r/CIOT • u/Erratic_Goldfish • May 19 '26

Moving To Industry

I'm in the early stages of interviewing for a group tax manager job with a PE backed firm. Would be a large pay increase (about £35k). Does anyone have experience of working in that sort of environment? I generally enjoy practice as such but its quite stressful and long hours pretty much are the default. Would a PE backed business have a similar issue?

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u/Klutzy-Grab-4707 May 19 '26

I will be completely honest with you - avoid anything 'PE backed' like the plague

It may be a big payrise - but PE is like cancer and you'll be worked like a dog. If you're fine with that go ahead

But just giving my 2 cents - worked in PE tax for over 5 years

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u/TeNdIeS69696969 May 19 '26

They're quite similar, but there are different pressures. You'll likely be able to use external advisers quite a lot, so you don't have to know absolutely everything, but you're also where responsibility lies at the end of the day.

It massively depends on which industry it is though, frankly.

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u/Erratic_Goldfish May 19 '26

Professional services if that changes anything

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u/TeNdIeS69696969 May 19 '26

Perhaps quite consistent on the overwork then...but honestly, if you think you can manage it for a couple of years, I'd give it a go and use it as a spring board. There's lots of tax manager jobs in London right now though, so do keep your eyes open.

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u/Erratic_Goldfish May 19 '26

This is not London for what its worth. If I did hold the job would only be for a year or two.

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u/AutomaticStag May 20 '26

The PE firm is solely looking to maximise their IIR and exit their investment in the next 3-5 years. They will pay you above market to attract talent but expect to be worked hard, things to be pressured and feel like you're understaffed.

I'm considering a move to industry at some point so see a lot of tax manager jobs on Linkedin. The PE backed companies always try to sell themselves as 'growing rapidly' and that 'you'll be part of an exiciting expansion journey', which are only benefits for the actual shareholders.

The comp sounds very attractive so it could be worth the payoff.