Applying for tax specialist Programme. Want to know the type of person they looking for/ skills required for the role.

There isn't a type of person specifically that will succeed on the TSP, it is about having a good base and capability to comprehend the technical and numerical aspects of the TSP (but you don't have to be a lawyer or a mathematician either).

The assessment as part of the application will set out what is being tested and will inform you of what ability is required, for those with financial or tax skills there is an alternative route. For the TSP, you need to have the necessary ability and you will acquire tax skills on the programme.

As somebody who is on TSP, I think I can speak to the kind of skills that have been tested whilst being on the Programme. There are the obvious ones, like effective time management and being committed and organised, because there is a lot to juggle when you work and study for exams in tandem. You'll be taught the technical knowledge which you'll then deploy throughout the course, and here you'll have to be critical, persuasive, able to synthesis information from different sources and work with others to give a good service to customers and contribute to business objectives. Many skills you will acquire as you go through the course and don't need to come in with, for example confidence when dealing with or having difficult conversations with customers and learning how to navigate more complex areas of legislation.