Tax Manager (or experienced Senior)
Chicago – Downtown | Hybrid
You’re the person clients trust with the bigger picture. But maybe you’re not quite getting enough ownership, enough planning work, or enough say in the conversations yet.
That’s where this role changes things.
This independent Chicago firm has been growing around 20 to 30% year on year and they are building their next layer of talent because of it. This is a growth hire, with a clear path for someone who wants more client ownership, more advisory work, and genuine progression.
The client base is where things get interesting.
You’ll work closely with high net worth individuals and closely held businesses, many of whom have real estate investments and property portfolios as part of their wider financial picture. This is not a real estate tax specialist role, but if you have exposure to real estate clients, investments, or property related tax matters, it will set you up well here.
The firm brings accounting, real estate, and insurance expertise together under one roof, which means clients come to you for far more than compliance. You’ll be involved in tax planning, structuring, and longer term strategy conversations with business owners and HNW individuals, helping them make smarter decisions across the full picture.
You’ll own a portfolio of individuals and small business clients, handling both compliance and advisory work. One day that could mean tax planning for a business owner, the next advising a client on the tax impact of a property investment or helping think through a longer term strategy.
You’ll also mentor junior staff who support with preparation work, while continuing to build your own client relationships and confidence leading conversations.
They are open on level, so this could suit:
• A Senior Tax Associate ready for more ownership and a step toward Manager
• A Tax Manager looking for partner track in a growing firm
What matters most is that you enjoy working with people. You’ll be in front of clients, leading conversations, building relationships, and spotting opportunities to add value beyond the return itself. The technical side matters, but how you communicate matters just as much.
The team is around 25 people. It has that smaller firm feel where people know each other, but with real momentum behind it. People take ownership, support one another, and grow with the business.
A few practical bits so you know what day to day looks like:
• Hybrid setup, three days in the downtown Chicago office and two from home
• Fridays off through the summer
• Drake and UltraTax
• Real estate exposure is valuable given the client base, but you do not need to be a real estate specialist
• Insurance exposure is a plus, not essential
• CPA or EA preferred, especially if progression matters to you
If you want more ownership, more planning work, and more direct involvement with clients without losing that close knit firm feel, this could be a really strong next step.
Interested?
Click the apply button, and I’ll be in touch to discuss the opportunity.
If you’d prefer a chat first, feel free to call me, Imogen Talbot Slack, at 312-584-9844 or connect with me on LinkedIn at Imogen Talbot-Slack, Distinct North America.
Not Sure You Meet All the Qualifications?
We still encourage you to apply! If you don’t meet every requirement, don’t let that stop you. The firm is dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, and we are always looking for talent with a range of experiences. If this role isn’t the perfect fit, we may have other opportunities in public accounting that are a better match.