This tax season is being affected by several issues, including the Inflation Reduction Act and macroeconomic risks. Those and other factors are impacting accounting firms and their clients.
Stefanie Kane, the managing partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Los Angeles office, told the Business Journal that the firm has provided its tax professionals with upskilling opportunities and development courses to keep up with clients’ needs during the hectic season.
“We understand that this is a busy time for our people, and we are providing support and encouragement by limiting distractions and focusing on each other’s well-being,” Kane wrote.
Tax accounting is just one of several services that PwC offers, and the firm boasts a deep bench of professionals in that area, but that has not stopped the PwC from strongly prioritizing its hiring power.
The firm’s Tax Acceleration Center acts as a natural extension for its U.S. teams and allows them to hire at a larger scale. In addition to the center, the firm operates a talent exchange that connects prospective employees with PwC opportunities.
Kane added that there is a greater focus on technology and data than ever before, with firms adopting more of a tech-first, tax-second approach to hiring.
“The ideal skill set we’re looking for is evolving. For example, Excel was previously the gold standard, but now executives want tax professionals who can use cloud-based technologies, data visualization tools and artificial intelligence,” Kane wrote. “All of this reflects the changes we’re seeing across businesses. It’s critical for companies to either innovate or fall behind, and that’s no different for corporate tax departments.”
KPMG, another large accounting firm with a strong presence in Los Angeles, is confident that it is well positioned for a busy but smooth season.
“Despite the pretty well-known and widespread tax and accounting talent shortage, we have numerous programs to attract talent to our…
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