AI Center of Excellence Director (Elgin)

Ranked among the largest accounting and consulting firms in the country and consistently recognized as a Great Place to Work, Cherry Bekaert delivers innovative advisory, assurance and tax services to our clients. We are proud to foster a collaborative environment focused on enabling your career growth and continuous professional development.The AI CoE Director is the founding leader of Cherry Bekaert’s AI Center of Excellence — a greenfield role with direct executive sponsorship, budget authority and the mandate to build a production AI capability from the ground up. While peer firms are layering AI onto existing structures, this position will design the operating model, hire the team and ship the workflows that 3,000 professionals use to deliver client work. (#LI-DNI)As AI CoE Director, you will: Provides leadership to the AI CoE team including coaching, mentoring and professional development. Responsible for providing performance feedback on a regular basis.Stands up the AI Center of Excellence from inception: defines the organizational structure, recruits the team, establishes the operating model and delivers the first wave of production AI workflows within the initial six months.Owns the Firm’s AI production strategy end to end, prioritizing investments across Tax, Assurance, Advisory and Wealth Management based on use case value, technical feasibility and adoption readiness.Directs the Production Track — the Workflow Architect and Prompt + Skills Engineers — in shipping reusable prompt libraries, Claude skills, workflow templates and integration patterns that service line professionals adopt without CoE hand-holding.Activates and sustains the Coordination Track, partnering with the AI Training Lead and Use Case + ROI Lead to onboard Ambassadors, track adoption metrics and build the business case for continued investment.Builds and manages the AI Ambassador network of 12 to 20 professionals across service lines and shared services, providing them with production-ready tools, structured training and a monthly communication cadence.Establishes AI governance policies in partnership with the AI Governance Council, including use case tiering, risk classification and escalation protocols for complex or high-risk deployments.Translates AI production outcomes into executive-ready business cases, demonstrating measurable ROI, competitive positioning and realized value to the C-suite and the Firm’s investors.Monitors the competitive landscape — including peer firms deploying agentic AI workflows, proprietary compliance tools and billion-dollar technology investments — and identifies opportunities to accelerate Cherry Bekaert’s AI maturity.Collaborates with Information Security, Legal and Compliance teams to maintain responsible AI use, data privacy and regulatory alignment across all deployed workflows.Manages the CoE budget, vendor relationships and platform licensing to maximize production output within a lean, high-impact staffing model.Represents the Firm’s AI capabilities externally at industry events, recruiting channels and peer forums, positioning Cherry Bekaert as a destination for AI talent in professional servicesWhat you bring to the role:Bachelors Degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Information Systems or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.12+ years of Progressive technology and AI experience, with five or more years in leadership roles directing AI strategy, production or adoption programs. Prior experience building an AI function at a professional services, consulting or knowledge-work firm is strongly preferred.Demonstrated track record of standing up and scaling an AI program within a professional services, consulting or knowledge-work environment — not just managing an inherited capability, but building teams, governance models and production workflows from a blank slate.Working knowledge of AI governance frameworks including risk tiering, use case classification, responsible AI principles and regulatory compliance in a professional services context.Collaboration instincts suited to a matrixed environment, with the ability to work productively across Technology, Tax, Assurance, Advisory, Wealth Management and corporate functions without positional authorityWhat you can expect from us: Our shared values that foster inclusion and belonging including uncompromising integrity, collaboration, trust, and mutual respectThe opportunity to innovate and do work that motivates and engages youA collaborative environment focused on enabling you to further your career growth and continuous professional developmentCompetitive compensation and a total rewards package that focuses on all aspects of your wellbeingFlexibility to do impactful work and the time to enjoy your life outside of workOpportunities to connect and learn from professionals from different backgrounds and with different culturesBenefits Information:Cherry Bekaert cares about our people. We offer competitive compensation packages based on performance that recognize the value our people bring to our clients and our Firm. The salary range for this position is included below. Individual salaries within this range are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education, knowledge, skills, and geographic location. In addition, we offer a comprehensive, high-quality benefits program which includes annual bonus, medical, dental, and vision care; disability and life insurance; generous Paid Time Off; retirement plans; Paid Care Leave; and other programs that are dedicated to enhancing your personal and work life and providing you and your family with a measure of financial protection.Pay Range: $203,400 - $305,000About Cherry BekaertCherry Bekaert, ranked among the largest assurance, tax and advisory firms in the U.S., serves clients across industries in all 50 U.S. states and internationally. For more details, visit Cherry Bekaert provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. contains further information regarding the firm's compliance with federal, state and local recruitment and hiring laws. This role is expected to accept applications for at least five calendar days and may continue to be posted until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.   Candidates must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States. Cherry Bekaert will not provide work sponsorship for this position. Cherry Bekaert LLP and Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC are members of Allinial Global, an accountancy and business advisory global association. Visit us at  and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  2026 Cherry Bekaert. All Rights Reserved.SummaryLocation: Raleigh, NC; Indianapolis, IN; Atlanta, GA; Richmond, VA; Tysons Corner, VA - Crescent Plaza; Austin, TX; Palm Beach Gardens; Elgin, IL; Orlando, FL; Charlotte, NC; Greenville, SC; Houston, TX; Coral Gables, FL; Jeffersonville, IN; Alpharetta, GA; Tampa, FL; Louisville, KY; Orland Park, IL; Augusta, GA; Rockville, MD - Blackwell Road; Reading, PAType: Full time