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A Sole Practitioner’s Journey to Tax Expertise
Written by: The Tax Institute
Published: 15 Jan 2025
Darren Adams, Dux for CTA1 Foundations, Study Period 1, 2024.
Darren Adams, owner and director of Darren Adams & Co, has spent over 15 years building a successful career in public practice. Located in Drouin, in Gippsland, Victoria, Darren’s firm serves a variety of clients, but it’s the relationships he builds with those clients that make his work in tax so rewarding.
'We public practitioners become more than just tax advisers. We become a sounding board for matters that aren’t always tax-related,' he reflects.
Growing up in Gippsland, Darren had limited accounting career options that also allowed him to stay close to home. Public practice was the most viable path, and from there, his journey in tax began. After completing a Bachelor’s degree at Monash University, he completed the CPA Program and is working toward a Graduate Certificate in Applied Tax Advisory through The Tax Institute. He plans to earn his Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) designation.
When asked about his experience studying CTA1 Foundations, the first subject in both the Graduate Certificate in Applied Tax Advisory and the CTA program, Darren says the course took him back to the basics.
'A lot of our job is now automated with technology, but this subject brought me back to the fundamentals that are crucial to understanding the tax system.'
Balancing the demands of owning a practice with family life has been a challenge for Darren, especially as he and his wife raise two children, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. His routine of early mornings and flexible work hours has allowed him to find time for study. 'The flexibility of being self-employed and having the support of my wife and kids allowed me to succeed,' he explains.
Darren’s advice for other tax professionals considering further study is to continue improving their knowledge, no matter how far they’ve come in their careers. His plans for the future include completing the Graduate Certificate in Applied Tax Advisory, achieving the CTA designation, and eventually pursuing a Graduate Diploma of Applied Tax Law. For Darren, learning never stops, and his dedication to mastering tax ensures that he will continue to grow personally and professionally.
Interested in a formal qualification in tax? Learn more here.
Read time: 2 minutes
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