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Career Paths in Business Consulting

Financial, Tax, HR, and Start-up Consulting

  • Possible Tasks

    Tax Consulting / Advising
    - For a career as a tax advisor (Steuerberater*in) or auditor (Wirtschaftsprüfer*in), you must first pass the relevant government-regulated examination. In Germany, tax advisors can take the same exam as auditors, but in an abbreviated form.
    - You advise businesses and individuals regarding tax matters.
    - You offer consulting for tax return-related questions and help your clients to take advantage of tax saving opportunities.
    - You inform their clients about news and developments in tax laws.
    - You prepare tax returns, tax balance sheets, tax statements, or financial models.
    - You advise your clients regarding questions of business accounting and organization, e.g. in the areas of financing and financial planning or administrative procedures.
    - You provide assistance in meeting accounting compliance requirements.
    - You represent your clients at tax authority offices and in tax courts. You also provide assistance regarding tax penalties, external audits, and tax penalty proceedings.
    - You generate calculations, cost accounting, and profitability calculations.
    - You conduct financial audits of businesses, for example during the legally required annual end of year audit or voluntary audits.

    Business Consulting
    - In the field of business consulting, you develop concepts and suggestions regarding management, the rendering of services, financing, sales, marketing, or HR.
    - You research and evaluate the business’s market and customer strategies and identify potential areas of improvement.
    - You present your clients with concepts for optimizing business operations, for example, with regard to adapting operational processes to local conditions.
    - Depending on your expertise, the focus of your consulting may rather be in the areas of management and operations or in specific areas of technical implementation, for example in business development, marketing and sales, financing and funding opportunities, intercultural exchange, human resource management, or IT systems.
    - You prepare business analysis reports (e.g. about certain countries or regions).
    - You support the establishment of new businesses (e.g. you advise regarding business planning, develop financial strategies, and broker financial deals).
    - You often work independently on your own project. Working hours can be irregular.
    Financial Consulting / Advising
    - In the field of financial advising, you co-develop individual wealth management strategies for your clients (businesses or individuals).
    - You advise clients, for example, regarding investments, loans, construction financing, real estate, insurances, and retirement planning.
    - You conceptualize and market financial and insurance products.
    - You evaluate the financial standing of clients based on predetermined criteria and calculate loan interest rates.
    - You buy and sell securities and broker securities transactions.
    - You follow developments in the money and capital markets, evaluate risks, and develop ratings.
    - You evaluate potential risks and conduct profitability analyses for new and existing clients.
    - You have the possibility to work freelance or as an employee of a company.
    - Human Resource Management Consulting
    - You consult with and inform employees regarding, for example, professional development opportunities, parental leave, scheduling options, and - performance incentives.
    - You offer consultation for employees in leadership roles regarding staff-related questions.
    - You determine where staff are needed and what skills are required.

  • Industries and Occupations

    - Freelance services
    - Business consulting, public relations consulting, e.g. consulting agencies
    - Law firms without a notary office
    - Insurance agencies
    - Banks and mortgage agencies
    - Stock exchanges
    - Real estate agencies
    - Corporate and financial consulting

  • Job Boards and Professional Associations 

At a glance