For many tax professionals, receiving CTA exam results marks a pivotal moment in their career journey. Whether the outcome brought celebration or a sense of frustration, it’s natural to ask: what comes next?
This post explores the different paths available, depending on where you find yourself after results day.
If You’ve Passed – What’s Next?
First and foremost, congratulations. Achieving CTA status is a significant milestone and reflects years of dedication and hard work. Now is the time to consider how to leverage this qualification:
1. Acknowledge the Achievement
Take a moment to recognise your success. Let your team and mentors know, and don’t hesitate to celebrate the accomplishment—this is no small feat. Celebrate!
2. Update Your Profile
Ensure your CV and LinkedIn profile reflect your newly qualified status. Highlight any relevant specialisms or sectors you’ve focused on to help future opportunities find you.
3. Career Progression
Many firms tie promotions or salary reviews to qualification milestones. If this hasn’t been discussed, it may be worth initiating the conversation. Alternatively, this might be the right time to consider your next move, whether in practice or in-house.
4. Reflect on Your Direction
Now is an excellent time to assess your longer-term career goals:
- Do you want to specialise in a particular area of tax (e.g. indirect tax, FS, international tax)?
- Often within the Big 4 / Top 10 you will be tasked to become a specialist subject matter – for example a Consumer or Energy specialist.
- Would you like to develop as a people manager or focus more on technical delivery?
- Are you open to exploring in-house roles, especially now that you're CTA-qualified?
If You Just Missed Out – What Now?
The CTA is one of the most rigorous tax qualifications available, and many talented professionals do not pass every paper first time. If this applies to you, know that you’re not alone.
1. Reflect and Refocus
Take some time to understand where things may have gone wrong. Was it timing, knowledge gaps, or exam technique? Understanding this can help you plan more effectively for a resit.
2. Rebook While It’s Fresh
If you’re able, book your resit while the content is still front of mind. Make use of any additional study support offered by your employer and consider revision sessions or 1-to-1 tuition if needed.
3. Keep Perspective
Failing one or more papers does not define your capability as a tax professional. Your experience, client work, and soft skills remain hugely valuable—and the qualification will still be within reach.
4. Book a meeting with Nitin Rabheru – he is master at supporting you passing your CTA
Career Considerations Post-CTA
Regardless of your result, this is a natural point to evaluate your next professional move:
1. Moving In-House
With the CTA qualification (or near completion), many in-house tax teams will consider you for roles such as Tax Analyst, Tax Manager, or Indirect Tax Specialist. These positions often offer broader commercial exposure and a different pace of work.
2. Exploring New Specialisms
CTA-qualified professionals are often well-positioned to move into niche areas such as Customs & Global Trade, ESG-related tax, or Transaction Advisory. The qualification provides a strong foundation to pivot.
3. International Opportunities
With CTA status, roles in jurisdictions such as Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Middle East (particularly the UAE) may be accessible, especially for those seeking international exposure.
Networking and Next Steps
Whether you’re ready to make a move now or simply want to stay informed, consider the following:
- Join CIOT networking events and local branch meetings to stay connected to your professional community.
- Speak to a specialist tax recruiter who can advise on market trends, salary benchmarks, and career planning.
- Consider mentoring – supporting others through the CTA process can be both rewarding and a great way to reinforce your own knowledge.
- Get in touch with us at Pro-Tax to watch our previous exam and revision webinars featuring Nitin Rabheru and some of his prize winning students. You can also sign up to be made aware of our upcoming webinars before the next exams in November.
Final Thoughts
Your CTA results mark a key turning point—either the completion of a significant chapter or an opportunity to regroup and push forward. Whether you’re exploring new career paths, seeking progression within your current firm, or simply taking stock, this is a time to pause, reflect, and plan. Your stock at the moment is very high….
If you’d like tailored advice on your next career move, or simply want to understand what options might be available, feel free to get in touch with Kevin, the author of this article and our Director of Tax, for a confidential conversation.
