time management tools or software.

4.     What do you know about our company?

Each organization has particular issues that require unique and tailored tax solutions.  The more an individual understands the organization, the more confident hiring managers can be that he or she will serve the tax interests of the company.

A great answer from a candidate will highlight what the candidate anticipates the tax needs of your organization will be based on pre-interview research and previous, analogous experience.

5.     What tax software solutions do you use?

A savvy tax manager knows what tax software is best suited for the job – and how to use it.  And there are many tools and available software to help tax professionals do their job.  By asking potential candidates which tools and technology they like to use, you will not only gain a greater insight into their technological proficiencies with the tools you have, but also, potentially learn of other tax tools you should be considering.

Ideally, your candidate will be proficient in the tools you currently have and be able to describe how he or she uses them and why.

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